Gautrain news

[John Ashworth]

Gautrain links city to big future

KATHARINE CHILD | 08 June, 2012 00:03
Times Live

Almost two years to the day the Gautrain started running, commuters were finally able to take the four-minute ride from Rosebank to the Johannesburg CBD on Thursday.

The Gauteng government is not only celebrating the opening of the final Gautrain station, 15 years in the planning, but is already planning to expand the "middle-class" railway.

Gauteng MEC for transport Ismail Vadi told journalists at the launch of the Johannesburg Park Station route that the province was already thinking "where to from here".

He said engineers were deciding whether it was feasible to link the Gautrain to the 23km, 23-station Metrorail route around Pretoria to form an integrated public transport system in the capital city.

"The infrastructure is in place. It would be a great scheme to revitalise and revamp transport in Pretoria and hook up with the Bus Rapid Transport system planned to open next year," Vadi said.

Jack van der Merwe, CEO of the Gauteng Management Agency - which manages the train on behalf of the province - said although extensions would take a long time to make, it was planning for the new route.

"A final decision will be made in about two years' time," he said.

Van der Merwe said he hoped the number of Gautrain passengers would increase from the current 35000 to 42000 a day.

Gautrain user Jaco Cronje said he knew about 20 people in his Braamfontein offices who were considering taking the Gautrain now that it went into the city.

The City of Johannesburg is hoping the Gautrain will bring investment and contribute to a different type of city.

Member of the mayoral committee for transport Rehana Moosajee said: "We want the CBD to become a pedestrian hub in which mass transit is the preferred option. We must find a way to decongest the inner city.

"It is significant that the Gautrain goes into the heart of the inner city. It is the beginning of the integrated transport system in Johannesburg."

The city opened the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transport station at Park Station three weeks ago, allowing commuters to step off the Gautrain and catch a bus into the city or to Braamfontein, Ellis Park or Soweto.

Moosajee said sellers in the city were now advertising their properties in relation to the public transport route.

First Gautrain passenger trip to Park station

By: Sapa
7th June 2012
Engineering News

The Gautrain made its first passenger run to the new Park station in the Johannesburg central business district on Thursday.

Gauteng transport MEC Ismail Vadi and Gautrain Management Agency CEO Jack van der Merwe braved the cold to catch the 7am train from the Rosebank Station.

The train took only three minutes and 20 seconds to reach the new station in Wolmarans street.

Van der Merwe said certification for passenger travel on the new line was received on Wednesday night and it had been decided to run trains to it as soon as possible.

"It just made commercial sense to open it as soon as possible," he said.

He said the opening of the new passenger line was the culmination of 15 years of work.

The line to Park station was initially meant to open last year but was delayed by water seeping into the tunnel.

"The geology is very mixed in Joburg, [although] there is some water coming in the walls it is very safe to operate," Van der Merwe said.

Vadi said that the line was safe for travel, but "the provincial government would like as little water as possible" in the tunnel.

A dispute resolution on the matter would be held in September, he said.

Van der Merwe said there was "no short term crisis" but in the long term a solution could be needed.

Vadi said he was "absolutely delighted" with the extension of the Gautrain service.

He said the other stations had stimulated economic development.

"In Rosebank new hotels have been built, there has been massive development around the station," he said.

Vadi said the Park Station was close to a Rea Vaya terminal and the existing Metrorail station, forming an integrated city transport hub.

Bombela chairman Andre Laas said he was surprised at the number of passengers using the Gautrain to the new station on its first day.

"Its amazing how quickly news spreads," he said.

Laas said that by Friday he expected a full complement of passengers to the Park station.