The plan to greatly expand the Gautrain network will involve the expropriation of land and property to build new rail lines, a maintenance depot, and 19 stations.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi told the National Transport Conference that at the end of the month, the private sector will hand the keys to the Gautrain’s R42 billion infrastructure.
“Our task is to maintain it, and it is in this context that we are maximising this investment for the next 15 years,” he noted.
A part of this maintenance is the implementation of the first expansion phase, which will include the opening of new stations across the province, as well as new railways to accompany them.
To do so, several processes need to be followed, as shared by the Gautrain’s X account (formerly Twitter).
“The Gauteng Rapid Rail Integrated Network, or GRRIN, is planned to enhance mobility, connect communities, and stimulate economic growth across Gauteng,” the post reads.
It further explained that part of the planning for the extension requires a meticulous four-step process of securing the rail reserve for the future railway line, the first of which involves route determination.
“This is a strategic process where provincial transport authorities undertake technical studies and environmental investigations by using advanced planning tools and environmental data to identify potential route alignments and future station locations.”
The process allows the executive authority to determine future routes with consideration given to public comments.
Urban centres, residential zones and areas of economic activity are all examined during considerations to decide where new stations should be built.
Following these considerations and preliminary designs, the proclamation of the railway line takes place, and refers to the official declaration of rail reserves and securing the land necessary for development.
The final step in the process is the expropriation of land or land rights, which is legislated under the Gauteng Transport Infrastructure Act.
Steps involved in the expropriation of land and land rights are laid out in the Draft Route Determination Report.
“During this proclamation process, owners of land that has been identified for expropriation are duly notified to enable the commencement of the expropriation process,” the report reads.
This notice must include an offer of compensation with supporting information as to the manner in which the amount was calculated.
“Property owners who receive such a notice may accept or dispute the compensation offered, or may request further particulars of the notice,” the report adds.
Taking the reins
During Premier Lesufi’s address, he called transport the lifeblood of national development.
He said the provincial government aims to ease the morning and afternoon traffic and ensure that goods and people can move freely through the province.
“That is why we were excited to approve our Integrated Transport Master Plan, which will redefine the future of transport in our province,” the premier noted.
Lesufi told President Cyril Ramaphosa that Gauteng’s transport system is almost fully functional.
“We remain immensely excited that our dream to realise a speed train from here [Gauteng] to Limpopo, and from here to KwaZulu-Natal, is no longer a dream, but a work-in-progress.”
He noted that while funding from the private sector built the Gautrain and its infrastructure, the Gauteng Government will take over control at the end of the month.
“In a few weeks’ time, we will announce the new ‘winner’ who will expand the Gautrain to Springs, Atteridgeville, Fourways, and other economic nodes in the province,” the premier noted.
“We mean business in bringing rail closer to our people.”
In February, Lesufi mentioned that other new stations would include Soweto, Mamelodi and parts of the West Rand, while planned expansions include Sedibeng.
The complete Gautrain expansion will be completed in five phases, each with its own tender procurement process.
The first phase of construction will begin later this year, with the full implementation of the new routes expected from 2030.
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