Gautrain steaming ahead

M

MielieSpoor

Expert Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2006
Messages
1,984
Reaction score
4
Location
Dublin
I saw in some newspaper today that the Gautrain project is right on target (well almost).

I went to the projext's website and saw some photo's on there. The most up-to-date photo's are from the Marlboro site where the train will be going underground untill Jhb city centre.

I have also read on the site that they aim for the high class passanger, but said that travel fairs is lower than what you would pay traveling in you own vehicle to Jhb.

I have used these types of transport in the UK and I must admit that I am really looking forward to using this train. I will be staying not to far from the Hatfield/Centrion stations and am working in Jhb City Centre so I will be one of the first people to use this train service.

They do however project that within the first year of operation, about 100 000 people will be using this train per day. I think this is a bit of a rough estimate as at the current moment "only" 160 000 people use the Ben Schoeman per day.

Ok, they say that per year the traffic volume grow by 20 000 a year so when the gautrain will be finished, there will be an add 70 000 to 100 0000 more people using the Ben Schoeman (provided that the yearly growth - 20 000, also grow).
 
MielieSpoor said:
I have also read on the site that they aim for the high class passanger, but said that travel fairs is lower than what you would pay traveling in you own vehicle to Jhb.
Click to expand...

I hope they're considering petrol cost only. If it's only a bit cheaper than full running costs of a car (including purchase, insurance, etc.), that won't help, because you'll *still* have a car's repayments and insurance even if you travel the train, because you'll need your car fo going anywhere else.
 
i like the part where they say
Dedicated, exclusive bus and minibus taxi feeder and distribution services provided by the Gautrain operator, as well as the existing public transport services will be available to transport passengers to and from stations.
Click to expand...
on this page

hmmm, i'm starting to get excited by this gautrain. imagine that: no more n1/m1 traffic... that should drastically decrease insurance premiums :D
 
They seem to be doing well in Sandton, no problems and you can actually see things getting done on a near daily basis...

I saw this huge metal structure down the road from the main construction site the other day as well, not sure what that is going to be but it had that Bombela Consortium signage all over it so it must be part of the Gautrain...
 
Will the Gautrain make car prices and running more expensive??
 
"Steaming ahead" - lol. Hope it is steam, what with the electricity problems.
:D
 
GavinMannion said:
They seem to be doing well in Sandton, no problems and you can actually see things getting done on a near daily basis...

I saw this huge metal structure down the road from the main construction site the other day as well, not sure what that is going to be but it had that Bombela Consortium signage all over it so it must be part of the Gautrain...
Click to expand...

I took a walk on the bridge in Rivonia this weekend, things are looking good, but Im no expert!
 
JK8 said:
Will the Gautrain make car prices and running more expensive??
Click to expand...

i'm thinking it will actually lower car prices because SA car prices are already a rip off, so when no one wants to buy cars anymore because of the gautrain, they will be forced to stop ripping us off, to entice us into buying. well, thats my hope anyways :p
 
I hope they're considering petrol cost only. If it's only a bit cheaper than full running costs of a car (including purchase, insurance, etc.), that won't help
Click to expand...
Gautrain RIDERSHIP & FARE STRUCTURE:
The Gautrain commuter fares will be lower than the perceived cost of using a car. It will, however, be more expensive than existing rail and taxi fares as the new train will offer a higher quality service. Airport passengers’ fare 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 cost.
Click to expand...

But are they on schedule?
Click to expand...
Apparently a week behind, but they will only know if they are actully behind schedule when the big machines that will dig the tunnels underneath Jhb arrive in Sept/Oct. Only when those machines arrive will they know. I don't know why - only have read it on the website.
 
imajin said:
i'm thinking it will actually lower car prices because SA car prices are already a rip off, so when no one wants to buy cars anymore because of the gautrain, they will be forced to stop ripping us off, to entice us into buying. well, thats my hope anyways :p
Click to expand...

Im a car person, the ladies on the train would have to be really hot for me to give up my car!
 
JK8 said:
Im a car person, the ladies on the train would have to be really hot for me to give up my car!
Click to expand...

That's what worries me about the whole Gautrain idea. South Africans love their cars and I wonder how many of us would be willing to give that up. Why spend R300k on a car if it spends most of its life parked in a garage (might as well buy a life sized poster). The only part of the Gautrain I know I'm going to use is the Sandton-Airport link. That seems like a winner. As for the rest; we'll see.
 
At present they are only a week and a bit behind due to unforeseen logistical issues.

The biggest challenge is going to be when the tunneling begins.

Have to say that Bombela is one of the best structured consortia to have taken on a project of this magnitude. Extremely professional.

(we supply formwork material to the different sites).
 
I can't wait for the airport link, but I will keep using my bike to the office...

However if I ever get a job in Midrand I will take the train, people are mad sitting in that traffic on a daily basis....
 
orin76 said:
That's what worries me about the whole Gautrain idea. South Africans love their cars and I wonder how many of us would be willing to give that up. Why spend R300k on a car if it spends most of its life parked in a garage (might as well buy a life sized poster). The only part of the Gautrain I know I'm going to use is the Sandton-Airport link. That seems like a winner. As for the rest; we'll see.
Click to expand...

I would have loved it in my pre 18 days, maybe the young ones will like it to??
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X