Alstom Brazil is transferring technology to the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) to manufacture X'Ttrapolis Mega trains as a part of a project to modernise the African country's railway industry.
The technology is being provided by Alstom's team at Lapa unit in São Paulo.
Under the technology transfer process, Alstom will train South African engineers, designers, technicians, drivers and technologists who will perform in the areas of logistics, safety, project management, manufacturing, and commissioning.
The newly hired South African employees are also scheduled to travel to Brazil after completion of the basic training for further skills development.
Lapa Unit general director Rosângela Tsuruda said: "This integration is necessary to conclude this project with the same quality that is executed in Brazil, and we are certain that the South African population will benefit from a very reliable product."
By the end of this year, more than 100 South African employees are expected to be trained at the Alstom plant in South Africa, which is under construction.
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By GlobalDataThe technology transfer process is set to be completed by the middle of next year.
Signed in 2013, the PRASA project includes delivery of 600 X'Ttrapolis Mega trains, with the first 20 trains manufactured in Brazil.
The remaining units will be built at the South African facility.
Currently, Alstom-led consortium Gibela is building a 600,000m facility in Dunnottar, 50km from the South African capital Johannesburg.
The plant is expected to create 1,500 direct jobs and will build 62 trains a year.