Name of the Project
Gauteng Rapid Rail Integrated Network (GRRIN) extension project.

Location
Gauteng, South Africa.

Project Owner/s
Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport (GDRT), and the Gautrain Management Agency (GMA).

Project Description
The proposed extension of the Gauteng Rapid Rail Network will add 146 km of rail, as well as 19 new stations, to the existing Gautrain system that comprises an 80 km route and ten stations. Of the 19 additional stations, four are located in Tshwane, three in Ekurhuleni, and 12 in Johannesburg.

The implementation of these extensions is planned over 20 years and will be phased as follows:
Phase 1 includes about 32 km of additional rail infrastructure and starts at the proposed location of a new station at Little Falls, located to the east of Hendrik Potgieter road, in Willowbrook.

From the proposed Little Falls station, the route runs in a north easterly direction towards Zandspruit, where the route will pass to the west of Jackal Creek Golf Estate. The route then changes in a south easterly direction towards Cosmo City and a newly proposed Cosmo City station.

From the Cosmo City station, the route will continue in a south easterly direction towards the newly proposed Randburg station, passing through North Riding, Olivedale, Bryanston and Ferndale. The route will continue in a south easterly direction through Randburg, Bordeaux and Hurlingham.

Once it has reached Sandhurst, the route will change direction towards the existing Sandton station where an upgraded station is proposed. From Sandton, the route will run in a north easterly direction through Sandton, Sandown, Marlboro and Alexandra towards the existing Marlboro station, where the existing station will be upgraded to accommodate the new alignment.

Phase 1 was initiated in October 2018 and has followed all due processes in the Gauteng Transport Infrastructure Act (GTIA), including being gazetted in May 2022.

Phase 2: Little Falls to Jabulani in Soweto, through Roodepoort.
Phase 3: Samrand to Tshwane East, through Irene.
Phase 4: Rhodesfield to the East Rand Mall, and Cosmo City to Sunninghill, through Fourways.
Phase 5: East Rand Mall to Boksburg, Cosmo City to Lanseria through Cradle, and Tshwane East to Mamelodi, through Hazeldean.

Potential Job Creation
The proposed extension of the GRRIN has the capacity to create about 211 000 direct jobs over the development of all five phases.

Capital Expenditure
The total capital expenditure required to implement this project will be concluded as the respective phases of implementation attain the relevant Public–Private Partnership (PPP) Treasury Approvals as per the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA),1999.

Planned Start/End Date
The estimated start and end dates for the development of the proposed extensions cannot yet be determined, as they depend on the attainment of the respective Treasury Approvals that entail the following:

Treasury Approval 1 (TAI): Start of the procurement process.                             

Treasury Approval 2A (TAIIA): Issuance of procurement documents to the market to prequalify bidders and, thereafter, the issuance of request for proposals.

Treasury Approval 2B (TAIIB): Negotiations with the preferred bidder and financial closure.

Treasury Approval 3 (TAIII): Signing of the PPP agreement.

Latest Developments
Business Day quoted Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi as saying on August 15 that, in less than two years, the Gauteng government will invest R120-billion in the expansion of the Gautrain to the following area: Soweto through Fourways, Mamelodi, Atteridgeville, Lanseria and Springs. 

The bid to build this line closes at the end of October 2024.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
The announcements regarding key contracts and suppliers that are required for the development and implementation of the proposed extensions project will be made as the project attains key procurement milestones.

Contact Details for Project
GMA, tel +2711 086 3500 or email info@gautrain.co.za.