South Africans often face transport problems due to power cuts and theft.
For many years the people of the countryface rolling blackouts caused by breakdowns at old and poorly maintained coal-fired power plants. Eskom, the state-owned energy company, began introducing periodic electricity rationing 15 years ago, which also affects rail transport.
In addition, during the pandemic, increasedthe number of thefts of cables that provide electricity along the tracks. All this had a negative impact on the work of the railways: according to local authorities, the share of railway transport decreased by two thirds from 2013 to 2020. At the same time, many suburban passengers switch to more expensive fixed-route taxis.
Train prototype. Image: AFP
University staff offered teenagersin the town of Soshanguve, north of the capital Pretoria, to assemble an autonomous train. It uses roof-mounted photovoltaic panels for power. The train can move at a speed of 30 km/h. And the carriage itself is equipped with car seats and a flat-screen TV for passenger entertainment.
A group of 20 teenagers spent on assemblyof its composition for two years. Now he is moving around the test site on the territory of Soshanguwe, but the developers hope that the government will approve the composition of it, and analogues can be used for regular suburban trips around the country.
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