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Gautrain

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File:Gautrain Logo.png
Franchise(s)Not subject to franchising
Main stations(s)Johannesburg Park Station
OR Tambo International Airport
Pretoria
Other stations(s)Centurion, Hatfield, Marlboro, Midrand,
Rhodesfield, Rosebank, Sandton
Fleet size24 Electrostar Sets[1] (under construction)
125 Buses[2] (under construction)
Stations called at10 (under construction)
Parent companyPublic-private partnership between
the Gauteng Provincial Government and
the Bombela International Consortium
Other
Websitewww.gautrain.co.za
Route map
Template:Infobox rdt

Gautrain is an 80-kilometre mass rapid transit railway system under construction in Gauteng Province, South Africa, which will link Johannesburg, Pretoria, and OR Tambo International Airport. It is hoped that this railway will relieve the traffic congestion in the Johannesburg – Pretoria traffic corridor and offer commuters a viable alternative to road transport, as Johannesburg has limited public transport infrastructure.

Gauteng's Gautrain

The Gauteng Provincial Government formed a partnership with local and international experts in business to build a modern transport network, the biggest Public-Private Partnership in Africa.[3]

The train is expected to cut the number of cars on the N1 Ben Schoeman Highway highway by 20%, with 100,000 daily passenger trips.[4]

The Gauteng Department of Transport obtained environmental authorization and conducted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for this purpose. Authorization was granted on 25 April 2004. On 7 December 2005 the South African government gave the go-ahead for the project, expected to cost more than Rand 24 billion.

In February 2006, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel announced the allocation of R7.1bn from the National Fiscus for Gautrain. On 16 February 2006 then Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa announced that the Gauteng Province had reached commercial close with the Bombela Consortium, the preferred bidder, and that negotiations to reach financial close commenced.

Construction started on 28 September 2006, and investors, developers, small businesses and entrepreneurs are starting new ventures such as office blocks, shopping malls, entertainment and residential developments along Gautrain’s network. The demand for land as well as property prices in these areas increased dramatically.[5][6][7]

Lightstone, an independent risk assessment company, has analyzed residential transactions and repeat sales price inflation of properties within 2 km to 3 km of each station, and compared this with the overall price inflation in Gauteng, Johannesburg and Pretoria. The proportion of all transactions in Gauteng involving properties within 2 km of the station grew from 3.8% to 6.0% from 2000 to 2007, while activity in areas between 2 km and 3 km from the stations remained relatively constant between 4.0% and 5.0% over that same period.[8]

Future projections for business transactions and access to new markets for products, goods and services will be R6 billion as a result of the Gautrain network. Sustainability is key to Gautrain’s success. City rejuvenation is another achievement.

It is estimated that Gautrain will create 93,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs during construction.[9][10] More than 3,000 jobs per year will be created during operation. On 17 March, Gautrain announced it had created 63,200 direct, indirect and induced jobs.[11][12]

Gautrain further achieves important objectives described in Gauteng’s Growth and Development Strategy. It includes the requirements for Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment in terms of broadening ownership and control; skills transfer and preferential procurement. Emphasis is also placed on the empowerment of women, youth and people living with disabilities.[13]

History

Construction

Viaduct construction in Midrand - May 2008
Viaduct construction at the Marlboro offramp from the N3 next to Alexandra, Gauteng - September 2008
Viaduct construction in Spartan - September 2008
Viaduct construction at OR Tambo International Airport - August 2009
Marlboro Station under construction - August 2009


Construction of the rail system will be undertaken by Bombela Consortium who have been awarded the contract.[14] Bombela Consortium is a partnership between Bombardier Transportation, Bouygues Travaux Publics, Murray & Roberts, the Strategic Partners Group and RATP Développement, the J&J Group and Absa Bank[15]. It is 50% owned by its international partners and 50% by Murray & Roberts and the Strategic Partners Group, the consortium's black economic empowerment component. Initial works for the Gautrain commenced in May 2006 and construction commenced after the signing of the Concession Agreement between the Gauteng Provincial Government and the Bombela Concession Company on 28 September 2006.

The project is being constructed simultaneously in two phases. The first phase involves the section between OR Tambo International Airport, Sandton and Midrand[16], the second the remainder. The construction of the first phase is scheduled to take 45 months, the second 54 months,[16] with completion in 2010 and 2011.

The agreement provides for a R150 million incentive for the Gautrain to open in time for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.[16] However, Gautrain is not being built for the World Cup – it was conceived prior to that. [17] [18]

Construction technology

By the end of May 2008, nearly a third of tunnelling was completed.[19]

A mixed-face Earth Pressure Balance Shield Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) was designed and built in Germany by Herrenknecht to specifically cope with complex underground conditions. It will be the first such machine in South Africa. The TBM, named Imbokodo, installs pre-cast concrete tunnel lining segments behind it as it moves forward. It leaves behind a watertight and smooth lining to the 6.8 m diameter tunnel.[20][21][22]

Opening to passenger traffic

The first public passenger trip was made on 3 February 2009 by 150 people on a 3 km test track at the depot.[23][24][25]

Tracks

Although railways in South Africa use the 1067 mm (3ft 6in) Cape gauge, Gautrain will be built to the more expensive standard gauge of 1435 mm (4ft 8.5in). According to the Gautrain planning and implementation study,[26] this is done for several reasons, including that standard gauge is safer and more comfortable to passengers. The rolling stock is also easier, quicker and less expensive to obtain than Cape Gauge rolling stock, and standard gauge is also less expensive to maintain as it is more tolerant of track imperfections than Cape Gauge. Standard gauge allows for travel at Gautrain's required speed of 160 km/h.

Although increased flexibility could be obtained by keeping the system interoperable with the South African railway system, a strong case exist for keeping Gautrain separate from the existing network. According to the Gautrain planning and implementation study an interoperable network may impact service delivery, increase the operating cost and tarnish Gautrain's image. Gautrain's rolling stock will be used only on the new tracks. An interoperable network might also increase safety requirements as existing steam and diesel trains would be able to access the new network.

Network

The network will be 80 kilometres longl. It is connected to other forms of public transport like taxis, buses and the Metrorail public train system. Using one integrated ticket, commuters can change between Metrorail train and Gautrain. Commuters can use the 125 luxury Gautrain buses to destinations within a 15 kilometre radius.[2]

Traveling at up to 160 kilometres per hour, Gautrain will take 40 minutes to travel between Johannesburg and Pretoria.[27] From Sandton to the OR Tambo International Airport it will only take 10 to 20 minutes[27][28], and air passengers can check in their luggage at Sandton Station.[28]

Anticipated fares on the Johannesburg/Pretoria route will be between R13.00 and R29.00, depending on distance. Fares on the Gautrain Bus Link will be between R4.00 and R11.00..[29] [30]

Stations

There will be security cameras and security guards on patrol in the stations and the parking areas. Only passengers who have an electronic ticket will have access to Gautrain’s stations and the parking areas. Motorists can travel to the stations and leave their cars at the safe parking bays that are being built at the stations. Parking at the station could cost around R6.00 a day.

Ten station locations have been identified:

Rolling stock

A diagram of the Gautrain's Electrostar, made up of four cars.

Bombardier Transportation's Electrostar, a model of train common in south-east England, has been selected for the system.[31] Fifteen cars will be manufactured and assembled by Bombardier in Derby and the remaining cars will be assembled by UCW Partnership (Union Carriage & Wagon Co. (Pty) Ltd) in South Africa using structural components made in Britain.[32] Gautrain will have 24 trains, each made up with four cars: 19 trains will service the commuter network and five the airport link;[33] the latter will consist of forward rail cars specially adapted for the airport link with storage area for luggage and more luxurious seating.[34]

On 8 July 2008 the first train was handed over to the Gauteng Premier, Mbhazima Shilowa, in a ceremony in Derby.

Criticism

Much of the criticism is that money is being spent on the rich at the expense of the poor.[35] It does not serve any of the townships of Gauteng where the transport problem is severe and where the majority of the people live. The planned fares will be unaffordable for South Africa's poor majority. However, the train was never meant to be an alternative to mass public transport - it was intended to reduce pressure on Johannesburg's overloaded highway system. Figures released by the Gauteng provincial government in 2003 indicate that the project will do little to relieve traffic on the over-used Ben Schoeman Highway (one of the major motivations for the project), as traffic volumes will be higher when the Gautrain is completed and operating at full capacity in 2010. [36] Leftist political groupings like the SACP and labour movements like COSATU have branded the Gautrain as a train for the rich and called on government not to proceed with the project. A national parliamentary oversight body, the Transport Portfolio Committee, held public hearings in November 2005 and subsequently advised Cabinet to scrap or postpone the project. However, National Cabinet decided on 7 December 2005 to financially support Gautrain.

Ridership

Critics have questioned ridership estimates, stating that government officials almost always overestimate ridership to gain political approval for projects, and cite numerous international examples where similar projects operate at massive losses or were aborted.[citation needed] One of the problems currently besetting public transport systems in South Africa is the exceptionally high crime rate. This is likely to impact negatively on government estimates of ridership levels.

The Gauteng provincial government guarantees ridership to the concessionaire that builds and operates the network. If predicted ridership levels do not materialize, Gauteng will pay compensation to the concessionaire.[citation needed]

Alternative transportation projects

Critics point out that the project will use the majority of available national and provincial transport funds in a context where massive amounts are needed to deal with widespread traffic congestion and commuter transport problems nationally and in the province. The existing railway system in the province, under national rather than provincial control, which serves the majority of the population, is severely underfunded and large-scale and violent public unrest caused by inadequate and old trains has manifested in the province. Critics allege that options like rapid bus transit can achieve similar levels of service at a fraction of the costs.[37] These matters were never submitted to a public debate as the project was designed and launched within the confines of the Gauteng Government bureaucracy.

Environmental issues

The environmental benefits of the project are also disputed and the environmental impact assessment (EIA) has revealed that Gautrain will at best be environmentally neutral. South Africa uses dirty coal-based electricity generation and the electricity required for Gautrain will come from outside the Gauteng region. The pollution associated with the generation of this electricity will therefore effectively be exported to the Mpumalanga region, an area already under severe strain from air pollution.

In November 2005 Dunkeld community in Johannesburg decided to contest the alignment in its suburb. Legal action launched by the Muckleneuk / Lukasrand Property Owners and Residents Association (MLPORA) in 2004 (Case No. 28192/04) and an urgent application launched by MLPORA in 2006 went before the High Court of South Africa on 1 August 2006. MLPORA inter alia opposes the original environmental authorisation granted and the legality of the procedures being followed to approve variant alignments proposed by Bombela. In Pretoria the Gautrain skirts the inner city and cuts through the city's second oldest suburb (Muckleneuk) and high density residential areas and the middle of the city's educational precinct on its way to Hatfield. The alignment as proposed will result in the prevention of the future development of the cities education precinct an urban district with the potential to become a space of national significance. Legal action has also been brought by AECI in January 2006 which has not yet gone before court. Approximately 10% of the route traverses AECI-owned land. A dispute with the Centurion Association for a Reasonable Environment (WeCARE) was settled in favour of WeCARE in March 2006. Further legal challenges are expected.

Critics question the growth and job creation benefits that the project will bring. The EIA for the project determined that it is a poorly performing public sector investment project. The project sponsors have been silent on the social benefits that could be gained from alternative public sector investment programmes.

On 29 January 2006 the draft environmental reports on possible variant routes were released for public comment, without prior warning, with 30 days to comment on them. The variant alignment proposals are primarily cost-cutting measures proposed by the concessionaire, Bombela. Acceptance of these proposals will lower overall project costs and raise their profits. The released draft EIA reports were compiled by experts without public participation and are being fast tracked through the system by the Gauteng Government. Environmental management plans (EMPs) have already been compiled for these route variants. In law EMPs are meant to mitigate environmental impacts identified in consultation with affected parties. The decision to approve the released EIAs and EMPs vests with the sphere of government that is bringing the project application, namely the Gauteng Government. The process followed raises serious questions regarding the audi alteram principle and the protection of the environmental rights of the public. The thirty-day window is, critics believe, not enough time to make a comprehensive response to the highly technical draft environmental reports.

The proposed route variants are in Hatfield, Centurion, Salvokop, Marlboro and Sandton.

Cost

The project is the largest and costliest transport infrastructure project ever proposed by the provincial government but was never discussed in the Provincial Legislature or submitted to any significant public debate before it was approved and put out to tender. Initial cost estimates came in at some R3.5 - 4 billion in 2000 when the project was announced by Premier Shilowa. This figure was revised upwards to R 7 billion for the purposes of the EIA process in 2003 and was finally revealed as being R20 billion (US$3.7 billion) in 2005, after the successful bidder for the project was announced and a contract came into existence.[38] National and provincial government will contribute R20 billion in equal proportions and Bombela will contribute the balance of direct project costs. Loan funding will constitute a large part of these amounts but the financing costs involved have not been stated. The sunk costs for the project will be more than R20 billion. In March 2008, Jeremy Cronin, chairman of the National Assembly's transport portfolio committee and deputy secretary-general of the SACP, complained that the cost had apparently quietly crept up to R35 billion. .[39] Cronin has long opposed the project and told the SA Parliament's lower house during a budget debate that his information was that the project's cost was escalating “quietly and below the radar screen”, though MPs “were told, hand on heart, here in Parliament just a few years ago, what the written-in-stone absolute upper limit was” [R20 billion]. The Gautrain management agency CEO, Jack van der Merwe, has subsequently denied this, stating that the project is a fixed-price, fixed-scope and fixed-period contract, and that the price will only increase if the consumer price index increased above the South African Reserve Bank's prediction, if the Gauteng Province were in breach of contract, or if the project's scope were to change.[40]

Cost time line

  • 2002 R3.5 - 4 billion
  • 2003 R7 billion
  • 2005 R20 billion
  • 2006 R25.2 billion approved cost estimate[40][41]

Awards

  • International Association of Business Communicators African Quill Awards[42][43]
  • International Association of Business Communicators Gold Quill Awards[44][45]
  • International Association of Public Transport’s Youth Project Award[46][47]
  • Public Private Finance Awards ‘Best Global Project to Sign’ Award at the 2008[48][49]
  • Public Relations Institute of South Africa Prism Awards[50][51]
  • South African Association of Consulting Engineers’ Glenrand MIB Excellence Awards[52][53]
  • South African Institution of Civil Engineering Photo Competition[54][55]
  • 2008 Bently Empowered Award programme[58][59]

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^ "Luxary travel with world-class safety and security". Official Gautrain Website. Retrieved 2008-03-21.
  2. ^ a b "Quick and punctual bus link". Official Gautrain Website. Retrieved 2008-03-21.
  3. ^ "Gautrain moves forward with the 'big lady'". The Good News South Africa.
  4. ^ "Why a rapid rail system?". Official Gautrain Website. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
  5. ^ Khumalo, Sibongile (2008-05-04). "Development rush rides on Gautrain". Business Report.
  6. ^ Cox, Anna (2007-07-30). "Gautrain could mean big bucks for residents". iol.co.za.
  7. ^ "Rosebank — future perfect". iafrica.com. 2008-07-03.
  8. ^ "Gautrain - Already showing impact on property prices - 27 February 2008" (PDF). www.lightstone.co.za.
  9. ^ "Electronic ticketing to benefit all public transport users". Official Gautrain Website. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
  10. ^ "Macro-environmental impact". Official Gautrain Website. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
  11. ^ Naidoo, Brindaveni (2009-03-17). "Gautrain project to create 148 000 jobs in next 20 years". Engineering News.
  12. ^ Gabara, Nthambeleni (2009-03-17). "Gautrain Creates 63 000 Jobs Despite Global Economic Crisis". allafrica.com.
  13. ^ Sapa (2008-04-21). "Monitoring group for Gautrain". The Mercury.
  14. ^ Lucille, Davie (2005-08-09). "Gauteng's bullet train on track". SouthAfrica.info.
  15. ^ Venter, Irma (2009-03-06). "Gautrain CEO speaks on deadlines, costs and ticket prices". Engineering News.
  16. ^ a b c Zhuwakinyu, Martin. "No contract stipulating that any part of Gautrain be completed by 2010". Creamer Media's Engineering News. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
  17. ^ "No guarantee Gautrain will be ready for 2010". Mail & Guardian. Mail & Guardian. 2006-10-11.
  18. ^ "STATEMENT BY JACK VD MERWE". Official Gautrain Website. Retrieved 2005-11-05.
  19. ^ Venter, Irma (2008-06-06). "Nearly a third of Gautrain tunnel work completed". Engineering News Online.
  20. ^ Venter, Irma (2008-01-18). "Tunnel-boring machine embarks on 14-month odyssey". Engineering News Online.
  21. ^ Erasmus, Janine (2008-06-17). "Gautrain steaming ahead". MediaClubSouthAfrica.com.
  22. ^ van der Merwe, Christy (2007-12-13). "Gautrain to start tunnelling with 'Imbokodo' machine in January". Engineering News Online.
  23. ^ McAuliffe, Louise (2009-02-04). "Gautrain's first historic journey". Sowetan. work=Sowetan. {{cite news}}: Missing pipe in: |publisher= (help)
  24. ^ Evans, Sally (2009-02-04). "First Gautrain taken out of wraps". The Times. The Times.
  25. ^ Davie, Lucille (2009-02-04). "Smooth first ride on Gautrain". City of Johannesburg. City of Johannesburg. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
  26. ^ "Gautrain Rapid Rail Link: Planning and Implementation Study" (PDF). Official Gautrain Website. Retrieved 2008-03-21.
  27. ^ a b "Rail services". Official Gautrain Website. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
  28. ^ a b "Introduction". Official Gautrain Website. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
  29. ^ Venter, Irma (2009-03-06). "Gautrain CEO speaks on deadlines, costs and ticket prices". Engineering News.
  30. ^ "Ridership & Fare Structure". Official Gautrain Website. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
  31. ^ "Bombardier Selected Preferred Bidder For Rapid Rail System In South Africa" (Press release). Bombardier. 2005-07-02.
  32. ^ "The Production process of Gautrain's Electrostar rail cars". Official Gautrain Website. Retrieved 2008-08-02.
  33. ^ "Gautrain's unique rail car features". Official Gautrain Website. Retrieved 2008-08-02.
  34. ^ "Look and feel". Official Gautrain Website. Retrieved 2008-08-02.
  35. ^ Celean, Jacobson (2005-11-27). "No reversing Gautrain". Sunday Times.
  36. ^ "Report of the Portfolio Committee on Transport on the Public Hearings on the Proposed Gautrain Project". Parliamentary Monitoring Group. 2005-11-16.
  37. ^ Lloyd, Wright (2005-11-08). "Mass-Transit Alternative for Gauteng". BusinessDay.
  38. ^ Anna, Cox (2005-11-01). "Shilowa's R20bn silence". The Star.
  39. ^ Linda, Ensor (2008-03-19). "Gautrain could cost R35bn — Cronin". Business Day.
  40. ^ a b Olivier, Mariaan (2008-03-20). "Gautrain agency dismisses claims that project's costs surged to R35bn". Creamer Media's Engineering News.
  41. ^ Hamlyn, Michael. "Gautrain to cost R25.5bn". Fin24. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  42. ^ "AWARD WINNING GAUTRAIN". Official Gautrain Website.
  43. ^ "Africa Quill Awards". iabc.co.za. 2008-06-01.
  44. ^ "Congratulations to the 2008 IABC Gold Quill winners!". iabc.com.
  45. ^ "Gautrain receives an international award for media strategy". Official Gautrain Website. 2008-06-10.
  46. ^ "The International Association of Public Transport presents the winners of the Youth awards". uitp.com. 2007-05-23.
  47. ^ "GAUTRAIN WINS INTERNATIONAL AWARD". Official Gautrain Website. 2007-03-07.
  48. ^ "Gautrain wins international award". SA Good News. 2008-05-08.
  49. ^ "GLOBAL AWARD BY PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP INDUSTRY". Official Gautrain Website.
  50. ^ "PRISA PRISM Awards – A night to remember - March 26, 2008". prisa.co.za.
  51. ^ "Gautrain Project took top honours". Official Gautrain Website. 2008-06-10.
  52. ^ "PRESTIGIOUS AWARD FOR GAUTRAIN". Official Gautrain Website.
  53. ^ Pirie, Graham (2007-10-01). "Consulting Engineers - We Shape your world".
  54. ^ "SAICE Photo Competition". civils.org.za.
  55. ^ "GAUTRAIN FRAMES ANOTHER AWARD". Official Gautrain Website.
  56. ^ "SA Web Awards". SA Web Awards.
  57. ^ Jensen, Ingrid (Own Correspondent) (2007-11-21). "MORE AWARDS FOR GAUTRAIN WEBSITES". Official Gautrain Website. {{cite news}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  58. ^ "2008 BE Awards of Excellence Winners". bentley.com.
  59. ^ "World-Class Project Management Accolades". Official Gautrain Website. 2008-06-10.
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