Gautrain expands to meet pax demand

F OLLOWING increasing passenger
demand on the Gautrain, the
Development Bank of Southern
Africa has approved a loan of R3,5bn
for the Gautrain Management Agency to
purchase additional rolling stock.
“Current passenger growth has been
consistent in the peak periods and
if the current patronage in the peak
periods is not addressed, capacity will
become more constrained,” Gauteng
MEC for Roads and Transport,
Dr Ismail Vadi said at a media briefing
outlining the business case for the
additional train car sets.
Ismail said recently that the
Bombela Concession Company,
initially appointed to operate and
maintain the Gautrain project, had
invited suppliers to submit tenders
for the design, manufacture,
supply and maintenance of 12 new
train sets.
The Gautrain system currently carries
1,4m passengers a month and would
require a total of 48 new rail cars over
the next decade to meet the current
passenger demand