THE Gautrain network
is to be extended
to areas including
Soweto, Sunninghill, and
Fourways.
These and other plans
were announced by Ismail
Vadi, Gauteng MEC for
Roads and Transport, last
week. Ismail added that
capacity on the Gautrain
would also be boosted in
the coming months.
The extensions are
expected to take more than
24 months. The proposed
rail network includes a
link from Gautrain Park
Station to Westgate in
the Johannesburg CDB;
a link from the existing
Gautrain Sandton Station
to Randburg and Honeydew;
a link from Rhodeseld
Station to Boksburg; and a
link from Naledi in Soweto
to Mamelodi.
The link between Naledi
and Mamelodi will be
via either the proposed
Gautrain Samrand Station
or the existing Gautrain
Midrand Station. This
extension will also include
stations at Blue Hills,
Sunninghill, Fourways,
Cosmo City and Ruimsig.
Ismail said the Gautrain
system was under pressure
due to increased demand
and that capacity would
be increased in the short
to medium term. This
includes adding a seventh
eight-car train during the
morning peak within the
next three months as
well as reconguring the
service’s seating plan
to accommodate more
passengers in the next six
to nine months.
