Boksburg still part of the Gautrain rail routes expansion plan
The Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) is still planning to extend its rail route to include Boksburg and other areas within the province, said the Gauteng Roads and Transport Department in a statement.
According to Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Dr Ismail Vadi, 19 new Gautrain stations are being planned, and areas to be covered in the expansion of the Gautrain route include a link between Rhodesfield and Boksburg.
This will include a station, possibly at East Rand Mall, and possible link-up with the OR Tambo International Airport Midfield terminal development.
Yet it will take some time before such a station is built in Boksburg.
This is after the GMA completed the feasibility study on the extension of the Gautrain rail network.
The feasibility study has been submitted to Provincial and National treasuries and to major stakeholders who were consulted during the feasibility process.
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If it is approved by National Treasury, construction on the new lines could only start in a couple of years and it could take more than two decades for the project to be completed.
The feasibility study identified the following main links and stations of the Gautrain rail network that will be part of the extensions:
* On the link between Rhodesfield and Boksburg there will be a station at East Rand Mall and possible link-up with the OR Tambo International Airport Midfield terminal development.
* On the link between Jabulani via Cosmo City and Samrand to Mamelodi, stations include Roodepoort, Little Falls, Fourways, Sunninghill, Olievenhoutsbosch, Irene, Tshwane East and Hazeldean.
* The link between Sandton and Cosmo City has a station at Randburg.
* A future link from Cosmo City to Lanseria Airport.
Vadi stated that demand modelling was done to determine transport needs for Gauteng in 2025 and 2037.
“Through the modelling process it became clear that the cost of doing nothing in the province will lead to major road congestion in 2037, at which stage cars will travel at an average of 15m/h an hour due to doubling of car growth” said Vadi in a statement.
The feasibility study concludes that the extension of the Gautrain rail network will provide significant economic- and transport-related benefits to the province and the country at large. It offers value for money and appropriate risk transfer if procured as a public-private partnership.
“After six years of operation and close to 80 million passenger trips, the Gauteng Provincial Government has demonstrated that the face of public transport can be radically changed,” said Vadi.
“A modern and efficient public transport system such as the Gautrain has had a positive impact on the provincial economy, alleviated traffic congestion and rejuvenated several inner cities in Johannesburg and Tshwane.
“It has created jobs and helped to re-establish the rail sector in Gauteng.”
According to the transport department, these benefits illustrate the need for rail as being the backbone of public transport in the province.
Due to growing ridership and peak-hour passenger demand, 12 new train sets are also required.
“With the Gautrain’s 99 per cent availability rate, less than 0.4 per cent fare evasion, and 98 per cent punctuality of its trains, the system has generated strong demand for the expansion of the Gautrain rail system.
Due to the magnitude and complexity of the project, it will be split into five phases.
Phase One is shown below:
The total network is shown below:
Vadi said the Gauteng provincial government is aware that a project of this magnitude will require significant funding from various sources.
“In order to address affordability issues an engagement with the national government is required. This will be facilitated by the national Department of Transport.”
He said it will have significant socio-economic development benefits, including an estimated 211 000 jobs created in construction, R19 billion procurement spend on black-owned entities, increased black ownership of companies in the rail sector, a strong focus on local content in the supply chain and increased capacity in the rail sector through skills development.
“This is our dream of a world-class rail system to eventually connect our people throughout Gauteng.”
