Siemens Installs Rail Signalling Systems for PRASA

Siemens has won a €180m contract from the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) to install new rail signalling systems and protection systems in the regions of Gauteng Province, South Africa.

The upgrade work under the contract involves installation of a total of 83 Trackguard Sicas S7 type interlocking, and Clearguard ACM 200 axle counting system, a track vacancy detection system that determines whether line sections are clear or busy.
Siemens mobility and logistics division CEO Sami Atiya said: “The new train protection system not only increases capacity, but also ensures more flexibility, greater safety and fewer delays.
“The Siemens solutions for infrastructure modernisation make an important contribution to further consolidating the standing of the densely-populated Gauteng Province as one of South Africa’s leading trade and industry hubs.”
Installation of the signalling equipment is expected to be completed by 2018, when the operations control centre is scheduled to take over control of the entire Gauteng rail network.
In 2001, Siemens won a €90m contract to upgrade one-quarter of the outdated signalling systems and to build an operations control centre for the Gauteng Region. Under the latest contract, the remaining three-quarters of the trackside signalling equipment will be upgraded.
Gauteng Province covers an area of 18,000km² and includes the cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria. It contributes about 10% GDP for South Africa, and has about 25,000km of rail track.
Siemens has already signed contracts in South Africa with Transnet Freight Rail to equip the 860km long Orex line with 22 Trackguard Sicas S7 interlockings.