A first ride on the Gautrain

Comment on transport routes

Comment on transport routes
Written by Romaana Naidoo
Thursday, 14 January 2010

The City is making transportation plans to connect to the various Gautrain stations

The City has opened the floor for its residents to speak out on the proposed feeder and distribution routes of the Gautrain system, which include Rea Vaya and minibus taxi routes.

THE deadline for public comment on the Gautrain systems feeder and distribution routes has been extended to 12 February. Phase one of the Gautrain system is scheduled to begin in June.
Developments at the Marlboro Station
Developments at the Marlboro Station
Joburg residents can comment on the revised routes of the feeder systems of the rapid rail link, which include the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and minibus taxis.

The City, along with the Gautrain Management Agency, representing the province, in 2009 reviewed the routes for the Gautrain Dedicated Feeder and Distribution Service, which were proposed in 2004.

"We initiated this review to ensure that there is maximum integration between the different bus modes as well as between buses and minibus taxis," Rehana Moosajee, the member of the mayoral committee for transport, said in a press statement.

The review took into account the BRT and the new routes would ensure there was no duplication or overlapping. The new routes would also ensure that minibus taxis played a role in transporting commuters to and from Gautrain stations.

Although there is no legal obligation for the City to seek public comment on the revised routes, the mayoral committee agreed to get public feedback. The public includes commuters and public transport operators.

The anticipated routes and services were initially announced in The Star and Sowetan newspapers on 30 November 2009 and the deadline for public comment was set for 31 December 2009. However, because people pointed out that they were unable to comment because of the holidays, the City agreed to extend the deadline.

"We have ... consulted with the Gautrain Management Agency and Bombela Concession Company and have agreed to extend the time for public participation until 12 February 2010," Moosajee said.

Written comments must be submitted to the executive director of transportation, Lisa Seftel, and can be posted to PO Box 1049, Johannesburg, 2000; delivered to 66 Sauer Street, JRA building, office 810 on the 8th floor; or emailed to lisas@joburg.org.zaThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Information on the routes can be viewed here. Copies of the routes can also be obtained at a fee of 60 cents per A4 page, on weekdays from 8am to 4pm at the following addresses:

Region A
300 Fifteen Road, Randjes Park, Midrand
Call 011 203 3612 or fax 011 203 3500

Region B
ACA Krans Building, 35 Symons Road, corner Beverly Avenue, Auckland Park
Call 011 718 9613 or fax 011 718 9759

Region C
Roodepoort Civic Centre, 100 Christiaan de Wet Road, Florida Park
Call 011 761 0321 or fax 011 674 4139

Region D
Jabulani Civic Centre, 1 Koma Road, Jabulani, Soweto
Call 011 986 0118 or fax 011 932 0883

Region E
Sandton Civic Centre, Sandton
Call 011 881 6055 or fax 011 531 5712

Region F
CJ Cronje Building, 80 Loveday Street, corner Bree Street, ground floor
Call 011 376 8604 or fax 011 376 8594

Region G
Lenasia Civic Centre, corner Eland and Rose avenues, Lenasia
Call 011 852 9600 or fax 011 857 1567

Any comments delivered after the closing date will be disregarded.

Read more: http://www.joburg.org.za/content/view/4727/266/#ixzz0czSCkEcC

Gautrain first-phase trial run scheduled for March

The Gautrain rapid-rail project will start full system trial operations on the section between Sandton station and the OR Tambo International Airport in March, says Gautrain spokesperson Dr Barbara Jensen.

The operator, Bombela, is expected to complete its ten-week trial run for this section in May.

Commuters traveling between Johannesburg, the airport and Pretoria have already witnessed the various train sets undergoing testing on certain parts of the route.

Although the contractual completion date for the project's first phase is June 27, Bombela – and the client – the Gauteng provincial government – is negotiating to see whether it can be wrapped up by May 27, so that it will be finished in time for the World Cup kick-off in June.

This year's phase one work will include several milestones.

In January, all the electrical and mechanical (E&M) installation work will be completed, with the exception of some automatic fare collection equipment.

Complete area integration testing will take place in February.

The main bus depot – a dedicated bus system will feed into the train route – is expected to be completed in the same month.

The OR Tambo International Airport station, Rhodesfield, Marlboro and Sandton stations should all be largely completed and operatational before the end of May, notes Jensen.

The remainder of the 80 km route – phase two – which includes the line north to Tshwane and the line south to Park station, in Johannesburg, is scheduled for completion in 2011.

Work here will see the Hatfield station handed over from the civil contractor to the E&M contractor by July or August.

Testing and commissioning of the Midrand section is expected to be completed in August.

The testing and commissioning of systems for the Centurion section is expected to be completed during the second half of the year.

Trackwork installation for phase two – that is for the full R25,4-billion Gautrain system – should be completed by the end of the year, says Jensen.

Power supply and distribution work for phase two is also expected to be completed before the end of the year, she adds.

“Most of the physical construction and installation work, as well as the bulk of the testing and commissioning on the Gautrain should, thus, be completed by the end of 2010,” says Jensen.

As for rolling stock, sub-assembly for the rail cars delivered from Derby, in the UK, to Nigel here in South Africa is expected to be completed by February.

“The last rolling stock four-car unit is expected to be completed for final acceptance testing by June,” says Jensen.

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The Gautrain is coming

13 January 2010 - 12:49

The Gautrain is being tested on the line to OR Tambo International Airport.

The long awaited fast train will see several milestones this year. The most important milestone this year is that the Gautrain will commence its Phase 1 operations on the section between Sandton Station and OR Tambo International Airport. Although the contractual completion date for Phase 1 is 27 June 2010, Bombela and the Gauteng government is negotiating in order to see whether it can be completed by 27 May 2010.

The following are expected to be some of the most important achievements for 2010:

Phase 1: Sandton Station to OR Tambo International Airport
• In January, all the Electrical and Mechanical (E&M) installation work will be completed with the exception of some Automatic Fare Collection equipment.
• Complete Area Integration testing in February.
• The main Bus depot is expected to be completed in February.
• In March 2010, the Operator is expected to commence with its Trial Running for Phase 1.
• The Operator is expected to complete its 10-week trial running phase for the Phase 1 section in May.
• OR Tambo International Airport station, Rhodesfield, Marlboro and Sandton stations should all be largely completed and operated before the end of May.
Phase 2: including the line north to Tshwane and the line south to Park Station
• Viaduct 5 construction through Centurion is expected to be completed by the middle of 2010.
• Hatfield Station should be handed over from the Civil Contractor to E&M Contractor by July or August.
• Testing and Commissioning of the Midrand Section is expected to be completed in August 2010.
• The Testing and Commissioning of systems for the Centurion Section is expected to be completed during the second half of the year.
• Trackwork installation for Phase 2, that is for the full Gautrain system, should be completed by the end of the year.
• The Power Supply and Distribution for Phase 2 is expected to be completed before the end of the year.
• Most of the physical construction and installation work, as well as the bulk of the testing and commissioning on the Gautrain should thus be completed by the end of 2010.
• Handover and access of stations for electrical and mechanical installations from the Civil Contractor to the Electrical and Mechanical Contractor is expected to take place as following:
Pretoria Station – February 2010
Rosebank Station – March 2010
Centurion Station – April 2010
Park Station – May 2010

Rolling Stock:
• The last sub-assembly for the rolling stock cars delivered from Derby to Nigel is expected to be completed by February.
• The last rolling stock 4-car unit is expected to be completed for final acceptance testing by June

See more pictures on www.gautrain.co.za

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Station boosting interest in Centurion

11 Dec 2009

Units in townhouse complexes near the Gautrain station in Centurion are starting to attract investor interest.

"Interest in these units is one of the signs of growing confidence in the area," says Riëtte Oosthuizen, office manager at the local RealNet office.

"We expect demand for units in Centurion to pick up considerably within the next 12 months or so as the station complex nears completion. But early bird investors are already targeting these units and are expecting to see good yields," she says.

Standard two-bedroom, two-bathroom townhouses with lock-up garages in Centurion sell at prices between R500k and R800k.

Oosthuizen adds that townhouses and duets in areas such as Highveld, Wierdapark, Eldoraigne and Rooihuiskraal at prices of up to R1,3m are also increasingly finding buyers. "Buyer confidence has been boosted by lower interest rates and banks' softened stance in approving bond applications.

"Although banks are still carefully vetting applicants, lower deposit requirements and, in some cases, 100% bonds being offered have stimulated demand in our area, especially among first-time buyers who now see their way clear to get a foot on the property ladder.

"In this regard, it is also pleasing to find that many first-time buyers have managed to save or otherwise obtain deposits of up to 10%, in sharp contrast to just a few months ago. This is an encouraging sign that new market entrants are taking homeownership seriously enough to put down some of their own money."

Charmaine Coetzee, manager of Pam Golding Properties (PGP) in Centurion, says the last four months has seen a wave of prosperity in the Centurion market.

"Our sales are back to pre-recession levels and properties across the residential spectrum are back in demand. Buyers are snapping up entry-level properties as well as those over R4m. But the biggest demand lies in the segment between R800k and R1,3m.

She says the shortage of stock is a real problem in Centurion. "Distressed sales have all but ceased and the middle-income group doesn't have enough money yet to upgrade to more expensive properties." – Eugene Brink

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