Elizabeth Antidius Shumbusho | Africa Guardian
Africa boasts many remarkable infrastructure projects, and among them is the £3 billion Gautrain, a high-speed rail network connecting two major South African cities. Spanning 80 kilometers, the Gautrain links Johannesburg, the economic hub of Gauteng province, with Pretoria, South Africa’s administrative capital.
First announced in 2000 and completed in 2012, the project includes the construction of a 9.6-mile-long underground tunnel—the longest on the African continent. The Gautrain was developed to tackle road congestion, offering a faster, more efficient alternative for commuters while modernizing the region’s public transport system.
The network connects key hubs, including Sandton, Pretoria, and OR Tambo International Airport. It has significantly impacted daily commuting patterns. According to the Public–Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF), an average of 42,456 passengers traveled between Pretoria and Johannesburg on business days between April 2013 and March 2014, excluding the airport link. This shift removed approximately 24,200 cars from the Pretoria–Johannesburg corridor daily, reducing traffic congestion by 7.5% during that period.
The Gautrain’s rolling stock was sourced from the UK. The Bombardier Electrostar trains were primarily manufactured and assembled in Derby, England, with additional assembly carried out in South Africa by Union Carriage and Wagon using components produced in the UK.
While the core network has been operational for over a decade, plans to extend the route remain in limbo. Feasibility studies for expansions were completed in 2016, with results submitted to South Africa’s treasury the following year. However, as of 2024, approvals are still pending.
The proposed first extension would connect Marlboro to Soweto, with new stations planned in Cosmo City, Little Falls, Randburg, and Sandton. If approved, these expansions could further enhance Gauteng’s transport infrastructure and reduce road congestion across the region.
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