Track design and construction supervision
In the sphere of main line developments, R&H has been responsible for design of new lines, locations and deviations for Spoornet main lines at sites all around South Africa, the largest being the location of a 59km mountain route across the Drakensberg, including spiral tunnels.
Gautrain Rapid Rail Link
At present, the firm of R&H is a member of a Consortium carrying out the concept design and preparing the request for proposal for the $1.2 billion, 80-km Gautrain Rapid Rail Link (Johannesburg - Sandton - Pretoria, Sandton-Johannesburg International Airport) for the Gauteng Provincial Government. R&H also acts as the Technical Element Group Leader in the Consortium and is responsible for conceptualising the train type to be provided to meet the development objectives, viz: Johannesburg to Pretoria in less than 35 minutes, serving three previously identified terminal stations and seven intermediate stations. R&H determined the design parameters to be used by the civil design team following simulation modelling. Fairly early in the process, R&H came to the conclusion that standard gauge (1435mm) was preferred for safety and commercial reasons among others, and this was then successfully motivated and accepted for the project. This project is planned to be the first standard gauge line in South Africa and has been designed to cater for speeds of up to 180 km/h. the topography of the route determined that the first 15 km is in tunnel and R&H is now also responsible for noise and vibration issues that were raised during the enviromental impact assessment process.
Element leader for signalling and telecommunications
R&H also acts as element leader for signalling and telecommunications and in doing so, determine the signalling and telecommunications philosophy, choice of technology and operating parameters.
Other recent and current large projects
- Deviation of the Spoornet Main Line for approximately 5 km with connection of approximately 2 km of private siding lines for Assmang's Iron Ore Mine in the Northern Cape. This project is executed on a complete engineering, procurement and construction management basis.
- Bankable feasibility study for Kumba Resources' new Sishen South Iron Ore Mine with regards to railway aspects.
- Construction budget estimate for the Sishen Ore Mining Company, railway apsects, to increase iron ore production by 10 million tons per year. The study also included industrial operation simulations to determine total railway infrastructure requirements such as track and locomotives to handle 324 wagon trians running at 30-ton axle load.
- Feasibility study for Xstrata Coal South Africa (Pty) Ltd investigating various rail routes to the proposed opencast Goedgevonden Coal Mine.
- Refurbishment design and construction supervision of 280 km of railway line linking the former Ciskei and Transkei, as part of an integrated development to stimulate socio-economic growth and development, both in terms of transportation and employment of local labour.
- Various projects for the South African Rail Commuter Corporation which services include station design, upgrading of existing stations, refurbishment of permanent way infrastructure and design of footbridges.
- Completion of feasibility studies for various clients involving some 150 km of new railway lines to serve the new development in the Eastern Limb of the Platinum Mining Industry.
