SOUTH AFRICA: Steelmaker Corus announced on October 1 that it had won a €16·5m contract to supply the 20 000 tonnes of rail needed for the Gautrain project in South Africa.
The first rails will be produced at the Corus steel works at Hayange in France this month, and shipped to Durban for delivery to the construction sites.
The Gautrain Rapid Rail Link consists of an 80 km double-track standard gauge route connecting Johannesburg with Pretoria, including a branch to Johannesburg International Airport. Opening is planned for 2010, when South Africa is due to host the football World Cup.
Dominique Chiesura, International Commercial Manager for Corus Rail, said 'Despite strong international competition for the supply of heat treated rails, Corus Rail France SA was able to offer the best balance of high technicality, cost effective and added value logistic route for the Gautrain Project.'