Name and Location
Gauteng rail extension project, Gauteng, South Africa.

Client
Gauteng Roads and Transport Department.

Project Description
The project will include a link from the existing Gautrain Park station to Westgate; a link from the existing Gautrain Rhodesfield station to Boksburg; a link from the existing Gautrain Sandton station to Randburg and Honeydew; and a link from Naledi, in Soweto, to Mamelodi, in Tshwane, through either the proposed Gautrain Samrand station, or the existing Gautrain Midrand station.

This extension will include stations at Blue Hills, Sunninghill, Fourways, Cosmo City and Ruimsig. Ultimately, the plan is to have four rail lines – built by either the Gautrain Management Agency (GMA), the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa or another rail operator – adding to the Pretoria–Johannesburg and Sandton–OR Tambo International Airport links.

The possible rapid rail extensions to the Gautrain network follow from the recently completed Gauteng 25-Year Integrated Transport Master Plan (ITMP25), which provides a long-term plan that will ensure integration of transport with spatial patterns and the integration between various transport modes to effectively transport people in an efficient matter.

Value
Not stated.

Duration
Not stated.

Latest Developments
The Gauteng rail extension study is advancing, with the intention to share the public–private partnership plan with the market in 2016.

Various options are being considered, including adding medium- or slow-rail aspects to the rapid-rail system. This will facilitate the integration, into certain routes, of train sets similar to those being acquired by the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa from the Gibela Consortium for R51-billion.

Through the expansion across the Gauteng city region, it is possible that four services could eventually emerge, including the current Pretoria-to-Johannesburg passenger service and the airport service from Sandton to OR Tambo International Airport. The other services under review are a link from Mamelodi to Naledi, through Fourways, and a connection from Boksburg to Honeydew, through Randburg.

Gauteng Transport MEC Ismail Vadi has said government’s support for the expansion has been strengthened by recent KPMG research showing positive socioeconomic spin-offs from the investment up now in the Gautrain project. The study has indicated that the R27-billion project has released value in the province of about R47-billion. It has also played a powerful role in changing perceptions about public transport.

The feasibility study is expected to be completed in 2016, however, various options are being investigated to assess the form it should take and how it can support the aspiration of making rail transportation the “backbone” of public transport in the province.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
SMEC Consortium, comprising SMEC South Africa, DLA Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr and Deloitte (feasibility study).

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Gauteng Roads and Transport Department, tel +27 11 355 7000 or email GPRoads.Transport@gauteng.gov.za.
SMEC South Africa, tel +27 11 369 0600, fax +27 011 886 4589 or email johannesburg@smec.com.
DLA Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, tel +27 11 562 1000 or fax +27 11 562 1111