The Gautrain will be expanded by 150km to include more locations like Soweto, if the proposal gets signed off by the National Treasury.
The Gautrain currently services limited destinations within the Tshwane and Johannesburg metros.
William Dachs, Chief Executive Officer of the Gautrain said that this expansion will form part of government’s R100 billion allocated to improve the country’s infrastructure, and aims to attract 10 times more private investment within four years, according to Business Tech.
Dachs added that this venture will be beneficial in terms of not only infrastructure and creating jobs, but that every rand the government has invested in the Gautrain group has made a return of at least double.
Construction is only expected to commence in 2024. ‘If construction commences in late 2024 then we anticipate that it (phase one) would be completed in 2029 – a five-year construction period. It takes into account the 18-month delay from the initial date mentioned,’ Dachs said.
The train currently services three different lines over 80km including Park Station to Hatfield, Sandton to Rhodesfield and Sandton to OR Tambo and operates seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Picture: Twitter/Tsogang3
