Coach Find - new movement - odd colours!

[Craig Duckham]

The coach that has had its bottom stripped is a metro coach from Pretoria / Joburg region. This is standard practice with the 5M2A stock to replace the lower panels with new ones as rust becomes a problem on the lower half. The interior will be redone, painted in Metrorail colours, new generations windows added and depending on the contract, also new generation doors.

Are these private contractors refurbishing the coach?

[Kevin Wilson-Smith]

I am assuming they are. If you look at the general view it looks like a refurb operation - waste on the right and then there is the new shed built over the rails. For spraying maybe - I do not know - not an expert.

Where is is confusing is that it is at a site where previously the stock was marked for cutting as in the previous photos. May be it is now going to be put to good use - which would be great!

Will keep an eye on it and see what develops.

The coach in question that looks like a refurb (and must be because it is not hacked up) looked like the other orangey ones to start off with - in a poor way.

But what do the experts say?

[Luca Lategan]

Kevin, what has since happened to these coaches?

[Kevin Wilson-Smith]

The coaches all in the original pictures have now been cut up and have gone. It only took around 10 days once they started.

The site meanwhile has been developed a bit and has now been doing extensive refurbishment of Metro units on an on-going basis. They do a nice job. So far just the standard Metro units and colours!

I go past the site every day so I keep an eye out while sittting in the traffic!