Name and Location
Gautrain expansion project, Gauteng, South Africa.
Client
Gautrain Management Agency (GMA).
Project Description
The extension of the Gautrain will include a link from the existing Gautrain Park station to Westgate; a link from the existing Gautrain Rhodesfield station to Boksburg; a link from the existing Gautrain Sandton station to Randburg and Honeydew; and a link from Naledi, in Soweto, to Mamelodi, through either the proposed Gautrain Samrand station, or the existing Gautrain Midrand station.
This extension will include stations at Blue Hills, Sunninghill, Fourways, Cosmo City and Ruimsig. Ultimately, the plan is to have four Gautrain lines, adding to the Pretoria–Johannesburg and Sandton–OR Tambo International Airport links.
Value
Not stated.
Duration
Not stated.
Latest Developments
The feasibility study (FS) on the possible expansion of the 80 km Gautrain system should be completed by January next year, says GMA CEO Jack van der Merwe.
Van der Merwe says the expansion project has been registered with government as a public-private partnership.
He says the project forms part of the Gauteng government’s new 25-year Integrated Transport Master Plan (ITMP25).
“The ITMP25 wants to provide more certainty on three aspects: what the economy will do, what the population will do and how land in Gauteng will be used.”
It is estimated that Gauteng will be home to 18.7-million people in 2037, up from the current 12.3-million, of which 8.6-million will be workers. This means there will be about 25-million passenger trips a day in the province by 2037 – as much as is currently the case in London, says Van der Merwe.
ITMP25 provides for a land use plan to integrate all of the province’s existing inhabitants, as well as the newcomers into the small economic heartland of South Africa.
The proposed rail expansion routes are planned around this land use development plan.
For example, the proposed Naledi – Mamelodi line could have as many as 14 stations.
“When considering the expansion, we need to look at these 14 islands, and the 10 km next to the line, and keep in mind existing and future land use, the local economic nodes, and other transport solutions available. We need to see if we can help grow the economy around the Gautrain stations,” notes Van der Merwe.
A study by consultants KPMG has shown that the existing Gautrain has spurred on developments to the value of R46-billion.
“The system has produced massive secondary benefits – more than 1.5 times its costs.”
Van der Merwe believes it will be much easier to build expansions to the Gautrain than if it was to sell the initial footprint to a public doubtful of its success.
“Everybody told us they didn’t want the train in their backyards, and now people clamour to be near the stations.”
The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s multibillion-rand project to procure new, locally built rolling stock for its Metrorail service could also result in the Gautrain expansion project tapping into the development, using similar, if perhaps somewhat modified coaches.
It has not yet been determined that any Gautrain expansion will necessarily follow the blueprint of the current system, adds Van der Merwe.
“First, we’ll look if we can expand the rapid rail network, then see where it will run, and then consider the best rolling stock to use.”
It is also not a given that all expansions will be branded Gautrain.
In addition to this, not all of the proposed routes may necessarily be constructed, while some of the expansions could also be built in phases.
Key Contracts and Suppliers
SMEC Consortium, comprising SMEC South Africa, DLA Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr and Deloitte (FS).
On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.
Contact Details for Project Information
GMA, tel +27 11 086 3500 or fax +27 11 580 0604.
SMEC South Africa, tel +27 11 369 0600, fax +27 011 886 4589 or email johannesburg@smec.com.
DLA Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, tel +27 11 562 1000, fax +27 11 562 1111