Unisa online - Gautrain impresses CEMS academics

A view of a Gautrain tunnel

The Gautrain project received the thumbs up from a group of academics from the College of Economic and Management Sciences at an information session and site visit recently held in Midrand and Sandton. Prof Anton Brits, Acting chair of the Department of Transport Economics, Logistics and Tourism, arranged the visit for academics from his department and the Department of Economics. Dr John Maluleka, a transport economist closely associated with the department, accompanied and guided the group. The group was particularly impressed with the size of the project. It is currently the largest public-private partnership in the world. Dr Barbara Jensen, Marketing Director of the Gautrain project, spoke to them about the progress, successes and problems experienced to date.

The visitors were also briefed on safety issues as they were lucky enough to visit the underground tunnelling site; they were also issued with safety shoes, jackets and hardhats when they visited the underground station in Sandton. The group entered the tunnel at 32 metres underground and proceeded to the Sandton underground station. Depths of up to 70 metres are reached in the tunnel.

The tunnel itself is oversized and is divided by a reinforced concrete wall in the centre to make provision for trains in different directions and to serve as a safety wall between the two tracks. The group was impressed by the tunnelling procedure, the reinforcing of the tunnel roof and the competence of the workforce.

The group then visited the train set in Midrand. The external appearance and workmanship of the train attracted positive comments. They described the interior as compact, but elegant and adequate for the journey of 42 minutes between Pretoria and Johannesburg. The link between Sandton and the OR Tambo airport is focused on international patronage and coaches with more luggage space will be utilised on this section. Tariffs will also be higher than on the other links, since the focus is on a comprehensive service for an international niche market.

According to Prof Brits, the technology utilised for the Gautrain project is of an international standard. He says passengers can expect to pay more for a trip on the Gautrain than on current trains between the two cities, but less than they would pay if they did the trip with a car or a taxi.

Prof Theo van der Merwe, Chair of the Department of Economics, said it is inspiring to see such a huge project get off the ground successfully in South Africa. The train itself, he says, is beautiful, but he was a bit concerned that people travelling from Pretoria to the OR Tambo airport might find the coaches a bit cramped. The train travelling between Sandton and the OR Tambo airport will, however, be more spacious to cater for passengers with luggage.

Everybody was hopeful that the train will alleviate congestion on the roads and that it will leave commuters with more time. They were unanimous in their comments that South Africa can be proud of this transport achievement.

What do YOU think about the Gautrain? Will it alleviate congestion on the roads or will it be just another white elephant that no-one will use? Send your views, in no more than 50 words, to farres@unisa.ac.za by 25 February 2009. We will publish a selection of these in the March issue of Focus with your name and photograph.