You are the newly appointed senior project manager for ABX Corporation, a private company

who are proud sponsors of the new Cape Town to Durban high-speed train project. The project

will incorporate the latest technology in design, construction and delivery of a high-speed train

between Cape Town Station and Durban Station.

You and your project team hold a risk identification and allocation meeting. During the meeting

the team discusses the following:

Cape Town Station:

1. Currently there are 85 operational train sets, made up of 1 094 coaches.

2. There are 671 scheduled trains per weekday, operating over 460 kilometres of track

to 122 stations and 4 halts.

3. In 2018 there were around 500 000 daily users of the service. The services are

divided into three areas, each of which has various branches.

Durban Station:

1. Currently there are 35 000 daily users of the service.

2. There are 125 scheduled trains per weekday.

3. The station was revamped recently and is now world-class. The management of the

station has indicated that they would not consider allowing any private trains to use

their facility.

The Rail Route:

1. The route runs through rural areas where farm stock roam freely.

2. The technology requires the train tracks to be as flat as possible. Tunnels and bridges

will therefore have to be constructed, or alternatives should be considered.

3. All structures to be built for the rail infrastructure will require an environmental

assessment, which could take up to three years to complete.

4. The train will use a large amount of electricity, which means that the pressure on the

South African electrical infrastructure will increase drastically.

5. Security companies will be employed to ensure that the material is guarded during

construction.

1.1 Identify at least five risks associated with the project and give a risk rating for each by

using a 4 x 4 matrix as in Figure 1. (25)

Risk example: Getting material to the construction sites in the rural areas

1.2 Management asks you to propose possible responses to these risks. (5)

You are the newly appointed senior project manager for ABX Corporation, a private company

who are proud sponsors of the new Cape Town to Durban high-speed train project. The project

will incorporate the latest technology in design, construction and delivery of a high-speed train

between Cape Town Station and Durban Station.

You and your project team hold a risk identification and allocation meeting. During the meeting

the team discusses the following:

Cape Town Station:

1. Currently there are 85 operational train sets, made up of 1 094 coaches.

2. There are 671 scheduled trains per weekday, operating over 460 kilometres of track

to 122 stations and 4 halts.

3. In 2018 there were around 500 000 daily users of the service. The services are

divided into three areas, each of which has various branches.

Durban Station:

1. Currently there are 35 000 daily users of the service.

2. There are 125 scheduled trains per weekday.

3. The station was revamped recently and is now world-class. The management of the

station has indicated that they would not consider allowing any private trains to use

their facility.

The Rail Route:

1. The route runs through rural areas where farm stock roam freely.

2. The technology requires the train tracks to be as flat as possible. Tunnels and bridges

will therefore have to be constructed, or alternatives should be considered.

3. All structures to be built for the rail infrastructure will require an environmental

assessment, which could take up to three years to complete.

4. The train will use a large amount of electricity, which means that the pressure on the

South African electrical infrastructure will increase drastically.

5. Security companies will be employed to ensure that the material is guarded during

construction.

1.1 Identify at least five risks associated with the project and give a risk rating for each by

using a 4 x 4 matrix as in Figure 1. (25)

Risk example: Getting material to the construction sites in the rural areas

1.2 Management asks you to propose possible responses to these risks. (5)