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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