X'Trapolis Mega

The X'Trapolis Mega is an electric multiple unit, part of the X'Trapolis family, built in South Africa by Gibela, a joint venture between the French company Alstom and the South African company Ubumbano Rail, for the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa. The Mega operates as part of the daily Metrorail commuter service in major metropolitan areas across South Africa. In October 2013 a contract worth 51 billion rand, about 4 billion euros, for 600 X'Trapolis Mega trainsets, comprising 3,600 units with a local production arrangement, was signed by Alstom and PRASA; the order called for delivery between 2015 and 2025 plus the first 18 years of fleet maintenance. The majority of the vehicles are assembled at a new facility at Dunnottar, between Nigel and Springs about 50 km east of Johannesburg, established by Gibela. Local testing of the first trainsets began in December 2016, and in May 2017 13 trainsets began operating revenue services along Pretoria-based routes. It is expected to replace most of PRASA's existing rolling stock, much of which dates back to the 1950s.