Gibela is a joint French–South African railway rolling stock manufacturer. It is majority owned by Alstom, which controls 70% of the company and African companies Ubumbano Rail has 30% stakes.[1]

Gibela was announced as the preferred bidder for a R51 billion contract to build 3,600 electric multiple units for the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa in December 2012,[2] which was finalized in October 2013.[3] Under the terms of the contract, Gibela would construct the units over a ten-year period, as well as provide parts and technical support after delivery.[3] While the first twenty EMUs, dubbed the X'Trapolis Mega, were built by Alstom in Brazil, Gibela began construction of a new R1 billion assembly facility in Dunnottar, South Africa in March 2016 to construct the remaining 580 trainsets.[4] The factory is about 60,000 square metres (650,000 sq ft) in size and will employ about 1,500 people at full production, with a capacity of building 62 EMU trainsets annually.[5][4] Gibela began occupying the facility in early January 2018, with construction scheduled to be completed in March.[6] In addition to building vehicles for South African operators, Gibela also plans to compete for other African rail contracts.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "First X'Trapolis Mega cars completed at Lapa". Railway Gazette International. 26 May 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  2. ↑ "Alstom wins PRASA's 20-year fleet renewal programme". Railway Gazette International. 6 December 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  3. 1 2 "PRASA and Alstom sign R51bn EMU contract". Railway Gazette International. 14 October 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 "Gibela starts work on EMU factory". Railway Gazette International. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  5. ↑ "X'Trapolis Mega EMUs enter revenue service". Railway Gazette International. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  6. ↑ "Gibela moves into South African EMU factory". Railway Gazette International. 9 January 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
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