The Modernisation of the Belle Ombre Train Station in Pretoria, South Africa

Research Paper (postgraduate) from the year 2016 in the subject Engineering - Civil Engineering, grade: 75%, University of Derby (College of Engineering and Technology), course: Master of Science in Professional Engineering, language: English, abstract: Based on module study requirement to demonstrate competence in commercial and technical leadership throughout engineering project management and delivery of its outputs, one of the projects completed for a State-owned Company (SOC), Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA SOC Limited), has been selected for this purpose. It included reconnaissance, site investigation, pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, environmental impact assessment, due diligence, analysis, design, specification and advisory on all Engineering aspects and disciplines from Concept development to Completion of component Projects within the overarching modernisation project. The project report framework model used is based on New Engineering Contract (NEC) categorisation of contract by the Institution of Civil Engineers (1993) provisions for a Separate Design and Construction Contract (SDCC) focussing per Smith, N.J. (2002)., on three project pillars of Cost, Quality and Time allocation to the project together with the associated risks and risk mitigation methods. The agreed initial period was two and one half years commencing in July 2012. An inclusive (turn-key) Train station modernisation Capital fund allocation and contract budget was £23 million. The high level estimated final cost was in the region of £22 million. The proportion allocation for the mechanical and electrical portions stated above was to be below 30% of the total estimated final cost. This case study seeks to provide a balance between a selected executed project and how the approaches to project management activities set out in the class module structure for this study is contrasted with the approaches negotiated in execution of this selected project.