Gautrain: World-class infrastructure management
Infrastructure neglect and asset mismanagement are endemic. In this environment, the Gautrain is a reminder that world-class infrastructure can be efficiently operated and maintained in South Africa.
Optimising the Gautrain rail network, rolling stock, communication, signalling, power supply, overhead, track and fare collection systems is the responsibility of Bombela Maintenance Company (BMC). All targets that form part of the concession agreement have been met without exception, says Andre Botha, Chief Engineer of BMC. This includes train availability, as well as meeting scheduled arrival and departure times with a 98.16% average punctuality.
Botha says to achieve these targets, “Bombela Maintenance Company relies heavily on IBM’s Maximo. I check the dashboard every morning to see which incidents have happened and which tasks were scheduled, getting a grip on the problems, the causes of the problems as well as what attributed to the emergence of the problems, e.g. design defects, operator failure, or physical component failure.”
Advised by Gavin Barbier of Vetasi, an international Asset Management Advisory company and part of Cohesive, BMC will now add Maximo Scheduler to further increase their performance. “We can only service and repair a limited percentage of rolling stock at a time since train availability is of the utmost importance for meeting our targets. Scheduled maintenance and repairs must be completed within scheduled times and there is no margin for time wastage due to lack of or an insufficient supply of spare parts and components.”
Botha says, “Vetasi’s professional advisory services and IBM’s Maximo enable BMC to maintain its high standards of asset integrity and quality service provision to clients”.
