Bombardier wins $1.65B US contract on South African rapid transit project

Bombardier Inc. said Thursday its rail transportation division has landed a $1.65-billion US portion of a contract for an 80-kilometre rapid transit system in South Africa.

The Gautrain Rapid Rail Link will connect Johannesburg, Tshwane (Pretoria) and the Johannesburg International Airport.

Bombardier will be responsible for the project's core electrical and mechanical systems, including a fleet of 96 Bombardier Electrostar vehicles. The company also won a 15-year maintenance services contract.

The overall value of the contract awarded to the Bombela consortium, which includes Bombardier and firms from France and South Africa, is $3.3 billion US.

Bombardier Transportation's facility in Derby, U.K. will manufacture the Electrostar fleet of vehicles, with final assembly performed in South Africa.