Gautrain contributes to Gauteng development and sustainability

“Globally we are driven by the three Cs,” said Jack van der Merwe, chief executive of GMA and president of the UATP, the African chapter of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP).

“We are living in a world that is continuously changing, is extremely complex with an overload of data and information and very few traditional methods of addressing problems, and issues are still applicable. The third ‘C’ is competition, with us living in a competitive global village where processes

On e o f g o v e r n me n t ’ s objectives is to transform spaces in which people live by connecting and integrating places of work and human settlement. A simple approach to achieving this objective is through transport infrastructure projects, such as the Gautrain Project, to assist in ensuring commuter mobility.

The project has been designed in such a way that it restructures urban areas, improves city sustainability, reduces travel distances and cost and offers value for money to the user. As a rail project, it is also part of the backbone of an integrated public transport system in Gauteng.

The Gautrain has already facilitated new spatial developments in the Johannesburg-Tshwane and Ekurhuleni corridors by shaping future urban forms through economic and spatial development opportunities. These opportunities have been taken advantage of by the private market, which has adapted to the land use changes along the Gautrain route through property and business developments, thereby transforming and sustaining the use of public transport in the relevant corridors of freedom.

The Gautrain has also been instrumental in driving economic growth and social development in Gauteng province. According to the KPMG study commissioned by the Gautrain Management Agency in 2012, the Gautrain Project made a major contribution during its construction phase. It helped Gauteng to become a more efficient economy through longterm economic benefit streams. During construction the project contributed R20-billion to the Gauteng provincial GDP and created 123 000 job opportunities, resulting in about R2-billion being received by lower income households.

The Gautrain’s operational phase has been equally beneficial. Since 2011, the train has added R1.7-billion per year to the provincial GDP, while filtering R74-million down to mainly lower income households, and sustaining 6 000 jobs.

Besides driving economic growth, generating household income and creating jobs, the Gautrain Project prides itself on having a comprehensive transformation agenda, featuring a comprehensive socioeconomic development (SED) programme. This includes the fostering of black ownership of the companies that were part of the Gautrain’s physical construction, and maximising the procurement of goods and services from BEE businesses since the service went into operation. The SED objectives were achieved through commitment and support for Black Business Enterprises and small, micro and medium enterprises. The commitment also extended to the usage of mostly South African materials, services and products.

Gautrain has also re-activated property development in many areas around its stations and thus has contributed to the goals of transit-oriented development, better land use and redressing apartheid special development planning. The development of property around Gautrain’s stations generated R3.2billion of additional household income.

It is also Africa’s first air-rail transport service. Gautrain’s airport station at OR Tambo International Airport is famous for being integrated into the airport terminal and a convenient gateway to the Johannesburg and Tshwane’s CBDs from the East. It is on par with the best in the world and a good benchmark for Africa as a whole. This airport service competes with the best in the world on customer service and was awarded the Global Air Rail Alliance Award for customer service excellence in Oslo, in May 2014.

To continue offering a safe, convenient and efficient service to passengers, Gautrain’s airport service was improved with earlier trains in the mornings and later trains in the evenings. The first trains now leave Sandton and travel to OR Tambo as early as 4:50 and 5:10am. From Gautrain’s Airport Station the last trains are scheduled to leave at 8:46 and 9:04pm.

In conclusion, Gautrain is a sustainable transport system, which g r e a t l y i n c r e a s e s mo b i l i t y i n Gauteng. This is a demonstration of government’s commitment to moving people forward.