On Tuesday it was still unclear whether the R25,4-billion Gautrain rapid-rail project would be completed in time for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) CEO Jack van der Merwe said the Bombela consortium, responsible for the project's construction, had indicated that it might be technically feasible to complete the project in time for the June 11 kick-off, but that this was not a certainty.
The project's phase one – the link between the OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) and Sandton – was not contractually scheduled to be completed until the end of June.
However, government had previously indicated the need to complete the project in time for the global sports event.
Van der Merwe said it seems as if Bombela would be able to tell GMA in mid-October whether it would be able to wrap up phase one in May.
“So, by the middle of October we will know whether we must pay extra to have the link completed. Then we will also have to decide whether it is worth the money and, if so, where we will find the money.”
Van der Merwe told Parliament's portfolio committee on transport earlier in the day that GMA would not pay an “unreasonable amount” to the Bombela consortium to accelerate the project for a four-week-long event.
“It was never said that this was a soccer project. This train has to run for another 100 years. You cannot spend this kind of money on a four-week event,” news agency Sapa quoted Van der Merwe as saying.
The Gautrain project was announced in January 2000. South Africa was awarded the World Cup in April 2004.
Van der Merwe said 125 buses would be ready to transport passengers from the airport to their hotels should the train not be ready in time.
Phase two of the Gautrain project was scheduled for completion in March 2011, ultimately linking Johannesburg, Tshwane and ORTIA.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Gautrain 2010 decision to be made in October – Van der Merwe
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
2010: Gautrain may not be ready
Cape Town - The R25bn Gautrain project may not be ready in time for the 2010 Soccer World Cup, the project's chief executive told Parliament on Tuesday.
Jack Van der Merwe told Parliament's portfolio committee on transport that the Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) would not pay an "unreasonable amount" to the Bombela consortium to accelerate the project for a four-week-long event.
"There has to be value for money. If we have to pay an unreasonable amount, the answer is no," Van der Merwe said.
"It was never said that this was a soccer project. This train has to run for another 100 years.
"You cannot spend this kind of money on a four week event."
The World Cup is due to run from June 11 to July 11.
Costs
The Gautrain project was announced in January 2000. South Africa was awarded the World Cup in April 2004.
Van der Merwe did not know how much it would cost to accelerate the construction work to May 27.
The GMA was negotiating with Bombela.
He said any extra costs would have to be paid by the provincial or national government.
The costs would not be passed on to passengers through increased ticket fares, which are expected to cost between 50 and 60 cents a kilometre or R20 for a trip from Johannesburg to Pretoria.
Van der Merwe said 125 buses would be ready to transport passengers from the airport to their hotels should the train - which will run from the airport to central Johannesburg and Pretoria - not be ready in time.
'Carrot' for motorists
Van der Merwe said the Gautrain would be "carrot" for motorists using the Ben Schoeman highway between Johannesburg and Pretoria.
The train journey between central Johannesburg and Hatfield in Pretoria will take approximately 38 minutes and will cost commuters between R800 and R1 000 a month.
Traffic congestion and a R1 000 a month toll fee to be introduced on the highway would be the "stick".
"People will be stuck in traffic on the Ben Schoeman and they will see a train shoot past and they'll think maybe I made a mistake.
"Then five minutes later they'll see another train and they'll think I really did make a mistake."
via
Jack Van der Merwe told Parliament's portfolio committee on transport that the Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) would not pay an "unreasonable amount" to the Bombela consortium to accelerate the project for a four-week-long event.
"There has to be value for money. If we have to pay an unreasonable amount, the answer is no," Van der Merwe said.
"It was never said that this was a soccer project. This train has to run for another 100 years.
"You cannot spend this kind of money on a four week event."
The World Cup is due to run from June 11 to July 11.
Costs
The Gautrain project was announced in January 2000. South Africa was awarded the World Cup in April 2004.
Van der Merwe did not know how much it would cost to accelerate the construction work to May 27.
The GMA was negotiating with Bombela.
He said any extra costs would have to be paid by the provincial or national government.
The costs would not be passed on to passengers through increased ticket fares, which are expected to cost between 50 and 60 cents a kilometre or R20 for a trip from Johannesburg to Pretoria.
Van der Merwe said 125 buses would be ready to transport passengers from the airport to their hotels should the train - which will run from the airport to central Johannesburg and Pretoria - not be ready in time.
'Carrot' for motorists
Van der Merwe said the Gautrain would be "carrot" for motorists using the Ben Schoeman highway between Johannesburg and Pretoria.
The train journey between central Johannesburg and Hatfield in Pretoria will take approximately 38 minutes and will cost commuters between R800 and R1 000 a month.
Traffic congestion and a R1 000 a month toll fee to be introduced on the highway would be the "stick".
"People will be stuck in traffic on the Ben Schoeman and they will see a train shoot past and they'll think maybe I made a mistake.
"Then five minutes later they'll see another train and they'll think I really did make a mistake."
via
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
GAUTRAIN COACH INTERIORS MADE IN WALES
Gautrain rolling stock incorporates material supplied by Precision Cast Components (PCC), a company based in Newport, Wales. In its factory, PCC has fabricated the interior panelling for all 96 coaches. The contract has meant expansion, which has been funded to the tune of £160,000 by the Corus group subsidiary UK Steel Enterprise.
Managing director of PCC Mark Isaac, pleased to have won such a prestigious contract, was quoted saying: “Bombardier has the contract for the whole railway, and we have worked closely with them for many years on projects around the world”.
PCC is now the biggest supplier of rail interiors in the UK. It has supplied the Kowloon and Canton Railway in Hong Kong, and in the UK the Southern Rail and Virgin companies have placed substantial orders with the firm.
Mr Isaac said: “Bombardier knows that we will provide high quality products, and that our manufacturing techniques are constantly being improved and updated. “They also know we will deliver on time, bearing in mind that Gautrain faces a tight timetable to be ready for the World Cup.”
The Welsh press reported excitedly: “Fans at next year’s World Cup in South Africa will be transported on ultra-modern trains built with the help of Precision Cast Components (PCC), a company based in Newport, Wales.”
[ In fact, Gautrain’s main-line to Pretoria will not be open until mid-2011 and even the line to the airport is not scheduled for completion until several weeks after the games start in early June 2010. - via
Managing director of PCC Mark Isaac, pleased to have won such a prestigious contract, was quoted saying: “Bombardier has the contract for the whole railway, and we have worked closely with them for many years on projects around the world”.
PCC is now the biggest supplier of rail interiors in the UK. It has supplied the Kowloon and Canton Railway in Hong Kong, and in the UK the Southern Rail and Virgin companies have placed substantial orders with the firm.
Mr Isaac said: “Bombardier knows that we will provide high quality products, and that our manufacturing techniques are constantly being improved and updated. “They also know we will deliver on time, bearing in mind that Gautrain faces a tight timetable to be ready for the World Cup.”
The Welsh press reported excitedly: “Fans at next year’s World Cup in South Africa will be transported on ultra-modern trains built with the help of Precision Cast Components (PCC), a company based in Newport, Wales.”
[ In fact, Gautrain’s main-line to Pretoria will not be open until mid-2011 and even the line to the airport is not scheduled for completion until several weeks after the games start in early June 2010. - via
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
OR Tambo runs short of fuel
Johannesburg - OR Tambo International Airport has only about two days of fuel supply left, and airlines have been asked to reduce their fuel uptake, Business Day reported on Tuesday.
This is apparently because of slow delivery by Transnet and the temporary shutdown of the Natref fuel pipeline at the weekend.
"We have put steps in place to ensure we do not run out of fuel," Chris Zweigenthal, the deputy chief executive of the Airlines Association of Southern Africa, told the daily.
The global benchmark is about five-and-a-half days of fuel reserves, he said.
Dave Scagell, operations manager at Chevron Global Aviation, the managing partner co-ordinating fuel supply at OR Tambo International, said it was not the first time the airport had experienced fuel shortages.
"The main thing is to ensure that we take steps to prevent the airport running out of fuel. That is why we have asked the airlines to reduce their uplift where possible," said Scagell.
The report said airlines were asked to reduce their fuel uptake by 30% and to refuel elsewhere.
- SAPA
This is apparently because of slow delivery by Transnet and the temporary shutdown of the Natref fuel pipeline at the weekend.
"We have put steps in place to ensure we do not run out of fuel," Chris Zweigenthal, the deputy chief executive of the Airlines Association of Southern Africa, told the daily.
The global benchmark is about five-and-a-half days of fuel reserves, he said.
Dave Scagell, operations manager at Chevron Global Aviation, the managing partner co-ordinating fuel supply at OR Tambo International, said it was not the first time the airport had experienced fuel shortages.
"The main thing is to ensure that we take steps to prevent the airport running out of fuel. That is why we have asked the airlines to reduce their uplift where possible," said Scagell.
The report said airlines were asked to reduce their fuel uptake by 30% and to refuel elsewhere.
- SAPA
Monday, August 3, 2009
8 Fun facts you probably did not know about the Gautrain
1. The first public passenger trip was made on 3 February 2009 by 150 people on a 3km test track at the depot.
2. Fifteen cars will be manufactured and assembled by Bombardier in Derby and the remaining cars will be assembled by UCW Partnership (Union Carriage & Wagon Co. (Pty) Ltd) in South Africa using structural components made in Britain.
3. Gautrain will consist of 24 trains, each made up with four cars linked together: nineteen trains will service the commuter network and five trains will service the airport link
4. The train is expected to cut the number of cars on the N1 Ben Schoeman Highway highway by 20%, with 100,000 daily passenger trips.
5. On July 8, 2008, the first four-car train set was handed over to the Gauteng Premier, Mbhazima Shilowa
Mbhazima Shilowa
6. 65 road intersections will be upgraded during construction.
7. More than six million cubic metres of soil will have to be moved and disposed of.
8. Gautrain will operate from 05:30 to 20:30.
2. Fifteen cars will be manufactured and assembled by Bombardier in Derby and the remaining cars will be assembled by UCW Partnership (Union Carriage & Wagon Co. (Pty) Ltd) in South Africa using structural components made in Britain.
3. Gautrain will consist of 24 trains, each made up with four cars linked together: nineteen trains will service the commuter network and five trains will service the airport link
4. The train is expected to cut the number of cars on the N1 Ben Schoeman Highway highway by 20%, with 100,000 daily passenger trips.
5. On July 8, 2008, the first four-car train set was handed over to the Gauteng Premier, Mbhazima Shilowa
Mbhazima Shilowa
6. 65 road intersections will be upgraded during construction.
7. More than six million cubic metres of soil will have to be moved and disposed of.
8. Gautrain will operate from 05:30 to 20:30.
Gautrain’s 15-km-long tunnel nears completion
Around 14 km of the 15-km-long tunnel of the multibillion-rand Gautrain rapid rail project has been completed.
The underground route of the Gautrain stretches from Johannesburg’s Park station to Parktown Ridge and on to Rosebank, Sandton, to where it surfaces at the Marlboro portal.
Construction of the train depot facilities, including the train system administration buildings and operations control centre, located in Midrand, is also complete.
This centre will be the heartbeat of the Gautrain, from where signalling, telecommunications, automatic fare collection, traction power and overhead distribution will be managed.
The Gautrain, which government esti- mates will carry 300 000 passengers a day by 2011, will see a minimum of six trains an hour running in peak times between Johannesburg, Tshwane and OR Tambo International Airport by 2011.
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