A delayed celebration. The 100 electric trains have now been delivered for South Africans to travel back and forth. The Transport Minister, Prasa, and Gauteng Premier David Makhura unveiled and took the locomotives for a ride. eNCA's Nqobile Madlala has this story. #DStv403
JOHANNESBURG - A hundred electric trains have now been delivered for South Africans to travel back and forth.
The Transport Minister, Prasa and Gauteng Premier David Makhura unveiled and took the locomotives for a ride on Monday morning in Ekurhuleni.
Minister Fikile Mbalula says the trains were meant to be delivered in 2020 but were delayed due to COVID-19.
Officials say through the private partnership with the government they are looking into rehabilitating the local railway line.
The new trains can ferry up to 1,200 people, they have climate control and CCTV.
But the big question is: Will they work in these times of power cuts?
The 100th train celebration is underway at Gibela Train Manufacturing Plant. The electric trains were built in Dunnottar factory in Ekurhuleni. eNCA's Nqobile Madlala has more on this. Courtesy of #DStv403
100 LOCALLY MANUFACTURED TRAINS for JOBS
— FIKILE MBALULA | MR FIX (@MbalulaFikile) July 4, 2022
To date, this project has created two thousand six hundred and ninety five (2,695) direct jobs since 2014.
A total of 8,209 jobs were created during the construction phase with1,631 of these being direct jobs, 2,810 indirect.#TS100 pic.twitter.com/WIL35L0Tfh