X'Trapolis Mega
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Nigel, South Africa (since 2017)
| X'trapolis Mega | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Stock type | Electric multiple unit (EMU) |
| In service | 2017–Present |
| Manufacturers | Gibela (70% owned by Alstom, and 30% owned by Ubumbano Rail) |
| Assembly | São Paulo, Brazil (2015–2016) Nigel, South Africa (since 2017) |
| Family name | X'Trapolis |
| Replaced | |
| Constructed | 2015–Present |
| Number built | 268 (March 2025) |
| Formation | 6 cars per EMU |
| Capacity | Seated: 234–380 Seated + standing: 1088–1218 |
| Operator | PRASA |
| Depots |
|
| Line served | Metrorail |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Stainless steel, FRP in front face |
| Train length | 131.5 metres (431 ft) |
| Car length | 21.5 metres (71 ft) |
| Width | 2.75 metres (9.0 ft) |
| Floor height | 1.10 metres (3.6 ft) |
| Platform height | 1.07 metres (3.5 ft) |
| Doors | 6, wide double doors |
| Maximum speed | Service: 120 km/h (75 mph) Design: 160 km/h (99 mph) |
| Traction system | IGBT-VVVF |
| Acceleration | 0.85 m/s |
| HVAC | Air conditioning |
| Electric system | DC3000V, Overhead catenary |
| Bogies | Bolsterless bogies, air springs |
| Minimum turning radius | 90 metres (300 ft) |
| Braking system | Regenerative braking |
| Safety system | Automatic Train Operation (ATO) |
| Headlight type | LED |
| Seating | Longitudinal |
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
| Notes/references | |
| Sources: Gibela[1], PRASA[2] | |
The X'Trapolis Mega is an electric multiple unit (EMU), and part of the X'Trapolis family. It is built by Gibela, a joint venture between French company Alstom and South African company Ubumbano Rail, for the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA). The Mega operates as part of daily Metrorail commuter service in major metropolitan areas across South Africa.
During October 2013, a R51 billion (€4 billion, $4.46 billion) contract for the supply of 600 X'Trapolis Mega trainsets, including a local production arrangement, was signed by Alstom and PRASA.
The majority of the vehicles are to be domestically assembled at a new facility in Dunnottar, established by Gibela, over the course of ten years. During December 2016, local testing of the first trainsets commenced; in May 2017, 13 trainsets begun performing revenue services upon Pretoria-based routes.
It is anticipated for the X'Trapolis Mega will replace the majority of PRASA's existing rolling stock, much of which dates back to the 1950s.
The X'Trapolis Mega is marketed and produced by Gibela, a joint venture headed by Alstom and otherwise populated by several South African companies.[3]
On 5 December 2012, Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) Chief Executive Lucky Montana and Transport Minister Dikobe Ben Martins announced that Gibela had been selected as the preferred bidder for the first of two ten-year contracts for a large R51 billion (€4 billion, $4.46 billion) order.[4][5]
Tendered for by PRASA, this order called for the production and delivery of 600 Mega trainsets, comprising 3,600 units, to be delivered between 2015 and 2025, as well as the first 18 years of fleet maintenance.
Other bidders included CSR-Wictra, Bombardier, Dudula Rail, China CNR, CSR EMU Supply, and CAF.[4][6] During October 2013, it was announced that the contract for the deal has been signed, clearing the way for production to proceed.[7] During July 2014, the contract's financial closure was concluded.[3]
Under the terms of this sizeable contact, Gibela are to undertake the construction of a local manufacturing facility.[3] This factory is located in Dunnottar (between Nigel and Springs), around 50 km to the east of the city of Johannesburg. While the contract has stipulated that a minimum of 65 per cent of the train's content is to be produced, Gibela has claimed that it is to achieve 69 per cent by the second year of production on the order.[4]
The order was reportedly placed by PRASA with the stated aim of stimulating a revolution within South Africa's existing mass transit network; in excess of 8,000 jobs are to be directly created by the arrangement, in line with the South African government’s policy of skill development.[3]
To support this aim, Gibela agreed to spend R746 million on rail sector business development, R273 million on wider socioeconomic development and R797 million on personal skills development. Depots for the new trains are to be procured separately to this arrangement.[4]
The first 20 X'Trapolis Mega trainsets were built by Alstom at their facilities in Lapa, São Paulo Brazil; during May 2015, the first six-car trainset was completed.[8] Following the delivery of the remaining Brazil-built units, the following 580 EMUs are to be built at Gibela's new Dunnottar production line over the course of ten years.[9][10]
Service history
The X'Trapolis Mega trainsets serve as the first phase of a major fleet renewal project; in the long term, it is planned for the type to replace Metrorail's entire fleet, the majority of its prior rolling stock having been manufactured during the 1950s.[4] In revenue service, they are normally operated as either four-carriage or six-carriage trainsets.[7]
At one point, testing in South Africa was originally intended to take place during early 2016, ahead of revenue service beginning in June.[8] However, domestic testing did not commence until December 2016, about a year following the delivery of first trainset.[11][12] During May 2017, 13 trainsets commenced revenue service on Pretoria-based routes, marking the type's entry to service.[9][13]
Early on, the fleet was performing a total of 146 trips per day during both peak and off-peak hours.[14] In November 2017, an agreement was signed between PRASA and SNCF for the latter to provide support in the commissioning and deploying of the X'Trapolis Mega fleet in a service-ready condition; this arrangement included the deployment of SNCF staff in South Africa.[15]
