blunomore
Honorary Master
http://www.fin24.com/articles/defau...leId=1518-1786_2470410&IsColumnistStory=False
Johannesburg - Construction on Gauteng's rapid rail network, Gautrain, has been under way since September 2006. Fin24.com brings you some of the highlights and latest developments.
Excavations
Almost 12 000m of the 15km underground route of Gauteng's high-speed rail network - which stretches from Johannesburg's Park Station to Marlboro - has been excavated. Construction and earthworks at all its stations are running on schedule, spokespeople say.
To date 964m has been excavated in the underground section between Park Station and Shaft E2 (at the Wilds, in Houghton).
The section between Rosebank Station and Shaft E2, a distance of 2 885m, has been fully excavated.
Between Rosebank Station to Shaft E5 (in Dunkeld), 724m has been excavated.
Between Shaft E5 and Sandton, 1 540m has been excavated.
A distance of 504m has been excavated from Sandton to E7 (at the western side of Rivonia Road, Sandton).
The section between Mushroom Farm Park and Sandton- about 503m - has been completely excavated.
The Mushroom Farm Park to Sandton section of 616m is also completely excavated, and so is the
Mushroom Farm Park to Marlboro section, which comprises 4 218m.
Construction
Construction on the Gautrain started at the end of September 2006. It was broken into two phases to be constructed concurrently.
The first has a duration of 45 months and includes the network between OR Tambo International Airport and Sandton, encompassing the stations at OR Tambo, Rhodesfield, Marlboro and Sandton, together with the depot and operations control centre near Allandale Road in Midrand.
The second phase, being constructed concurrently, will be completed in 54 months towards 2011. It includes the remainder of the rail network and stations linking Sandton to Park Station in Johannesburg and the route from Midrand to Hatfield.
About 93 000 jobs will be created during construction
Stations
There are three anchor stations at:
OR Tambo International Airport;
Pretoria; and
Johannesburg.
The seven other stations will be at:
Rosebank;
Sandton;
Marlboro;
Midrand;
Centurion;
Hatfield; and
Rhodesfield, Kempton Park.
Travelling times
Travelling time between Park Station, Johannesburg and Hatfield will be 42 minutes; it will take 14 minutes from Sandton to OR Tambo International Airport.
There will be a train at least every 10 minutes during peak times at stations between Johannesburg and Pretoria.
Rail cars
Gautrain's rolling stock of 96 rail cars is based on the Bombardier Electrostar series, which is used extensively in the UK.
The first 15 rail cars, plus the body shells for the complete fleet, are being manufactured at Bombardier Transportation's facility in Derby in the UK.
Gautrain's first shipment of four completed rail cars - built by a specialised construction and assembly process in Derby, UK - arrived at the depot in December 2008. The rest are being shipped to SA over the next few months for local assembly.
The body shells and major components for 81 Gautrain rail cars are being "flat-packed" into crates and shipped to South Africa, where local technicians will assemble them.
Technicians are already busy with the assembly of a four-car train set at the Union Carriage and Wagon Partnership in Nigel, which is expected to be completed before the end of June 2009.
Gautrain's 24 four-car train sets will ride on air suspension to ensure smooth travel at 160km/hour.
Some general facts
Gautrain commuter fares will be lower than the perceived cost of using a car. They will, however, be higher than current rail and taxi fares as the new train will offer a higher-quality service.
Airport passengers' fares will be higher than the rate per kilometre charged on other services. The fare structure was developed in relation to existing taxi fares, bus fares and private car costs.
Forecasts indicate a potential 100 000 passengers per day, well over the international norm for a new rail service. An expected annual growth of 4.8% will result in more than 120 000 passengers per day by 2010.
Commuters will only need one electronic smart card to pay for a Gautrain trip, a Gautrain feeder bus and car parking.
During construction approximately 6.7 million cubic metres of earth will be moved around and reworked to form the basis for the new rail line.
The Gautrain pre-feasibility study was initiated in 1998 and completed in 1999, and Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa announced the Gautrain rapid rail link project in February 2000.
A feasibility report on the proposed Gautrain rapid rail link project was completed in July 2001 and the two bidding consortia submitted their tender proposal documents on September 30 2003.
More than R1 810m was spent on procurement from and sub-contracting to black economic empowerment (BEE) firms, compared to an obligation of about R820m by July 2008.
South African materials, plant and equipment to the value of more than R1 030m have been purchased, compared to an obligation of R770m by July 2008.
Johannesburg - Construction on Gauteng's rapid rail network, Gautrain, has been under way since September 2006. Fin24.com brings you some of the highlights and latest developments.
Excavations
Almost 12 000m of the 15km underground route of Gauteng's high-speed rail network - which stretches from Johannesburg's Park Station to Marlboro - has been excavated. Construction and earthworks at all its stations are running on schedule, spokespeople say.
To date 964m has been excavated in the underground section between Park Station and Shaft E2 (at the Wilds, in Houghton).
The section between Rosebank Station and Shaft E2, a distance of 2 885m, has been fully excavated.
Between Rosebank Station to Shaft E5 (in Dunkeld), 724m has been excavated.
Between Shaft E5 and Sandton, 1 540m has been excavated.
A distance of 504m has been excavated from Sandton to E7 (at the western side of Rivonia Road, Sandton).
The section between Mushroom Farm Park and Sandton- about 503m - has been completely excavated.
The Mushroom Farm Park to Sandton section of 616m is also completely excavated, and so is the
Mushroom Farm Park to Marlboro section, which comprises 4 218m.
Construction
Construction on the Gautrain started at the end of September 2006. It was broken into two phases to be constructed concurrently.
The first has a duration of 45 months and includes the network between OR Tambo International Airport and Sandton, encompassing the stations at OR Tambo, Rhodesfield, Marlboro and Sandton, together with the depot and operations control centre near Allandale Road in Midrand.
The second phase, being constructed concurrently, will be completed in 54 months towards 2011. It includes the remainder of the rail network and stations linking Sandton to Park Station in Johannesburg and the route from Midrand to Hatfield.
About 93 000 jobs will be created during construction
Stations
There are three anchor stations at:
OR Tambo International Airport;
Pretoria; and
Johannesburg.
The seven other stations will be at:
Rosebank;
Sandton;
Marlboro;
Midrand;
Centurion;
Hatfield; and
Rhodesfield, Kempton Park.
Travelling times
Travelling time between Park Station, Johannesburg and Hatfield will be 42 minutes; it will take 14 minutes from Sandton to OR Tambo International Airport.
There will be a train at least every 10 minutes during peak times at stations between Johannesburg and Pretoria.
Rail cars
Gautrain's rolling stock of 96 rail cars is based on the Bombardier Electrostar series, which is used extensively in the UK.
The first 15 rail cars, plus the body shells for the complete fleet, are being manufactured at Bombardier Transportation's facility in Derby in the UK.
Gautrain's first shipment of four completed rail cars - built by a specialised construction and assembly process in Derby, UK - arrived at the depot in December 2008. The rest are being shipped to SA over the next few months for local assembly.
The body shells and major components for 81 Gautrain rail cars are being "flat-packed" into crates and shipped to South Africa, where local technicians will assemble them.
Technicians are already busy with the assembly of a four-car train set at the Union Carriage and Wagon Partnership in Nigel, which is expected to be completed before the end of June 2009.
Gautrain's 24 four-car train sets will ride on air suspension to ensure smooth travel at 160km/hour.
Some general facts
Gautrain commuter fares will be lower than the perceived cost of using a car. They will, however, be higher than current rail and taxi fares as the new train will offer a higher-quality service.
Airport passengers' fares will be higher than the rate per kilometre charged on other services. The fare structure was developed in relation to existing taxi fares, bus fares and private car costs.
Forecasts indicate a potential 100 000 passengers per day, well over the international norm for a new rail service. An expected annual growth of 4.8% will result in more than 120 000 passengers per day by 2010.
Commuters will only need one electronic smart card to pay for a Gautrain trip, a Gautrain feeder bus and car parking.
During construction approximately 6.7 million cubic metres of earth will be moved around and reworked to form the basis for the new rail line.
The Gautrain pre-feasibility study was initiated in 1998 and completed in 1999, and Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa announced the Gautrain rapid rail link project in February 2000.
A feasibility report on the proposed Gautrain rapid rail link project was completed in July 2001 and the two bidding consortia submitted their tender proposal documents on September 30 2003.
More than R1 810m was spent on procurement from and sub-contracting to black economic empowerment (BEE) firms, compared to an obligation of about R820m by July 2008.
South African materials, plant and equipment to the value of more than R1 030m have been purchased, compared to an obligation of R770m by July 2008.
can't wait to try out the Gautrain... 