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Gautrain pieces slowly falling into place

The Bombela Concession Company is responsible for the construction of the train's routes and its 10 stations in Gauteng.

The Bombela Concession Company is responsible for the construction of the train's routes and its 10 stations in Gauteng.

The multi-billion Gautrain will consist of 96 carriages. The first 15 carriages are being built by Bombadier, using its Electrostar model, at its plant in Derby, England.

The underframes, roofs, and body components of the remaining 81 carriages will be flat-packed into crates and shipped to South Africa for assembly into trains. The carriages will be assembled at the Union Carriage Wagon plant in Nigel. Seventeen South Africans are at present in Derby receiving training on how to assemble the trains.

"The recruitment and training of drivers will also take place in Derby as Electrostar driver compartments and control systems are more advanced than other trains at present running here," said Gautrain chief executive Jack van der Merwe.

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