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[Rafa]

First Gautrain cars arrive in SA
Written by Lucille Davie
Thursday, 04 December 2008

The Gautrain rail car is offloaded in Durban harbour this week

Commuters are a little closer to sitting on Gautrain seats, with the first two cars arriving in Durban. From there it is a road trip to Joburg.

THE first two of the Gautrain's 96 Electrostar rail cars have arrived in Durban, to be transported to the train depot in Midrand.

The cars are being manufactured in Derby in England, and transported by ship to Durban, then loaded on to large trailers and transported by road to Gauteng. Each car measures 21 metres in length and weighs 46 tons. Fifteen of the rail cars, including all 10 airport rail cars, with luggage space and wider seats, are being manufactured and completed in Derby.

"Following a specialised construction and assembly process at the Bombardier Transportation manufacturing facility in Derby, United Kingdom, Gautrain's first 15 Bombardier Electrostar rail cars are finally completing the long journey home," according to a statement from the Gautrain office.

Their journey from the Derby workshop involves being transported by road to Immingham harbour on the east coast of England, then by sea to Antwerp, and from there by sea to Durban.

Second shipment
The first shipment of two completed rail cars arrived in Durban on 1 December. The next shipment containing a further two completed rail cars is expected to arrive in Durban on 8 December. The road trip will take four days to reach Midrand, taking back roads where possible.

"In Midrand, each rail car will undergo extensive quality and safety testing, including 3 000 kilometres of test running in the standard four-car train set configuration on the Gautrain test track."

The other 81 rail cars, designed for commuter services, are being flat packed into crates for assembly and completion by Union Carriage and Wagon partnership in Nigel on the East Rand.

"Motorists are advised to be on the look out for the abnormal load and exercise caution and patience at all times."

Progress
In late October the tunnel between Sandton and Marlboro merged, a major milestone.

The tunnel towards Park Station has now reached Parktown, after making its way under Oxford Road in Killarney.

The Gautrain will travel at speeds of 160 kilometres an hour between Johannesburg, Tshwane and OR Tambo International Airport. The route between the airport and Sandton will be ready for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

[Rafa]

[Rafa]

[Rafa]

Pitch Installation begins at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
18 months before World Cup

[cfm Jeremie]

Mo Rush, on Dec 14 2008, 10:39 PM, said:

Stunning

[jim jones]

Hey Mo I read that a Major Fifa Executive Figure just stated in South Africa that there is no turning to a Plan B country for 2010 all systems are go and in order in South Africa. Yeah so much for the talk about England stepping into host on an emergency. Places like Birmingham are hoping for a new stadium to not be left out of a possible world cup in 2018. Birmingham is pushing for a stadium with a super casino license .

For a While South Africa looked to be having problems with the capital projects with wildcat labor strikes but it certainly looks like the country is United to put the tournament off in Fine style

Jim jones

[Rafa]

Well there was the sensation and then there was the reality, which we are now seeing with the turf being installed at stadia, the roof structures in advanced stages, seats being installed. It's important not to get caught up in the sensation and compare the reality to the timelines, requirements and deadlines.

The timelines and schedules have always allowed for

1. The FIFA deadline of February 2010 to be met and
2. For most stadia to be complete in 2009, well ahead of that schedule which is currently the case.

The biggest challenge remains the delivery of transport infrastructure in terms of public transport systems. The airports have no problems.

For the media, preparations may be going a bit too smoothly, as I'm sure many expected a version of Athens since we are the first African hosts.

[Rafa]

Mo Rush, on Dec 15 2008, 03:24 PM, said:

Pitch Installation begins at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
18 months before World Cup

A video of the pitch being installed.

http://www.myvideo.c...-s-2010-stadium

[Rafa]

US company, Birdair, begins work on 365,000 feet glass roof



As an integral part of Green Point Stadium's design, engineering and construction, Birdair's project role
consists of roofing sub-contractor for the 68,000-seat, six-level stadium, slated for completion in
September 2009. In addition to constructing the roof, Birdair is also erecting 1,600 metric tonnes of
perimeter compression ring steel on the facility.

“Birdair has a long history in the design and construction of some of the most structurally complex and
technically challenging stadium roof structures in the world, and Green Point Stadium is no exception,”
explains Thomas Wuerch, Birdair vice president of operations.

Green Point Stadium's abstract, linear design and flat roof shape will emulate the surrounding Cape
Town landscape, complementing the mountainous terrain rather than detracting from it. A unique
combination of steel, cables, PVC (polyvinyl chloride) mesh and glass will form the structure's sleek
tensile roof, an essential aesthetic and functional component of the athletic facility. Shaped like a large
undulating bicycle wheel, the roof will feature 340,000 square feet of translucent PVC mesh liner,
creating a veil-like effect intended to parallel the surrounding mountains' misty atmosphere.

“For me, it is the incredible location of the stadium – built right between the famous Cape Town
Tabletop and Lion’s Head Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean – that sets this project apart,” continues
Wuerch. “It will no doubt be one of the most photographed stadiums in the world. It’s a great feeling to
be part of such a memorable project.”

To offset the PVC mesh liner, 365,000 square feet of glass will be installed, acting as a ballast to hold
down the entire light-weight roof structure during the 40-50 mph winds that frequently sweep through
the Cape Town area. The glass will additionally serve as a sound dampener to keep noise levels down.
Studies indicate that the glass roof will better contain the noise inside the stadium while reducing the
overall noise level by six decibels, as compared to the previous Green Point Stadium, which was
demolished in 2007.

The 19th FIFA World Cup is scheduled for June 11 to July 11, 2010, in nine South African cities. This
marks the first time that the tournament will be hosted by a nation in the Confederation of African
Football. In addition to Green Point Stadium, South Africa has commissioned the building of four additional
stadia, as well as the renovation of five existing sports facilities.

Green Point Stadium’s unique qualities will not go unrecognized by FIFA or South Africa: the stadium
will host six first-round matches, one second-round match, one quarterfinal match and one semifinal
match – more matches than any other 2010 World Cup Stadium. Following the World Cup, the athletic
facility will host soccer and rugby matches.

Construction on Green Point Stadium began in August 2008. Upon completion in September 2009, the
stadium's roof design, which complies with FIFA World Cup guidelines to provide cover for spectators
while meeting aesthetic, acoustic and environmental impact requirements, will be the first of its kind in
the world.

For the construction of this landmark roof structure Birdair has formed a Joint Venture with specialty
cable manufacturer Pfeifer Seil-und Hebetechnik of Memmingen, Germany. The project architect is von
Gerkan, Marg und Partner (GMP Architects), Hamburg, Germany and the project engineer is Schlaich
Bergermann and Partners, Stuttgart, Germany.

[Rafa]

The pitch at PE
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium