Multinational firm GE Transportation, a subsidiary of General Electric (GE), has announced the establishment of a train ‘Signaling Centre of Excellence (SCoE)’ at its African headquarters in Johannesburg South Africa.

This facility is the fourth worldwide to use GE’s Transportation Intelligent Control Systems following those in Australia, the US, France and Italy.

“The facility will facilitate the introduction of new and appropriate signaling and train control technologies to South Africa and the rest of the sub-Saharan continent, as well as offer specialised training and skill development to the local workforce,” said Tim Schweikert, president and chief executive officer of GE Transportation in sub-Saharan Africa, China and South East Asia.

“As a company we are committed to adding value in improving rail safety in South Africa. The SCoE will be operated by our Intelligent Control Systems (ICS) business unit which is responsible for signaling and train control solutions,” added Schweikert..

He elaborated that railways are continuing the renewal of their extensive networks with investments in new electronic interlocking systems, as well as upgrading existing networks almost entirely reliant on older relay-based safety cores.

Many railways on the continent are also looking at advanced and appropriate on-board signaling systems to limit the vulnerability of their network operations to theft and vandalism of trackside equipment, according to GE.