Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) would like to see Phase 1 of the proposed five-phase expansion of the Gautrain network come into operation in 2027, says GMA COO William Dachs.
The concession on the current 80 km Gautrain system would have wrapped up in 2027, with the system paid off, and with the current government subsidy payable to the Gautrain system possibly available for transfer to the Phase 1 expansion.
The GMA is an agency of the Gauteng government.
Phase 1 of the expansion plan proposes a rapid rail link from Randburg and Little Falls to Sandton. Proposed expansions to the Gauteng rapid rail network will add 150 km of rail line to the current 80 km Gautrain network. The expansion will reach Soweto, Pretoria East, Boksburg and Lanseria.
Dachs says the expansion project requires “significant capital and GMA has approached National Treasury for approval for procurement of Phase 1.
Procurement for the current Gautrain system started in April 2000, and concluded in September 2006, with construction of the system wrapping up in 2012 – a total of 12 years.
Gauteng’s population will grow by 48% by 2037, says Dachs. The Gauteng workforce will increase by 44% by 2037, with formal jobs forecast to increase by 83%.
“We need to plan for the future,” says Dachs. “We are going to have a mobility problem that will translate into economic inefficiencies. The cost of doing nothing will be severe.”
Gauteng’s vehicle population is expected to grow from the 3.9-million vehicles to 6.6-million vehicles by 2037.
The Gautrain runs on 99% availability and 98% punctuality. Fare evasion is under 0.4% and the majority of users are women.
Stolen copper cables, which have halted the Gautrain service in the past, are now replaced by non-copper products.
Overcrowding is currently costing the Gautrain increased ridership, says Dachs.
To relieve pressure in the morning rush hour, the GMA has started the procurement process for 12 new four-car trains.
GMA hopes to have an answer on longer operating hours for the north-south line within the next six months, says Dachs.
Operating hours have already been extended for the airport link. The last train used to leave at 20:30, but two trains have been added – one at 20:46 and one at 21:04.
