Route determination notice a step closer to Gautrain in Randburg

Residents have 30 days to write to the project manager of the Gautrain extension proposal that will see the route go through various suburbs and may see some homes expropriated.

The proposed route mainly goes through Ward 101 (North Riding and Olivedale) but also via Bryanston, Ferndale, Randburg CBD and Bordeaux, among other Randburg suburbs.

This route extension will mostly be above ground – apart from the underground area of network in Randburg CBD – and should the proposal become reality, residential homes, schools and roads will be affected.

The notice of route determination was provided publicly in Randburg Sun, week ending May 27.

The determination of the route is the first phase of the process of defining the railway reserve for the proposed Gauteng Rapid Rail Integrated Network GRRIN extensions, and forms part of the preparatory work required to enable a project of this nature to be implemented.

As such, the commencement of the implementation of the project is not envisioned to occur before 2026.

The project has been a long time in coming and has been extensively covered by Randburg Sun since last year.

This publication is following up with Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) to bring more information to light and answer any questions residents may have.

Also read: Gautrain on its way to Randburg 

Also read: Proposed Gautrain stations in Randburg CBD and Northgate may have minimal environmental impact 

The most recent public notice of the route determination came with a map that was more detailed than the one provided by GMA last year, but the route has not changed.

The route starts at the proposed Little Falls station in a north-easterly direction towards Zandspruit and passes west of Jackal Creek Golf Estate before changing to a south-easterly direction towards Cosmo City and a proposed Cosmo City station (which will actually be in Northgate and between 3km and 13km by road from Cosmo City at its nearest and furthest points).

Also read: Gautrain extension should be halted immediately – AA 

Also read: RCCI for the Gautrain 

From there, the route will continue south easterly towards the proposed Randburg station, passing through North Riding, Olivedale, Bryanston and Ferndale.

Then it will go through Randburg, Bordeaux and Hurlingham and make a turn in Sandhurst towards the existing Sandton station where an upgraded station is proposed.

From there the route goes northeast through several suburbs to join the existing Marlboro station, where again, an upgrade is proposed to accommodate the new alignment.

Also read: Should Gautrain be a priority when there are other issues at hand? 

The route determination has been applicable since May 25 and its report is available at the office of the Department of Roads and Transport in Koedoespoort, Pretoria.

Write to the GMA to find out more

Electronic copies of the route determination report are available at www.gma.gautrain.co.za or at the office of the same department in Commissioner Street, Joburg CBD.

Interested and affected parties may also request reasons for the decision of the route within 30 days of the publication of the notice.

They can submit this request through email to phase1@gautengrapidrail.co.za for attention: The Project Manager: GRRIN Extensions Project, with the subject GRRINE/RD01.

Until then, community members can contact GMA through the website or by phoning 080 0428 87246.

More information about this new route network can be found here.