The Gautrain Blog

Date for Gautrain's maiden voyage set

2010-05-18T05:33:00.000-07:00

Gauteng's state-of-the-art Gautrain is set to carry its first passengers from OR Tambo International Airport to Sandton on June 8, three days before the World Cup kick-off.

Barbara Jensen, spokeswoman for the Gauteng province on the Gautrain, said four stations - OR Tambo, Rhodesfield in Kempton Park, Marlboro and Sandton - would be fully operational by Saturday, June 5, when the inauguration takes place.

Although Sandton will be fully operational, construction will still be in progress for the next few months on the second phase, from Sandton to Park station in central Joburg.

The first trip for members of the public is set to take place on Tuesday, June 8.

The fare schedule will be finalised by the end of this week, but trips from the airport to Sandton are expected to be about R100 to R120, one way.

From Sandton there will be feeder buses to stadiums and other locations. Passengers will disembark from the train underneath Sandton City.

The station and parking are 15 storeys underground.

It will take 12 minutes from OR Tambo to Sandton, with the train reaching speeds of 160km/h.

At the airport, passengers will be taken straight into the arrivals lounge.

People will be able to buy tickets at an automated ticketing system at the airport.

Transport master plan may cost R750bn

2010-05-18T03:23:00.000-07:00

A TRANSPORT master plan costing R750bn, which includes linking Johannesburg to Durban and Polokwane via rapid train networks, was presented to Parliament by the Department of Transport yesterday.

The plan’s project manager, Lanfranc Situma, told the portfolio committee for transport that the department needed urgent approval from MPs so that the Cabinet-initiated National Transport Master Plan (Natmap) could “get moving”.

“We are not saying we are going to build a train tomorrow. We are saying we want to have to prepare a project document that will be able complete for funding,” Situma said.

Natmap transport planning consultant Paul Lombard recommended to the committee that studies be done on whether it was feasible to extend the Gautrain project to the Durban-Johannesburg and Pretoria-Polokwane lines. “We must ask if we can afford it and how affordable it will be to passengers and the government,” Lombard said.

He recommended the immediate institution of a rail infrastructure-owning entity, similar to the Airports Company SA, that would “eventually absorb” SA’s entire network and “allow existing freight and passenger agencies to operate on the network”.

The plan, which includes expanding the port of Saldanha, doubling the size of the Huguenot Tunnel outside Paarl, and expanding the port of Cape Town as other vital projects, would cost roughly R750bn should it be launched today, financial project manager Themba September said.

He said part of the plan was to form partnerships with the private sector to help fund the project and lower the burden to taxpayers. “Overall, between now and 2050, the cost of the project will be around R750bn.

“We would hope to fund a large part of the project through private-public partnerships. We would like to find the right ratio of ownership between the private and public sector.”

September could not speculate on a start date for the project, but said it was important that SA “wasn’t caught napping. Someone at some point has to make a hard, cold decision on this”.

Situma told the MPs SA could qualify for foreign funding for the rail project as it had voluntarily agreed to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 46%. “If you build a railway or a train, you are going to be cutting down the emissions from the road because there will be less vehicles emitting carbon on the roads. “Because of that, we will qualify for funding which other people are getting. That money is readily available.”

The Natmap was initiated in 2007 to establish a multimodal transportation system to meet SA’s needs up to 2050. Sapa

GAUTRAIN SMARTCARD TICKETING

2010-05-17T03:22:00.000-07:00

From the Gautrain website:

. Smart card electronic ticketing requires only one ticket for the train, bus and parking.
. Commuters will be able to use preloaded smart cards at self-help, computerised ticket vending machines in order to pay for train trips, bus trips or parking.
. Money can be loaded on to the smart card using cash, debit cards or credit cards.
. Contactless technology means that smart cards will be scanned electronically when they are swiped past station access-gate readers.
. In the future, Gautrain’s electronic ticketing system will form part of a single ticketing system for all modes of public transport across Gauteng.

Gautrain calculates fares with airport shuttle due to run next month

2010-05-16T03:21:00.000-07:00

GAUTRAIN is likely to finalise the fare structure for its new high-speed rail link in the coming week, with the first phase of the project between Sandton and Oliver Tambo International Airport due to begin operations on June 8.

The cost of the 12-minute trip to the airport is likely to be between R100 and R120 for a one-way trip, with travel to the other stations — Marlboro and Rhodesfield — likely to cost far less.

“Gautrain will charge a premium for the airport link as it is a tailored service,” Gautrain spokeswoman Barbara Jensen said late last week. “Compare that to the expected cost of R30 to R40 for a trip from Park Station to Hatfield in Pretoria when the service becomes fully operational in the first half of next year.”

The first two coaches of the train will be used exclusively for the airport service and will offer commuters larger seats and more luggage space.

“The airport coaches will be separate from the rest of the train, with only the first two coaches able to dock at the airport platform,” Jensen said. The trains will run 12 minutes apart during the peak morning and evening periods, and 20 minutes apart during the rest of the day.

“When the second phase opens during the first half of next year, the intervals between trains will drop to 10 minutes in peak periods and 15 minutes during the rest of the day,” said Jensen.

Gautrain estimated in 2003 that up to 140000 commuters would use the train once it was fully up and running, but Jensen believes the introduction of toll fees on Gauteng highways next year will push up passenger numbers on the train.

“We believe that the service will be aimed at the upper income group. However, we also expect to attract an aspirational group of middle-income earners who may be lured away from the minibus taxis,” Jensen said.

However, she points out that the mandate has always been to attract a middle market that was more expensive than the average minibus taxi but less than the perceived cost of using a private motor vehicle.

The fares will be managed using a smartcard system and will allow commuters to pay for the train fare and associated parking and bus service using a single card.

The Gautrain station in Sandton will have 1800 parking bays linked to the station and the nearby shopping district. “The parking rates will be far cheaper than that at OR Tambo International,” said Jensen.

Gautrain will also initially have a fleet of 40 buses that operate a distribution service from the stations, with departures linked to those of the rail link.

Jensen admitted that security was the biggest concern for many potential commuters and Gautrain had paid particular attention to the matter.

“We will have 400 accredited security guards and 700 (closed-circuit TV) cameras at the stations and on the trains and buses,” said Kelebogile Machaka, a spokeswoman for Bombela, the company operating the Gautrain. Only commuters would be allowed on the platform, with access through dedicated gates.

Africa's first high-speed train to open ahead of World Cup

2010-05-15T03:20:00.000-07:00

The Gautrain, Africa's first high-speed rail line, will launch on June 8 in South Africa three days before the opening match of the 2010 football World Cup, the developers said Friday.

The Gautrain at OR Tambo International Airport near Johannesburg, South Africa

French construction giant Bouygues said the train's first segment, linking OR Tambo International Airport and the posh Johannesburg suburb of Sandton, will open in time for the June 11 kick-off of Africa's first World Cup.

The segment "will be handed over on June 8, three weeks ahead of our original schedule," said Christian Gazaignes, Bouygues' executive director.

For R100 (13 dollars, 10 euros), World Cup visitors will be able to ride the 15 kilometres from the airport to the Sandton hotel district in less than 15 minutes.

In rush-hour traffic, the same trip takes more than an hour by car.

When finished in mid-2011, the 80-kilometre regional express train will link the capital Pretoria with national economic hub Johannesburg, running at speeds of up to 160 kilometres (99 miles) an hour and enabling commuters to make the trip in 42 minutes.

"It's going to give the country a beautiful image of modernity," said Laurence Leblanc, international director of RATP Dev, a subsidiary of French group RATP, the company awarded a 15-year concession to operate the train.

"The Gautrain isn't specifically a World Cup project. It doesn't serve the stadiums," said Leblanc. "But it's a superb project for South Africa's image. That's why we're knocking ourselves out to get ready."

The Bombela Consortium, an international group that includes Bouygues, Canadian firm Bombardier and two South African companies, began construction on the project in 2006.

The developers say they have "worked like crazy" to finish the first section before the World Cup, making up time lost to strikes and construction delays.

The 3.2-million-dollar Gautrain is the first high-speed rail line in Africa. The north African cities of Casablanca, Algiers and Cairo all have metro lines, but none runs as fast or as far as the Gautrain.

South African transportation officials say the train will form the backbone of a new public transport network that will help take traffic off the notoriously congested roads of the greater metropolitan area.

"We're targeting people who have the means to own a small car but would prefer to avoid traffic jams," said Leblanc.

RATP says it is targeting South Africans with a monthly income of 1,030 to 2,580 dollars (about R7000 to R20 000), and predicts 16,000 passengers a day will use the new rail line.

To get them to the train, the company plans to roll out a network of shuttle buses serving the population centres around the train stations.

RATP has set the price for the airport-Sandton route relatively high at 13 dollars (R100). But the Sandton-Pretoria segment will cost just 4.5 dollars (about R30), rivalling the price of the mini-buses that currently provide most of area's mass transit.

Officials hope the price scheme will help turn South Africans onto public transport, in a country where mass transit systems languished for decades under apartheid policies designed to keep whites and blacks apart.

RATP also promises tight security on the trains, using closed-circuit TV cameras, 400 security guards and 50 police officers to convince South Africans to abandon the protective shell of their vehicles.

Sapa-AFP

A ride on the Gautrain with the guy who drove the project

2010-05-14T03:09:00.000-07:00

Gautrain a future boost for Centurion

2010-05-13T02:48:00.001-07:00

Gautrain a future boost for Centurion
12 May 2010

The Centurion property market is set to receive huge boost in terms of demand and price growth in a year’s time when the Gautrain station grinds to completion.

So says Charmaine Coetzee, office manager for Pam Golding Properties (PGP) in Centurion, who adds that people who can buy or hold on to their property in the vicinity of the station, will reap excellent rewards.

“The Centurion property market is expected to grow over the next few years as the Gautrain and the newly upgraded highways make this beautiful and safe area more accessible to people who work as far afield as Midrand and Johannesburg. In addition, the newly planned Convention Centre in the area is expected to positively influence property values,” says Nic van den Berg of RE/MAX Jowic.

“The property market has shown growth over the past seven months, and we expect a steady positive growth for the next three to five years,” Van den Berg says.

“While the market growth is still far off the levels we experienced three years ago, and are unlikely to see ever again, there are signs of stock shortages in certain market segments. This is due to the fact that there are currently no new developments in the sectional or full-title markets. Prices will start to escalate once the current supply levels diminish.”

Coetzee says prices in Centurion are definitely higher than last year, but adds that the growth is moderate and nowhere near the 2007 levels. “Properties in estates have certainly seen some steady growth as demand grew.”

Van den Berg says the current average price for an entry-level property in Centurion is around R450k. Mid-level property prices average R850k, while more expensive properties are priced at R2,5m and above. “There are properties in the upper-market segment that are currently overpriced and these sellers will have to wait until the banks have relaxed their credit criteria before demand for these properties will pick up. Currently, our cash buyers are looking for better priced homes,” he says.

“There is also still a good supply of land available as builders remain constrained by the availability of loans, and land prices have not increased over the last 24 months.”

Coetzee says anything up to R2,5m is moving briskly right now and agrees with Van den berg that the upper end of the market is still quite slow with very few sales. “It’s also hard to single out a specific group as the main component of the buyers’ pool, as it consists of anything ranging from families to young couples to retirees.

“It has to be said, though, that first-time buyers are still struggling to obtain home loans, but not to a significant degree.”

When asked about stock shortages, she said there is a big dearth of rental properties now on the market between R600k and R900k. “People are shedding their rental properties rather than continuing to let them.”

“We’re also experiencing a massive demand for stands with people more keen to build now. The interest in security estates is also showing good improvement although the sales aren’t quite there yet.

Coetzee says a property in Centurion will be on the market for a mere 30 days if it is priced right. “But if it’s not, be prepared to wait 60-90 days, if it sells at all.” – Eugene Brink

A first ride on the Gautrain

2010-01-31T01:49:00.000-08:00

Comment on transport routes

2010-01-18T10:32:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-18T10:23:00.000-08:00

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.

via

The Gautrain is coming

2010-01-15T11:14:00.000-08:00

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

via

Station boosting interest in Centurion

2010-01-15T11:13:00.001-08:00

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

via

How much Gautrain commuters would be prepared to pay.

2009-09-03T07:32:00.000-07:00

The release of the salary survey by Kelly explains why the highway between Pretoria and Johannesburg becomes a garage every morning and afternoon. It also gives an indication of how much people would be willing to pay for Gautrain tickets.

Based on the salary survey, Johannesburg North based companies pay staff around 20% more than Pretoria companies do. For general office staff and administrative positions earning around R10 000 a month, that equates to an additional R2 000 a month. But recruitment firms say it is not only salary people are travelling for, but also the fact that Johannesburg attracts the more prestigious firms which look good on the CV.

When the Gautrain project was launched in 2006, a one-way ticket between Pretoria and Johannesburg was expected to be around R20. That would equate to R880 a month for a round ticket. Even if that is increased and commuters pay R1000 a month, it will be worth travelling to the city of gold for work - especially compared to driving.

It is surprising that people commute at all. At present petrol prices a commuter between the two cities would spend around R60 a day in petrol and once the toll system is fully in place will pay around R45 a day in tolls. That would cost around R2 310 a month - that is a big bite out of anyone's salary.

There are of course still costs to parking and getting from the station to work that need to be added in to the financial calculation but it is probably frustration levels that will ensure Gautrain is a success. People are now prepared to take the lower salaries to work closer to home rather than lose four hours a day to traffic jams. One recruitment agent told Moneyweb that she has seen people actually leave their jobs and risk unemployment because they could not stand another day of Ben Schoeman's hell.

If ticket prices stay within reason, it seems the success of Gautrain is a no brainer.

via

Gautrain 2010 decision to be made in October – Van der Merwe

2009-08-30T13:12:00.000-07:00

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.

via

Centurion area Gautrain photos

2009-08-30T13:05:00.001-07:00

2010: Gautrain may not be ready

2009-08-25T23:01:00.000-07:00

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

Gautrain - Video of the underground tunnel

2009-08-18T11:40:00.000-07:00

GAUTRAIN COACH INTERIORS MADE IN WALES

2009-08-18T11:33:00.000-07:00

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

Sights around Sandton

2009-08-18T11:29:00.000-07:00

OR Tambo runs short of fuel

2009-08-04T01:03:00.000-07:00

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

8 Fun facts you probably did not know about the Gautrain

2009-08-03T23:55:00.001-07:00

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.

Gautrain making its way from Durban Port

2009-08-03T23:51:00.000-07:00

Gautrain’s 15-km-long tunnel nears completion

2009-08-03T23:34:00.000-07:00

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.

via

More shapes and lines around OR Tambo

2009-08-03T07:34:00.000-07:00

This is not an ATM bombing

2009-07-31T11:57:00.000-07:00

Four buildings are imploded in the Joburg CBD to make way for a new 12 level parkade for the Gautrain:

Businesses around Centurion

2009-07-31T10:38:00.000-07:00

Interested in advertising your business on a website with loads of info and photos on the Gautrain? Visit GautrainOnline and have a look at our advertising rates. There are still some limited spaces left for banner advertising. Both GautrainOnline and this blog will be geared to attract thousands of internet visitors every day as from the first of September 2009.

For now there are some free advertising up for grabs as well. Get in there early as only a limited amount of advertisers will enjoy this benefit.

Property speculators bet on Gautrain

2009-07-31T10:36:00.000-07:00

Areas located directly around future Gautrain stations are attracting great interest when it comes to property development, especially speculative offices, retail and mixed-use property developments.

Fran Teagle, Broll Property Group's Director of Commercial Broking for Gauteng, points out that the speculative development taking place in these locations shows confidence in Gauteng's future by the property sector and symbolises the important role that the Gautrain stations are expected to play in our society.

"As public transport hubs, these locations are ideal for staff intensive businesses and many property developers are creating buildings with large floor plates to accommodate cleverly designed open plan offices which provide working spaces at 10sqm to 15sqm per person," says Teagle. This is much more compact than the previous norm of about 20sqm per person.

Usually this would put pressure on the parking that building owners need to provide, but Teagle notes that as Gautrain stations will create public transport exchanges, the onerous need for extensive parking is alleviated.

In proximity to the new Rosebank Gautrain Station, The Firs is being redeveloped and expanded by Investec Property. Tiber's beautiful new AAA grade office tower set to be complete mid 2010, will also contribute to creating landmarks for the area as well a number of older properties which have been owned for years by Old Mutual.

There are a number of office blocks planned to go up around the site of the future Sandton Gautrain Station, with some already under construction. In addition, superbly located to the Gautrain station, Sandton City is forging ahead with its repositioning for which the first phase of the expansion and redevelopment is pegged at some R1,77 billion.

Furthermore, it seems that electricity constraints have been prioritised, with council having provided supply to a number of new developments in the area.

"This has been a constraint, especially in Midrand where a number of developments are earmarked around the new Gautrain station that will serve this area, but progress is finally being made," says Teagle.

East of Johannesburg in Ekhuruleni, which will feature both the Airport and Rhodesfield Gautrain Stations, development activity is already picking up in the established business nodes of Jet Park and Isando, as well as the emerging area of Pomona in Kempton Park. In addition to the Gautrain stations, these areas are superbly served with good highway access, as well as railway and shuttle services.

Around the OR Thambo Airport there is already 40,000sqm committed for development, both turnkey and speculative. Alongside the Rhodesfield Gautrain station site, development plans are afoot for 80 000m² of hotel, offices and retail which will link into the station and across to the airport.

In Tshwane, Centurion is also blossoming around the site of the future Gautrain station, with plenty of development activity already underway.

Teagle believes that those who are embracing the opportunities that the Gautrain stations promise, will be in the pound seats.

"Those who are taking the opportunity and developing now are not undertaking wild speculative development but rather taking a clever risk. The Gautrain is going to have a massive impact on how we live, work, shop and travel and, as with any new real opportunity, those developers who have taken the initiative first, stand the best chance of enjoying the benefits."

via

Gautrain photos around Centurion

2009-07-31T10:30:00.001-07:00

Nearly three years on, less than 12 months remain to ensure a 15-minute journey between Sandton and the airport

2009-07-31T10:26:00.000-07:00

The Gautrain rapid rail project has already been under construction for close to three years, with 10 500 people working on around 50 sites dotted across Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni.

Construction on the project started at the end of September 2006.

The 45-month first phase comprises the network between OR Tambo International Airport and Sandton, and includes the stations at OR Tambo International Airport, Rhodesfield, Marlboro and Sandton, together with the depot and operations control centre located near Allandale road, in Midrand.

The second phase, which is being constructed concurrently, will be completed in 54 months, taking the project to 2011. It includes the remainder of the rail network and stations linking Sandton and Park station, in Johannesburg, and the route from Midrand to Hatfield, in Pretoria.

The rail project is being constructed by the Bombela consortium, which will also operate it for a 15-year concession period.

There remains only a little bit more than ten months of the contracted 45-month period to complete the first phase of the R25,4-billion project.

Around 3 km of twin track has already been installed on the airport line, which features 11 bridges and three viaducts, or specialised train bridges.

This portion of the route is aimed largely at tourists and business travellers in need of public transport between Sandton and the airport.

The Gautrain, with a top speed of 160 km/h, will offer a 15-minute commute between these two stations.

The trains plying the airport link will feature two coaches for sitting airport passengers, with room for luggage, and two to six general passenger coaches for sitting and standing passengers.

These general commuter coaches on the airport link will not be accessible to airport passengers. Therefore, daily commuters using the general passenger service will be able to embark or disembark only at Rhodesfield, Marlboro or Sandton stations.

Airport passengers will be able to embark and disembark only at Sandton, or at the airport.

This means passengers travelling in the special airport cars will notice that doors will remain closed at the intermediate stations at Rhodesfield and Marlboro.

All stations, apart from the airport station – as the assumption is that it services flying customers – will have a dedicated Gautrain bus service ferrying commuters within a 15-km radius to and from stations.

Sandton Station

The first station along the airport route is Sandton station, located between West street and Fifth avenue.

This station will be 45 m underground, and work is continuing in three shifts, 24 hours a day, to complete this anchor station.

Underground station construction works are ongoing in the cavern section between the south and north shafts, as well as within the shafts themselves.

These works include the base slabs for the tracks, construction of the various platforms and the various technical rooms, and access ways that are located within the shafts.

Construction of the station’s three-level underground parkade continues.

The station will also feature a drop-off facility, as well as bicycle storage.

During peak hours, Gautrain-branded buses will ferry passengers to and from the station every 12 minutes.

There will be a train every five minutes during peak periods, and every 20 minutes during off-peak periods. On weekends and public holidays, there will be a train every 30 minutes.

The entire Gautrain system will feature 650 closed-circuit television cameras, with security guards to maintain a visible presence at stations and inside trains.

Rhodesfield Station

The Rhodesfield station is situated immed-iately to the south of the Kempton Park central business district, and close to the R21 freeway.

Station platforms are elevated and located around one-third along viaduct 15, which is directly above the existing Metrorail railway lines, running between Isando and Kempton Park.

The station entrance, concourse and parking area are located at ground level. There are 1 400 parking bays at the station, with provision made for bicycle storage as well.

A new Metrorail station is being constructed and linked to the Gautrain station at Rhodesfield, to extend the catchment area of the Gautrain.

While Sandton is already a high-density precinct, development of this kind is still in its infancy in Rhodesfield.

Several residential properties have already been sold to commercial developers.

The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality has received several applications for com- mercial developments, including three hotels, in the Rhodesfield area.

The first hotel is already being built close to Rhodesfield station.

Another development is a R600-million mixed-use development proposed for the remaining residential erven next to the station.

Marlboro Station

Marlboro station is adjacent to the N3 Marlboro drive interchange.

It is located close to the Linbro Business Park, with a multibillion-rand mixed-use development called Frankenwald Estate planned, which will feature a dedicated pedestrian link to the station.

The Marlboro parking area will accom- modate 1 200 cars at a time, also offering bicycle storage and drop-off facilities.

Around 300 t of steel has been used in the construction of the station to date.

Around 100 people are working on site at the moment.

Tracklaying has already started.

OR Tambo International Airport Station

This elevated station has platforms situated on a viaduct. The station concourse is linked directly to the departures level of the adjacent new central terminal building, one level below.

This station is the first to feature fare gates and electronic ticket vending machines.

The Gautrain system is a closed one, with only people with a valid ticket able to get onto the platform.

Passengers will be able to buy preloaded smart-cards for train and/or bus trips at the self-help ticket vending machines, or at a manned ticket office.

Ticket products can be loaded onto the smart-card using cash, a debit card or a credit card.

Contactless technology means smart cards will be scanned electronically when they are swiped at the access readers on the fare gates.

All stations will have electronic display systems providing information on train arrival and departure times.

The OR Tambo International Airport station will not have a dedicated parking area, as it caters for airline passengers.

The Trains

Of the 96 rail cars, or 24 train sets, to be used in the system, six sets are already undergoing testing at the depot, says Gautrain Management Agency CEO Jack van der Merwe.

The allocated 15 Electrostar cars to be delivered from Bombardier’s facility in Derby, in the UK, have already arrived in Gauteng, with the remainder to now flow from Union Carriage & Wagon Partnership, in Nigel.

“They have already reached full production, assembling two cars a week,” says Van der Merwe.

Dynamic testing is being conducted on a 7-km test track between Dale road and Linbro Park. Each train has to run for 3 000 km before it can be certified to carry passengers.

Around 32 km of track has already been laid.

Now, Will It or Won’t It Be Ready for the World Cup?

The year 2010 is more than just another year on the South African calendar. It is the year in which the country will host the FIFA World Cup.

The question on nearly everybody’s lips is whether the project will be ready for the event, which kicks off on June 11. In a country which lacks predictable and safe public transport, such as is the norm in Europe and the US, the Gautrain has been proffered as the ideal solution for carrying the thousands of tourists expected to land at OR Tambo International Airport, heading for Sandton hotels in 2010.

However, Bombela is only contractually scheduled to complete the project at the end of June.

Van der Merwe notes that a decision will now have to be made on whether phase one of the project needs a cash injection to be finished in May – in time for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Van der Merwe says the two-phased rail project has, indeed, never been a 2010 project. The project was announced in 2000, with the FIFA World Cup awarded only in 2004.

However, he adds that there is a “need and desire” from government to finish phase one of the project in time for the global sports event.

“We are talking to the concessionaire to accelerate the project,” says Van der Merwe.

“Depending on negotiations and cost implications, we’ll have to see if we’ll pay to have it ready.”

He says that he has been hopeful to make an announcement on a possible fast-track of the project in July, but that he is now targeting August or, at the very least, the next three months.

via

Developers in Rosebank should be encouraged to go residential

2009-07-27T00:28:00.000-07:00

There's no obvious recession in Rosebank. The Johannesburg suburb is rapidly becoming the city's third high-rise business centre after Sandton and the original CBD, as SA's biggest developers prepare for the launch of Gautrain and the city's bus rapid transit system next year.

But the recession does have some effect. It is one of the reasons developers have either abandoned or avoided building the high-rise, high-density blocks of flats that would ensure Rosebank remains the most successful city environment in Gauteng.

Rosebank has the street life the Sandton CBD can never achieve, and the authentic urbanism of global cities that manufactured environments such as Melrose Arch and Cape Town's Century City will always lack. Several thousand high-rise flats would secure it as the region's most popular place to live, work and play and entrench the sustainability of Gautrain and its retail component.

Old Mutual is the most enthusiastic participant in the Gautrain project, with megadevelopments connected to stations at Rosebank, Sandton CBD and Midrand. Old Mutual Investments Group Property Investments (Omigpi) CEO Ben Kodisang has nailed his flag to the mixed-use urban mast, in his plan to become SA's biggest property asset manager with a R100bn portfolio.

WHAT IT MEANS
Recession has caused a lack of balance
Prohibition on high-rise is a problem

Yet Omigpi has canned its proposed residential development connected to the Zone at the corner of Tyrwhitt and Cradock avenues. "We can't do it profitably in the recession," says regional development manager Debbie Caplin. "We could if we were allowed to build a 30-storey high rise, but we can't."

Omigpi says it is unable to because the local civic Rosebank Action Group (Rag) is opposing large-scale high-rise development. Rag's Judith Briggs says it is opposed to "monolithic slabs" of buildings creating a "canyon" - but it doesn't oppose properly staggered high-rise development. Elsewhere in the world, planners have encouraged the densest and highest development to make sure mass transit systems are sustainable.

A third reason for the lack of residential construction is that Old Mutual and other major developers Investec, Standard Bank and Tiber are mainly commercial developers, with little interest or feel for residential.

Listed property fund Hyprop and developer Intaprop recently bought Nedbank Gardens in Bath Avenue from Old Mutual. It's an office park that is ideal for residential conversion.

Exclusive business - Buildings near the Gautrain station are likely to be reserved for commercial purposes only

Intaprop's Tim Middleton says it hasn't excluded residential. "But it's not a good idea to have a residential development that is isolated from other residential developments, which would be the case at Nedbank Gardens."

Hyprop would be interested only in a hotel. It wants to support the prime Rosebank property, the mall over the road from Nedbank Gardens. So it's probable that tenant parking and other non retail activities would be moved to the new purchase, so Hyprop can expand its retail space in the mall.

Hyprop has also bought Cradock Heights, a 5 000 m² office building north of Rosebank Mall on Cradock and Tyrwhitt avenues. It was designed by the son of the noted Johannesburg architect Harold le Roith. Probably the most beautiful commercial one in the suburb, it could be converted for residential use. However, there's a good chance that Hyprop will eventually demolish it to expand the mall.

"It's a pity that Rosebank's revival is taking place in the middle of a recession," says Kagiso Urban Management's Anne Steffny, who runs the Rosebank management district (RMD) that ensures the safety and operation of the node's public spaces. "Developers just can't make residential work at the moment."

Which highlights the biggest flaw in the suburb's regeneration. As usual, developers are narrowly concentrated on their own properties and their immediate returns. City planning authorities with foresight would have known this would happen, and planned for it through a detailed, integrated development plan that ensure d the right mix, size and density of uses. It would have crossed private property boundaries and have factored in the long-term future.

By building residential now, the municipality and owners could have ensured the long-term sustainability of the mass transit system and surrounding commercial activity. It would also have made Rosebank an even more satisfying place to visit, do business in or live in.

The authorities can make that happen with incentives for the big developers, like extra height and commercial space if they include residential units in their development.

Or they could punish them by reducing height and space if they don't.

One developer who wants to be anonymous has bought 20 Tyrwhitt Avenue to build residential accommodation. He would like to build more than he is allowed to by the city planning scheme. "Rosebank needs 3 000 or 4 000 residential units in Tyrwhitt Avenue, and 1 000 more elsewhere if it is to reach its full potential," he says.

"But we don't have a development plan that will make that happen."

Steffny says the council, the RMD and the property owners have agreed to do an integrated plan "with a strong residential component, and the big property developers support that".

But it seems they will support that being done by other developers in lower Rosebank near Jan Smuts Avenue, while their prime properties close to the Gautrain station remain purely commercial.

By Ian Fife via

GAUTRAIN FARES & TICKETING

2009-07-24T13:56:00.000-07:00

Posted on 24 July 2009 by Railways Africa Editor

Gautrain has adopted a balanced approach in its fare policy, aimed at making the service attractive and affordable. In principle, Gautrain fares will be lower than the cost of using a private car for the same journey but more expensive than those of existing taxi and rail fares. Fare levels will be finalised just before the opening of the system in 2010 and periodically adjusted thereafter.

The characteristics of the Gautrain automatic fare collection (AFC) system are as follows:

It provides convenient access for all to railway, feeder-bus and parking services;
It facilitates revenue collection by means of the fare media;
It protects revenue by means of its security resources;
It promotes the use of public transport in place of private cars through discounted fares for park-and-ride customers;
It facilitates control of business performance through product management and management information reporting;
It provides many opportunities for expanding, extending and developing the business, including the support of a variety of alternatives for interoperability with other transit systems.

Special consideration has been given to the needs of people with disabilities, to minimise queuing and make ticket purchase and car parking access and payment as simple as possible. Wide-entry gates are provided at all stations for use by anybody requiring extra space such as wheelchair users, those with baggage and adults accompanied by small children in pushchairs.

Lines and shapes at OR Tambo

2009-07-24T09:50:00.001-07:00

Gautrain Images around the Marlboro station

2009-07-23T12:33:00.000-07:00

Scenes around central Pretoria station

2009-07-22T10:02:00.000-07:00

Pretoria Central Station close-up

Track bridge from Muckleneuk area to central Pretoria

Gautrain bridge pillar close to Nelson Mandela Drive, Pretoria

The Telkom tower and Pretoria City seen from Fort Klapperkop

The Blue Train has a station at Pretoria Central Station

More images around Sandton

2009-07-21T06:52:00.001-07:00

More photos taken around Sandton on a nice Sunday afternoon:

Sandton City:

A peak into the Sandton Library:

Nelson Mandela statue:

Nelson Mandela Square:

Sandton Gautrain construction:

Gautrain photos around Pretoria

2009-07-21T06:39:00.000-07:00

Some Gautrain photos we took around Pretoria station :

Mandela Square in Sandton

2009-07-19T11:36:00.000-07:00

Some Gautrain construction photos at OR Tambo International airport

2009-07-19T11:20:00.000-07:00

Gautrain operator signs big feeder-route bus contract

2009-07-16T09:56:00.000-07:00

Gautrain operator signs big feeder-route bus contract - from Engineering News

By: Irma Venter

16th July 2009

Bombela, the company building the Gautrain rapid-rail link, and the company which will operate it for 15 years, has signed a deal with Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) for the supply of 125 buses which will service the project’s feeder and distribution routes.

The luxury buses, all with Euro III engines, will be used to ferry commuters to and from the Gautrain stations, up to a radius of 15 km, says Bombela Concession Company CEO Jerome Govender.

“The intention is, if the local councils agree, to have bus stops roughly every 500 m along the route.”

Of the 125 buses, 118 will be 35-seater to 42-seater buses, of which 59 will be 35-seater buses with wheelchair access, and the remaining 59, standard 42-seater buses. All these buses will offer room for 17 standing passengers, explains Govender. The last seven buses rounding off the 125-strong fleet will be articulated buses, offering standing room, 46 seats and wheelchair access.

“These articulated buses will be used on what we anticipate will be high-volume routes in the Pretoria central business district,” says Govender.

“The general principle is that the Gautrain-branded buses must offer the same level of comfort and luxury – such as air conditioning – as the Gautrain,” he adds.

Govender says MBSA will supply the bus chassis from the company’s East London plant, with the bus bodies (shell and interior) then provided by Busmark 2000/Caio, located in Randfontein.

“All the buses will be locally assembled, so they will feature a strong local component,” notes Govender.

The bus depot will be located next to the train depot, in Midrand, with the bus operations centre next door.

Passengers will pay for the bus and train trips making use of a smart card. They will be able to load different values onto this card for various travel products.

The Gautrain bus system will be operated by a subcontractor to the Bombela Concession Company. This subcontractor is led by Unitrans, with SPG, a 25% empowerment shareholder in Bombela, also owning a portion of the company. The South African National Taxi Council forms parts of SPG. Govender says this means the bus system has participation from the taxi industry.

However, he adds that the Gautrain bus system is a dedicated system designed around the rail network, emphasising that it does not compete with the taxi operators, as has been the perception around the proposed bus rapid- transit systems to be rolled out in several big South African cities in preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

MBSA will deliver the first buses by the end of January next year, for the purpose of training drivers, of which there will about 250 in total.

The first phase of the Gautrain, stretching from OR Tambo International Airport to Sandton, is to be operational in 2010, with the Johannesburg–Pretoria link to be completed in 2011.

Photos: Around the Marlboro station

2009-07-16T08:47:00.001-07:00

Photos: Hatfield Gautrain station

2009-07-15T10:36:00.000-07:00

Video: Gautrain to cost R300m extra - Jack van Der Merwe

2009-07-14T13:29:00.000-07:00

Loftus, seen from 'n hill close to fort Klapperkop

2009-07-14T11:19:00.000-07:00

Photos around the Hatfield Gautrain station

2009-07-14T08:31:00.000-07:00

Gautrain Rosebank News: R150m invested in Rosebank properties

2009-07-14T00:47:00.000-07:00

The Rosebank in the region of the Gautrain station will be getting a major boost:

This from News24

R150m invested in Rosebank properties (from News24)
2009/07/14

A JSE retail property fund on Monday said that it had recently invested about R150m in the growth node of Rosebank to boost its existing retail asset in the area – the Mall of Rosebank.

Hyprop Investments (HYP) said it recently acquired two commercial properties in close proximity to the Mall on Bath and Cradock Avenues and this brings its total investment in Rosebank to date to over R1,3bn.

Completion of Rosebank's Gautrain and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) stations is expected to rejuvenate the node and revive the bustling commercial district.

Hyprop has purchased a 70% undivided share in the office park Nedbank Gardens on Bath Avenue directly opposite the Mall.

Intaprop (Pty) Limited holds the remaining 30% share.

The property comprises three office buildings together totalling 15,700sqm of gross lettable area (GLA) on a 14,000sqm site.

On the corner of Cradock and Tyrwhitt Avenues Hyprop has purchased Cradock Heights, a commercial property with a GLA of 4,745sqm.

Financial Director Laurence Cohen said the acquisitions were in line with Hyprop's strategy to invest in nodes with strong growth potential.

"As the area develops, Rosebank will most likely attract substantially more office tenants who would form a captive shopper base for the Mall," said Cohen.

"Through the two acquisitions Hyprop is consolidating its presence around the Mall to maximise densities and improve connectivity to the office precinct and Gautrain station," he added.

Hyprop said it was adding to its mixed-use presence in Rosebank which had existed for some time through the Mall (retail), the Mall offices (commercial) and The Grace Hotel (leisure).

Of future plans for the acquisitions, Cohen said: "The redevelopment programme for the Nedbank Gardens' site is intended to complement and enhance our existing shopping centre in the area. A rezoning application has been submitted to the council to increase the available bulk to approximately 35,000sqm."

"We now have the opportunity to unlock value in the Mall, the surrounding area and the precinct generally. Further, we are eager to improve the pedestrian links between the lower Rosebank office component and the Mall through the Nedbank Gardens site," he continued.

The development plans for the Mall are in addition to the R663m expansion programme currently under way at Hyprop's other centres including Hyde Park, The Glen and Canal Walk.

These developments are well on schedule for completion later this year.

"The current developments and our plans for the Mall are set to continually strengthen our portfolio of quality shopping centres with enhanced facilities, additional retail space, an improved tenant mix and increased parking," concluded Cohen. – I-Net Bridge

Gautrain construction photos by the John Vorster offramp II

2009-07-13T13:54:00.001-07:00

Gautrain construction photos by the John Vorster offramp

2009-07-13T13:48:00.000-07:00