Gautrain

From Freepedia

Gautrain is a proposed 80-kilometre railway system in Gauteng Province, South Africa that will ultimately link Johannesburg, Tshwane (Pretoria metropolitan area) and Johannesburg International Airport. It is hoped that this railway will relieve the over-used M1 and N1 highways, as well as offer commuters a viable alternative to road transport, as Johannesburg has almost no public transport infrastructure.

Ten suburbs have been identified as potential station locations:

Construction is expected to commence in early 2006, with project completion scheduled for 2010. In order to commence with the Gautrain, the Gauteng Department of Transport must obtain authorisation in terms of environmental legislation.

The majority of communities directly affected by the train in Pretoria oppose the proposed surface alignment in the capital city and at least one community has lodged legal action against the environmental authorisation granted. The matter is therefore in the hands of the court. The provincial government has rejected lower impacting alignment options in the capital on cost grounds but it has since transpired that additional funds have been sourced to accommodate massive budget underestimates for the project.

Technology

While existing railways in South Africa use the narrow gauge (Cape gauge) of 1067mm (3 ft 6 in), Gautrain will be built to standard gauge (1435 mm or 4 ft 8½ in). According to Gautrain [1], standard gauge 'is safer and more comfortable for speeds of 130 km/h and higher, and will allow for more cost-effective procurement of rolling stock'.

Bombardier Transportation's Electrostar, a model of train common in south-east England, has been selected for the system. The trains will be assembled by UCW Partnership in South Africa from components made in Britain. [2]