Rail technology leader Bombardier Transportation inaugurated its new South African production site and headquarters at an event held in Isando, Johannesburg on 25th of August 2016.

The opening ceremony was attended by Transnet Group Chief Executive Officer Siyabonga Gama, distinguished guests, partners and Bombardier suppliers.

In April 2014, South African state-owned freight and logistics company Transnet awarded Bombardier a contract for the supply of electric locomotives as part of a 50 billion ZAR contract.

The majority of the locomotives are being built at Transnet Engineering’s plants in Koedoespoort, Pretoria and Edwin Swales in Durban. All bidders committed to stringent localization requirements, including technology transfer, supplier development and job creation.

The new 6,000 square meter facility will produce BOMBARDIER MITRAC high power propulsion equipment for use in the state-of-the-art Transnet Locomotives project, for which Bombardier is delivering 240 BOMBARDIER TRAXX Africa locomotives.

The site will also be home to a testing center for high power traction converters and electrical cubicles and will become the headquarters for Bombardier Transportation in South Africa in October.

Bombardier is engaging the African transportation market through job creation and European facilities, and will support the transfer of technology and know-how to the South African rail industry for this project.

As of August 2016, the new Johannesburg site has around 100 employees with an ongoing ramp up expected to increase the number of employees to around 200 by 2017.