Alstom’s Global Rail Capability Showcased at SARA Conference
At the recent Southern African Railways Association (SARA) conference, Makgola Makololo, the Director of Business Development, Sales and Marketing, and Managing Director at Alstom Rolling Stock South Africa, provided a comprehensive overview of Alstom’s expansive role in the rail sector. Highlighting the company’s global presence in 63 countries and a workforce exceeding 80,000, Makololo underscored Alstom’s commitment to engineering excellence, innovation (evidenced by over 10,000 patents), and its partnership with over 300 cities and 150,000 vehicles in commercial service today.
Alstom’s portfolio is vast, covering urban and mainline rolling stock, locomotives, components, infrastructure, signalling, turnkey systems, and bespoke services tailored to customer needs. Makololo emphasised Alstom’s significant presence in Africa, showcasing flagship projects like the Cairo Monorail, currently under construction in Egypt, and the TRAXX electric locomotive being manufactured in South Africa, achieving over 65% local content. In addition, Alstom is also the supplier of X’trapolis Suburban trains, which are being manufactured by Gibela for PRASA.
Notable is the high-speed train in Morocco. This was the first high-speed train constructed on the African continent, and the company looks forward to seeing more projects such as this, aligning with the African Union’s vision 2063. In addition, Alstom is implementing several signalling solutions in Africa, especially in Algeria, Morocco, and Tanzania.
Addressing industry trends, Makololo noted a shift towards greener, more sustainable rail solutions driven by urbanisation and environmental consciousness. Alstom’s approach focuses on lifecycle value, customer experience enhancement, and environmentally friendly designs. Turning to high-speed rolling stock solutions, Makololo notes that in 2007, the company set a high-speed rail record of 575 km/hour. She then introduced Alstom’s Avelia™ high-speed portfolio, offering flexible, adaptable trains for various market needs, which exemplifies this ethos.
The Avelia™ line includes both distributed and concentrated traction models, like the Avelia™ Stream and Liberty, accommodating diverse speed requirements and geographical regulations. Interoperability and cross-border flexibility are key features of these high-speed trains, as demonstrated in European applications.
Makololo also highlighted Alstom’s focus on maintenance, asset life management, and digital solutions for enhanced reliability and efficiency.
Alstom’s dedication goes beyond merely providing technical solutions. Within Alstom, a well-regarded project export finance team exists, recognized in the market for successfully concluding numerous transactions. This team collaborates closely with customers to deliver a comprehensive solution. Thus, Alstom offers holistic solutions incorporating financial expertise, working with various ECAs, including the UK Export Finance (UKEF) and French Export Credit Agencies. This facilitates project execution, especially for customers who have constraints in terms of financing for projects.
Makololo presented Alstom’s vision for a greener, smarter, and more inclusive future in rail mobility. This vision aligns with global trends towards sustainable transport and reflects a deep understanding of the evolving needs of the rail industry, particularly in the African context.
*Avelia™ is a registered Trademark of Alstom.