Members of the public have been invited to review and submit written comments on proposed route extensions detailed in the ‘Draft Route Determination Report for the Soweto Extension and Cosmo City Junction of the proposed Gauteng Rapid Rail Integrated Network (GRRIN)’.

This follows approval of the publishing of the draft report for public comment by Gauteng Transport and Logistics MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, as prescribed in the Gauteng Transport Infrastructure Act.

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said during his State of the Province Address on February 24 that this rail extension project would be a transformative initiative aimed at fostering economic growth and inclusion.

The draft route determination report includes the preliminary route alignment report, which details the proposed routes and station locations for the Soweto extension and Cosmo City Junction of the GRRIN extensions project, as well as an environmental investigation report.

The reports will be available for public review and comment, in writing, from February 26 until March 31 on the Gauteng Rapid Rail website. Hard copies of the reports can be obtained from the Gautrain Management Agency’s office by prior arrangement.

Interested parties can email extensions@gautengrapidrail.co.za to arrange collection.

The proposed route for the Soweto extension and Cosmo City Junction includes Little Falls station to Jabulani station in Soweto through Roodepoort station; Cosmo City station to Samrand station through the Fourways, Sunninghill and Olievenhoutbosch stations; and Cosmo City station to Lanseria station through the Cradle and Smart City stations.

Owing to the magnitude and complexity of the GRRIN extensions project, it was split into five phases. The route determination for Phase 1 of the proposed extensions, from the existing Gautrain Marlboro station to Little Falls station, started in October 2018, and resulted in the determination of the route by the then Gauteng Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure MEC Jacob Mamabolo on May 25, 2022.

Diale-Tlabela highlighted that “the GRRIN extensions project is a transformative megaproject that will serve as a key catalyst for economic growth and inclusion”.

The GRRIN extensions project forms part of proposals in Gauteng’s 25-Year Integrated Transport Master Plan, which envisions a passenger rail network as the backbone of the province’s modernised and integrated transport system.

A comprehensive feasibility study for possible rapid rail extensions, completed in 2016, concluded that extensions to the Gauteng rapid rail network would alleviate traffic congestion, improve connectivity and the quality of public transport, stimulate the emergence of hubs of economic activity, and facilitate sustainable growth and liveable cities.

“To tackle inequality, we need to undo apartheid spatial planning, which has scattered our communities and forced many people to live far from areas of work and opportunity. Transport connectivity does not only lead to the integration of communities and create a culture of social inclusion, but also opens up opportunities for job seekers, business, suppliers and investors,” Diale-Tlabela added.

Route determination is the first step in the process of securing a rail reserve for a future railway line in Gauteng. It includes an exhaustive consultative process whereby all stakeholders, as well as interested and affected parties, are provided with an opportunity to make written submissions regarding the proposed route.

After careful consideration of all submissions received from the stakeholders, the MEC may thereafter determine the route for the railway line.

Once the route determination is finalised, the next step will be to undertake a preliminary design of the future railway line to provide further information on the impact on properties located along the proposed alignment of the railway line, conduct a full environmental impact assessment and undertake further consultation with all interested and affected parties.

“I urge all stakeholders, as well as interested and affected parties, to take this opportunity to make written submissions. Your feedback matters and is critical to the process,” Diale-Tlabela said.