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Environmental Impact Assessment: Proposed Gautrain Rapid Rail Link public transport. The Rapid Rail Link is aimed at fulfilling these goals and the proposed project has been included in the Gauteng Provincial Land Transport Framework for a number of years. This framework guides the planning of transportation provision in Gauteng Province at the strategic level. At present, public transport services in Gauteng, such as existing rail, bus and minibus-taxi services are not very attractive or convenient for current private car users. The South African Rail Commuter Corporation (SARCC) and Spoornet (part of Transnet Limited) respectively own the existing commuter rail services and rail network in Gauteng. Metrorail (a division of Transnet) operates the commuter rail system. The Gautrain is not planned to compete with the existing, heavily subsidised Metrorail service (that has a captive market), but rather to be complimentary to it and other public transport services and to specifically target current private car users who use the roads between Pretoria and Johannesburg. The following strategic objectives have been identified for the Gautrain project: It must stimulate economic growth, development and job creation. It must alleviate severe traffic congestion in the Pretoria to Johannesburg corridor. It must meet the other goals of national Government (e.g. small-medium enterprise (SME) promotion, business tourism, Black Economic Empowerment, etc). It must show Government’s commitment to the promotion of public transport (National Land Transport Transition Act, No. 22 of 2000). It must improve the image of public transport and attract more car users to public transport. It must promote business tourism by means of the link between JIA and Sandton. It must contribute towards urban restructuring, shortening travel distances and improving city sustainability. It must link to the Tshwane Ring Rail Project, which links Mamelodi, Atteridgeville and Soshanguve/Mabopane. It must stimulate the renovation and upliftment of the Johannesburg and Tshwane CBDs. It must link the main economic nodes in Gauteng with JIA. It must form part of a holistic transport plan and network for Gauteng. The Gautrain is being considered as a turnkey project whereby the private sector will be asked to partially fund, design, build and operate the rail system under a concession contract with the Gauteng Provincial Government for a 15 year period. The Gauteng Provincial Government will contribute a sum to the capital infrastructure costs. Companies from the private sector were Executive Summary 2 21/10/02
Environmental Impact Assessment: Proposed Gautrain Rapid Rail Link requested to pre-qualify for consideration to bid for the project, and two consortia have been shortlisted and asked to submit proposals for the implementation of the project. Their proposals will be based on or adjusted to take account of, amongst other things, the recommendations contained in this Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report on the project, and the content of the Record of Decision (ROD) to be issued by the Gauteng Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Land Affairs (GDACEL). The bidding consortia will submit their proposals regarding the design, construction and operation of the Gautrain (including details on the rolling stock, rail infrastructure and how they will address the mitigation measures proposed in this EIA report) during the first half of 2003. Thereafter, negotiations will commence with a preferred bidder to reach financial closure on the project by the end of 2003. The current programme aims for construction to commence on the rail system in 2004, with the first trains starting operation in 2007. 3. THE PROJECT CONCEPT The proposed Gautrain Rapid Rail Link entails the construction of a modern, state-of-the-art rail network consisting of two spines: a north-south spine linking the two major cities of Pretoria and Johannesburg (a commuter service), and an east-west spine linking Sandton and the East Rand at Rhodesfield in Kempton Park (a commuter service), together with a dedicated service linking Sandton and JIA (an airline passenger service). A network length of approximately 80 km is planned, with provision for future extensions. The track between Park Station, Johannesburg, and Sandton will be in tunnel. Tunnelled sections of line have also been proposed as route alignment alternatives between Sandton and Marlboro in Johannesburg, and in Pretoria, for investigation in the EIA. A feasibility study was conducted in 2000/2001 by a consortium of consultants (the Gautrain technical team) appointed by Gautrans. The proposals for the Gautrain Rapid Rail Link were developed during this period. Train Services The Gautrain is proposed to travel at a maximum speed of between 160 and 180 km/h, with an estimated travel time between the Pretoria Central Business District (CBD) and the Johannesburg CBD of approximately 35 minutes, and between Sandton and JIA of approximately 15 minutes. The minimum operating hours are proposed to be at least between 05h30 and 20h30. The proposed maximum service intervals (minimum train frequencies) are indicated overleaf. Executive Summary 3 21/10/02
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