Dawn of a new era for the Gautrain

The Gauteng Provincial Government has finally completed the appointment process to assign a new operator to the Gautrain, which will oversee the public transport service for the next 15 years.

While the operator itself has yet to be named, the appointment is expected to introduce sweeping changes to the Gautrain to improve capacity and service quality.

The Gautrain has existed since 2010 and primarily operates as a commuting service for residents moving between Pretoria and Johannesburg, though it also has a line that branches off to reach OR Tambo International Airport.

Over the years, the Gautrain has expanded with the introduction of a bus service and driver’s licence centres at some of its stations.

Under its new operator, the rail service will embark on the next phase of its expansion with an increased number of weekday trains during off-peak times, longer operating hours, and a larger train fleet.

It now aims to have 32 four-car electric multiple units, expanding its fleet by eight new trains as part of a progressive investment in the company, according to MyBroadband.

The company’s growth plans also include improvements to feeder routes and midibuses, integration between Gautrain trains and feeder bus services, and upgrades to its facilities, depots, and stations.

It also plans to improve security and passenger information systems, expand its public Wi-Fi and digital services, and introduce an account-based ticketing system.

Another notable change is that it aims to establish a full backup power supply for its stations and integrate renewable energy sources to meet 30% of its electricity needs.

The Gautrain is set to roll out an integrated Mobility-as-a-service digital platform that links public transport with other mobility options, such as car rentals or bike sharing.

The idea is to create a single service accessed via a smartphone app that will allow users to book tickets, make payments, and organise trips.

The Gauteng Provincial Government revealed that the Gautrain has recorded over 216 million trips since its launch in 2010.

“The Gautrain has become an important part of Gauteng’s economic and transport infrastructure,” the Gauteng Provincial Government said.

“These interventions will be implemented progressively over the 15-year period and are intended to create a more frequent, accessible, connected, resilient and sustainable public transport service.”

The name of the operator appointed to the Gautrain will be revealed in a follow-up announcement.

Plans to expand the Gautrain network

In addition to all of these quality-of-life changes, the Gautrain is set for a massive expansion that will roughly triple the length of its railways.

The goal is to expand the service to new areas, as the Gautrain has been criticised for being too narrow in scope, making it a niche transport option for people travelling between city centres.

Several new stations have been proposed as part of this expansion, including ones in the following locations:

• Cradle Station
• Fourways Station
• Jabulani Station
• Lanseria Station
• Olievenhoutbosch Station
• Roodepoort Station
• Samrand Station
• Smart City Station
• Sunninghill Station

The Lanseria station will open up a new route to Lanseria International Airport, strengthening its appeal as an alternative to OR Tambo.

The improved bus network is also meant to address the fact that the Gautrain only takes people to the centre of areas like Centurion and Sandton, and that commuters often still need a last-mile transport solution to get from the station to their final destination.