TFL SEP
14
FREIGHT AND LOGISTICS
BUSES
SMEC FUNCTIONAL HEAD OF RAIL
, Johan Stander, says that as part of PRASA’s long-
term investment programme to upgrade and modernise its stations and rail network, PRASA
identified several train stations that require upgrading and modernisation. SMEC South
Africa’s railway division is currently involved in the Berea Rail Station Upgrade, where several
structural considerations had to be taken into account.
According to Johan, the new trains that have been acquired will be longer and travel at
greater speeds than the trains that are currently in use and therefore, changes will need to
be made to the train stations. The modernisation of the train stations will entail designs to
incorporate trading areas, as well as better access for the disabled.
Johan points out that part of PRASA’s strategy has been to identify smaller engineering firms
to execute some of the work. “SMEC South Africa is well positioned to align with this strategy
and to support the transfer of skills to these smaller firms. The working relationship is on a
day to day basis, whereby SMEC South Africa conducts a professional review and advises on
the work being executed.”
As part of the modernisation of the train stations, designs will have to comply with PRASA
design standards, such as conforming to the minimum PRASA platform length of 275m.
Another example is that station piles and columns for the deck of the station which will
ultimately serve as retail space, have to be positioned in such a way as not to impact the
existing track alignment.
In addition to the Berea Rail Station Upgrade, PRASA has identified several stations for
improvement in Gauteng, including Mabopane, Pretoria, Germiston, Johannesburg and
Naledi; in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), including Umlazi, Durban, KwaMashu and Bridge City; and
in the Western Cape, including Khayelitsha and Kapteinsklip. Besides other factors, these
stations have been identified in terms of user-friendliness, navigation, ease of access for
people with disabilities and higher-than-normal passenger numbers.
SMEC has more than 30 years of experience in local railway engineering consultancy services
and has been involved in some of the largest railway projects in Africa. SMEC rail division is
able to offer: planning and investigations; route selection and analysis; rail construction; rail
operation and maintenance, and rail design.
Upgrade of rail stations
The rail division of
consultancy firm SMEC is
currently involved in the
upgrade of the KwaZulu-
Natal-based Berea Rail
Station – a project which
forms a part of the state-
owned Passenger Rail
Association of South Africa
(PRASA) Rolling Stock
Renewal Programme.
About SMEC
Australian-based SMEC has more than 4000
employees and an established network of over 60
offices worldwide. It provides consultancy services
for the lifecycle of a project to a broad range of
sectors, which include: hydropower; transport; water,
natural resources and environment; geotechnical;
mining; tunnelling; urban development; renewable
energy; power; government and advisory services
and social infrastructure development. Following the
merger with South African Vela VKE, the SMEC Group
now has over 5000 employees and an established
network of over 70 offices in 36 countries
throughout Australia, Africa, Asia, the Middle East,
the Pacific, North and South America.
Example of a station design showing an
intermodal hub within a retail centre.
