The Gauteng government’s plans for the expansion of the Gautrain rail network are moving forward following the gazetting of new proposed routes.
This gazette comes just a month after the government announced that it has paid off the existing Gautrain system, bringing to an end the nearly two-decade public-private partnership that funded its construction at a cost of about R26 billion.
However, the Gautrain will continue to operate under a public-private partnership model, with the provincial government in the process of appointing a new operator to manage the system.
“The Gautrain system will continue to operate under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model as it advances into the next phase of its operational journey,” the Department of Roads and Transport and the Gautrain Management Agency said.
“As the current concession agreement approaches its conclusion, the process of appointing a new private partner to operate, maintain, refurbish, upgrade and modernise the Gautrain system for the next 15 years is at an advanced stage of negotiation”.
With that process still underway, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi announced during his state of the province address that the government now has its sights firmly set on expanding the rail network, aiming to connect more communities and improve access to public transport across the province.
“The Gauteng government will invest R120 billion in the expansion of Gautrain to the following new areas: Soweto via Fourways, Mamelodi, Atteridgeville, Lanseria, and Springs.”
He has previously said that the expansion of the Gautrain is expected to create more than 125,000 construction jobs.
“The expansion of the Gautrain is expected to create over 125,000 jobs during the construction over a five year period“, he said.
The new routes that the expansion will cover include a largely underground line linking Little Falls, Roodepoort, and Jabulani in Soweto; a corridor from Cosmo City to Lanseria Airport; and a line connecting Cosmo City to Samrand through Fourways, Sunninghill, and Olivenhoutbosch.
Little Falls Station to Jabulani Station (Soweto) through Roodepoort Station
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The proposed route runs about 20km underground from near Little Falls, passing beneath Helderkruin, Horizon View, Roodepoort and parts of Soweto. It includes underground platforms at Roodepoort and Jabulani, with station buildings planned above ground, and is designed to avoid dolomite and previously mined areas.
Cosmo City Station to Lanseria Station through Cradle Station and Smart City Station
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The proposed route runs for about 17.4km, mostly above ground with around 7km on elevated viaducts. It will pass through Cradle Station and continue towards Lanseria Airport, crossing major roads including the R114, N14 and R552.
The route also “North-East underneath the suburbs of Waterfall, Kyalami Hills and Carlswald, passing under the R55 (Woodmead Drive), M39 (Allandale Road), and Walton Avenue/New Road to the proposed Olivenhoutbosch Station, where platforms are planned to be developed underground, and station buildings planned to be constructed above-ground.
Cosmo City Station to Samrand Station through Fourways Station, Sunninghill Station and Olivenhoutbosch Station
The proposed 30.4km corridor runs mostly underground, with sections near Cosmo City and Samrand above ground. It will pass through Fourways, Sunninghill, Waterfall and Midrand areas, including Olivenhoutbosch, before linking to Samrand.
The route includes underground stations at Fourways, Sunninghill and Olivenhoutbosch, and crosses major roads and highways such as the R512, R55, N1 and R101, before connecting back to the existing Gautrain network near Samran
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