On 02 August 2011 the second phase of the Gautrain System – the route linking Rosebank Station in Johannesburg to Hatfield Station in Tshwane – was opened for commercial service. This follows the initial launch of Gautrain services on 08 June 2010, just three days ahead of the Soccer World Cup. The first phase operations, which comprised the airport train service between Sandton Station and OR Tambo International Airport and a commuter service between Sandton and Rhodesfield with an intermediate stop at Marlboro Station, have run very successfully and have proved extremely popular with the public. During the first 13 months of operations, ridership has accumulated to approximately 3 million passenger-trips. This eagerly awaited second phase extension to the Gautrain network now links the metropolitan areas of Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni and provides commuters with a safe, quick and efficient alternative to other modes of transport, at competitive price levels. The train service is complemented by Gautrain’s fleet of 125 feeder and distribution buses servicing each station, apart from ORTIA. The final leg of the route between Rosebank Station and Park Station in the Johannesburg CBD will be opened at a later stage, once certain additional engineering works have been completed within this section of tunnel. In the interim, a Gautrain bus service will be introduced for the convenience of commuters wishing to travel between Rosebank and the CBD.

A tremendous amount has been achieved since the previous issue of “Construction Update” that recorded progress to the end of May 2011, at which stage the construction works and testing and commissioning (T&C) activities were already substantially complete and Trial Running by the Operator was in full swing. Remaining construction works – predominantly comprising finishing touches to the stations, finalization of external works, landscaping and completion of road reinstatements – were attended to and all outstanding T&C activities were successfully completed, documented and signed off.

Trial Running between Rosebank and Pretoria Stations, which had commenced on 08 March 2011 and which was extended along the final links to Park Station and Hatfield Station during May 2011, was successfully completed. Trial Running, which was carried out under the control of the Operator, followed the T&C process during which all systems and sub-systems were commissioned and tested to demonstrate that they met required performance standards. It comprised numerous drills and exercises, familiarisation of staff with operating conditions and – during the latter stages – running of the full system to the service timetable. Trial Running was successfully completed on 27 June 2011, whereafter the Operator submitted its application to the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) for a Safety Certificate, which is one of the pre-requisites necessary to permit commercial operations to commence. The RSR Safety Permit for the full System was issued on 11 July 2011.

A further pre-requisite ahead of the opening of this phase was for Arup, the Independent Certifier for the Project, to undertake a rigorous evaluation to verify that all of the contractual and technical requirements had been complied with and to certify its confirmation accordingly. By the end of July this extensive exercise had been completed and on Monday 01 August 2011 the Independent Certifier certified that the applicable requirements had been met and confirmed the Operating Commencement Date for the Rosebank to Hatfield service as 02 August 2011.

Operations commenced at 05h30 on Tuesday 02 August 2011.

As regular readers will be aware, “Construction Update” has reported upon construction progress on a monthly basis since Gautrain construction commenced on 28 September 2006. As all construction activities apart from the additional engineering works to be carried out in the tunnel section between Park Station and Shaft E2 have now been completed, this is the final issue of this publication.

A brief wrap-up of final activities that have taken place at those areas of the Project that have been focussed upon during recent months is provided below.

1. Underground Section

THE TUNNEL SECTION

All works within the tunnel between Sandton Station and Rosebank Station, including testing and commissioning, were completed by early March 2011. Trial Running through this section of the tunnel commenced on 08 March 2011 and was successfully completed by the end of June 2011. Train services between Sandton and Rosebank commenced on 02 August 2011.

Rosebank Station platforms

Sandton Station platform

The tunnel between Rosebank Station and Park Station comprises an approximately 3 km long section that was constructed by means of a tunnel boring machine, with the remaining approximately 2.5 km constructed utilizing drill and blast methods. The TBM section – which extends from immediately south of Rosebank to Shaft E2 located near “The Wilds” in Houghton – is designed as a fully lined, watertight tunnel.

The section of tunnel between Shaft E2 and Park Station is designed as a drained tunnel, which makes provision for a limited amount of water to enter the tunnel, which is then extracted through the tunnel drainage system. It is within this latter section of drained tunnel – predominantly towards its southern end – that the additional engineering works referred to earlier will be carried out in certain areas, in order to reduce the quantity of ground water finding its way into the drainage system to within the specified limits.

As has been emphasised in recent media statements, although these limits currently exceed the contract specification in some areas, the entire system, including the tunnel section between Rosebank and Park Stations, is completely safe. Trains have been running to Park Station since April this year as part of the T&C and Trial Running processes, and this fact is further evidenced by the Rail Safety Regulator having issued the Operating Permit for the full System on 11 July 2011. Although safety had not been compromised, the Gauteng Province and Bombela made a joint decision to address this issue prior to the start of operations to enable the required works to be completed in the shortest possible time

These engineering works will involve the drilling of small diameter holes through the tunnel floor and the injection low viscosity grout into the surrounding rock. This will reduce the permeability of the rock mass and thus reduce the volume of water entering the tunnel drains. Planning and preparation for this exercise is well advanced and works will start in early September 2011. With the grouting operation being an iterative process, it is difficult to predict how long it will take to achieve the desired results, but it is currently anticipated that these works will be completed towards the end of this year.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFTS

The underground works also included the construction of seven emergency access shafts located at intervals along the single-track rail tunnel between Park Station and Sandton Station. These shafts provide emergency services personnel access to the tunnels below. At the bottom of certain of these shafts there are safe havens where passengers can gather in case of an emergency. Those members of the public who participated in the tunnel evacuation exercises carried out earlier this year will be familiar with these safe havens, having spent part of a Saturday morning enjoying a cold drink and a snack within one of these, located some 60 meters below the suburb of Dunkeld.

Works at all seven of these emergency access shafts are complete and all shafts are fully operational.

PARK STATION

All works at Park Station are complete. The Operator’s Trial Running activities relevant to this station were completed during June 2011 and the necessary Occupation Certificate was issued by the City of Johannesburg on 29 June 2011. Whilst this station is, therefore, ready for the start of operations, these will only commence once the additional engineering work to be carried out within the tunnel between Rosebank and Park Station is complete and this final section of the route is opened for commercial service.

The Johannesburg Park Station entrance

Access stairway to the Johannesburg Park Station entrance

ROSEBANK STATION

All works at Rosebank Station are complete. The Operator’s Trial Running activities relevant to this station were completed during June 2011, the necessary Occupation Certificate was issued by the City of Johannesburg on 29 June 2011 and the Independent Certifier’s certification that all contractual and technical requirements had been met, followed thereafter. The station was opened to the public for the pre-sale of tickets and to enable prospective passengers to familiarize with the facilities on 29 July 2011. Rosebank Station commenced commercial operations with the opening of the Rosebank to Hatfield link on 02 August 2011.

Gautrain arrival at Rosebank Station

Installed ticket vending machines at Rosebank Station concourse

SANDTON STATION

Whilst Sandton Station has been operational since the opening of the first phase of the Gautrain System on 08 June 2010, the platforms serving the North – South route were brought into use on 02 August 2011, with the opening of the Rosebank to Hatfield link.

MARLBORO STATION

Whilst Marlboro Station has been operational since the opening of the first phase of the Gautrain System on 08 June 2010, the platforms serving the route to the north were brought into use on 02 August 2011, with the opening of the Rosebank to Hatfield link.

A popular change to the operations at Marlboro Station has been the introduction of the Marboro to ORTIA service on 01 June 2011, which enables airport passengers to board and alight at Marlboro, as well as at Sandton.

2. Northern Section (Depot to Hatfield Station)

THE ALIGNMENT, INCLUDING ALL BRIDGES, STRUCTURES AND VIADUCTS

Construction along this section of the alignment was completed on a progressive basis from the Depot northwards and was substantially complete up to Pretoria by December 2010 and to Hatfield by mid-April this year. The first Gautrain Electrostars arrived at Pretoria Station on 13 January 2011 and at Hatfield Station on 14 April 2011 respectively.

Following completion of T&C activities, Trial Running commenced and this was successfully completed by 27 June 2011. Commercial operations along this section of the route commenced on 02 August 2011, with the opening of the link between the Rosebank and Hatfield Stations.

MIDRAND STATION

All works at Midrand Station are complete. The Operator’s Trial Running activities relevant to this station were completed during June 2011, the necessary Occupation Certificate was issued by the City of Johannesburg on 28 June 2011 and the Independent Certifier’s certification that all contractual and technical requirements had been met, followed thereafter. The station was opened to the public for the pre-sale of tickets and to enable prospective passengers to familiarize with the facilities on 29 July 2011. Midrand Station commenced commercial operations with the opening of the Rosebank to Hatfield link on 02 August 2011.

Gautrain arrival at Midrand Station

CENTURION STATION

All works at Centurion Station are complete. The Operator’s Trial Running activities relevant to this station were completed during June 2011, the necessary Occupation Certificate was issued by the City of Tshwane on 24 June 2011 and the Independent Certifier’s certification that all contractual and technical requirements had been met, followed thereafter. The station was opened to the public for the pre-sale of tickets and to enable prospective passengers to familiarize with the facilities on 29 July 2011. Centurion Station commenced commercial operations with the opening of the Rosebank to Hatfield link on 02 August 2011.

Gautrain bus outside Ceturion Station

PRETORIA STATION

All works at Pretoria Station are complete. The Operator’s Trial Running activities relevant to this station were completed during June 2011, the necessary Occupation Certificate was issued by the City of Tshwane on 24 June 2011 and the Independent Certifier’s certification that all contractual and technical requirements had been met, followed thereafter. The station was opened to the public for the pre-sale of tickets and to enable prospective passengers to familiarize with the facilities on 29 July 2011. Pretoria Station commenced commercial operations with the opening of the Rosebank to Hatfield link on 02 August 2011.

Gautrain arrival at Pretoria Station platforms

Pretoria Station platforms

PRETORIA SATELLITE BUS DEPOT

This facility is located to the north of the CBD, in the vicinity of the Pretoria Zoo. It is the base from where the fleet of Gautrain feeder and distribution buses that serve the three stations in the Tshwane area operate. Maintenance work and major servicing of the buses, however, takes place at the main Gautrain Bus Depot, which is located adjacent to the Train Depot and Operations Control Centre in Midrand.

All works at the Pretoria Satellite Bus Depot are complete. Trial Running of the Gautrain feeder and distribution buses along the Tshwane routes was completed during June 2011, the necessary Occupation Certificate was issued by the City of Tshwane on 29 June 2011 and the Independent Certifier’s certification that all contractual and technical requirements had been met, followed thereafter. Operating out of this facility, the feeder and distribution bus service for the Tshwane area commenced commercial operations with the opening of the Rosebank to Hatfield link on 02 August 2011.

HATFIELD STATION

All works at Hatfield Station are complete. The Operator’s Trial Running activities relevant to this station were completed during June 2011, the necessary Occupation Certificate was issued by the City of Tshwane on 24 June 2011 and the Independent Certifier’s certification that all contractual and technical requirements had been met, followed thereafter. The station was opened to the public for the pre-sale of tickets and to enable prospective passengers to familiarize with the facilities on 29 July 2011. Hatfield Station commenced commercial operations with the opening of the Rosebank to Hatfield link on 02 August 2011.

Gautrain arrival at Hatfield Station platforms

Hatfield Station platforms

B) CONCLUSION

With this being the final issue of “Construction Update”, the editorial team takes the opportunity to thank our readers, the media and the Gauteng community in general for your patience, understanding and interest during the construction phase of the Gautrain Project, which has spanned almost 5 years since the first sod was turned at the end of September 2006.

Designing and constructing the Gautrain infrastructure, which traverses some of South Africa’s most highly developed commercial and residential infrastructure and busiest road networks, presented some particular challenges. With an initial perception in some quarters that that large parts of our metropolitan areas were at risk of being transformed into a massive construction site for a considerable period of time, one of Gautrain’s major objectives was to achieve effective interaction with – and buy-in from – all affected communities, the public, relevant authorities and affected third parties. As such, we have endeavoured to follow a regular, open and transparent communications strategy, without which this objective would not have had a chance of being realized.

We hope that you have found our monthly progress updates interesting and informative – your support has been greatly appreciated. We wish you many enjoyable kilometres of Gautrain commuting!

C) OVERALL PROGRESS SUMMARY

Construction started at the end of September 2006. Gautrain was initially envisaged to be completed in two phases, but a third phase was subsequently introduced

1. The first phase was initially planned to be of a 45 months contractual duration, but was completed three weeks ahead of this, on 08 June 2010. It included the network between the OR Tambo International Airport and Sandton and includes the stations at OR Tambo, Rhodesfield, Marlboro and Sandton, together with the Train Depot, Bus Depot and Operations Control Centre located near Allandale Road in Midrand.
2. The second phase was completed on 02 August 2011 2011. It included the remainder of the rail network and all stations linking Sandton to Rosebank Station in Johannesburg and the route from Midrand to Hatfield, together with the Satellite Bus Depot in Pretoria.
3. The third and final phase, being the link between Rosebank Station and Park Station in the Johannesburg CBD, will follow within the coming months.

Toll-free call centre: 0800-GAUTRAIN (0800-42887246). The call centre is operational weekdays between 7am and 7pm with an answering system after-hours. Communities are reminded that regular Community Liaison Forums continue to be held in affected areas.

On 8 June 2010, Phase 1 of the Gautrain System was opened for commercial service. The first phase operations include the airport train service between Sandton Station and OR Tambo International Airport, a commuter service between Sandton and Rhodesfield – with an intermediate stop at Marlboro Station – as well as dedicated feeder and distribution bus services to and from the Sandton and Rhodesfield Stations. The Operations Control Centre, together with the Train and Bus Depot facilities located just south of Allandale Road in the Midrand area, were also completed as part of the first phase scope of works.

The remaining sections of Sandton Station required for the Phase 2 operations were completed during March 2011. These works included completion of the podium slab over the station complex, the remaining parking facilities, the third platform to service the southbound line to the Rosebank and Park stations and an undercover municipal taxi terminus. The reinstatement of Rivonia Road, which also formed part of these works, was completed and the road was re-opened to traffic in its final two-way configuration during December 2010.

Monthly Construction Updates now focus on progress of the remaining Gautrain Phase 2 works, comprising the underground section between Sandton Station and Park Station, the route between Midrand Station and Hatfield Station and the Pretoria Satellite Bus Depot.

The Phase 2 works are well advanced, with those between Rosebank Station and Pretoria Station, including all testing and commissioning (T&C) activities, being substantially completed during March 2011. Access to the full railway alignment between Rosebank and Pretoria – which includes all stations along this section of the route – was provided to the Bombela Operating Company in early March 2011. Under the control of the Operator, Trial Running between Rosebank and Pretoria Stations commenced on 08 March 2011. Trial Running along the final links to Park Station and Hatfield Station commenced during May 2011 and is ongoing.

Trial Running, which follows completion of the T&C process during which all systems and sub-systems are commissioned and tested to demonstrate that they meet required performance standards, is carried out under the control of the Operator. Trial Running comprises numerous drills and exercises, familiarisation of staff with operating conditions and – during the latter stages – running of the full system to the service timetable.

1. Underground Section

Within the Phase 2 tunnel section – which is the link between Sandton Station and Park Station – all civil works, tracklaying, railway infrastructure installations and T&C activities are complete. Trial Running within this section of the tunnel, under the control of the Operator, commenced in two phases during March and May 2011 respectively, and is ongoing.

The underground works also include the construction of seven emergency access shafts located at intervals along the single-track rail tunnel between Park Station and Sandton Station. These shafts will provide emergency services personnel access to the tunnels below. At the bottom of certain of these shafts there will be safe havens where passengers can gather in case of an emergency. Construction works at all of the emergency access shafts are substantially complete, apart from finalisation of landscaping and road reinstatements at two of these.

PARK STATION

All works within the station and at the parkade are substantially complete and the station is under the control of the Operator. Remaining works include completion of the southern entrance on the southern side of Wolmarans Street, bus shelters and landscaping, as well as final finishings to the perimeter roadworks and sidewalks.

Vantage point overlooking the Johannesburg Park Station parkade

Access stairway from the Johannesburg Park Station entrance

Trial Running of trains into this station commenced during May 2011 and is ongoing.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E1 (HILLBROW)

At Shaft E1, all construction works and M&E installations are substantially complete, as are the external works and landscaping.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E2 (THE WILDS, HOUGHTON)

At Shaft E2, construction works and M&E installations are substantially complete. Landscaping and external works are in progress and these will be completed within the next few weeks.

E2 Emergency Shaft entrance

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E3 (RIVIERA)

At Shaft E3, all construction works and M&E installations are substantially complete, as are the external works and landscaping.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E4 (HOUGHTON)

At Shaft E4, all construction works and M&E installations are substantially complete, as are the external works and landscaping.

Inside Emergency Shaft 4 in Houghton

ROSEBANK STATION

At Rosebank Station, works within the station and at the parkade are substantially complete and the station is under the control of the Operator. Remaining works include completion of the two additional station entrances, together with the vent shaft, that are located on the western side of Oxford Road.

Rosebank Station concourse

Rosebank Station parkade entrance

The phased reinstatement of Oxford Road adjacent to the station is ongoing. These road reinstatement works have been carried out on a phased basis to enable the two station entrances and the ventilation structure located on the western side of Oxford Road to be constructed. Oxford Road was opened to two – way traffic (two lanes in either direction) during April 2011. The remaining lanes will be opened once the works on the western side of the road have been completed. Various other roads in the Rosebank area that were re-configured to facilitate traffic flows during construction of the station are being reinstated to their original configurations. Most of these re-instatements were completed by the end of May 2011, with the minor works remaining scheduled to be completed within the next few weeks.

Rosebank Station parkade

Trial Running of trains into this station commenced during March 2011 and is ongoing.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E5 (DUNKELD, ROSEBANK)

At Shaft E5, all construction works and M&E installations are substantially complete, as are the external works and landscaping.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E6 (ILLOVO)

At Shaft E6, all construction works and M&E installations are substantially complete. The temporarily-closed lane of Melville Road was re-opened to two-way traffic during April 2011 and final reinstatement works to the adjacent road surface and pavements are in progress.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E7 (WESTERN SIDE OF RIVONIA ROAD, SANDTON)

At Shaft E7, all construction works and M&E installations are substantially complete, as are the external works and landscaping. Final reinstatement works to the adjacent roadways are in progress.

2. Northern Section (Depot to Hatfield Station)

DEPOT TO MIDRAND

From the Depot to Midrand Station, all construction works, railway installations and T&C activities are complete. Trial Running along this section of the route commenced on 08 March 2011 and is ongoing.

MIDRAND STATION

At Midrand Station, all works are complete and the station is under the control of the Operator. Trial Running of trains through this station commenced during March 2011 and is ongoing.

MIDRAND TO CENTURION, INCLUDING VIADUCT 4 OVER RIETSPRUIT AND OLIFANTSFONTEIN ROAD SOUTH

From Midrand Station to Centurion, all construction works, railway installations and T&C activities are complete. Trial Running along this section of the route commenced during March 2011 and is ongoing.

Gautrain approaching on the alignment in the vicinity of the N3 underpass

CENTURION AREA, INCLUDING VIADUCT 5 OVER THE N1 AND BEN SCHOEMAN HIGHWAYS AND CENTURION STATION

Construction of all three of the Centurion viaducts is complete. These comprise Viaduct 5b – the balanced cantilever viaduct crossing the N1 and the John Vorster Interchange, Viaduct 5c – the approximately 3 km long segmental viaduct that carries the elevated Gautrain railway lines through Centurion and supports the Centurion Station platforms midway along its length and Viaduct 5d – the second balanced cantilever viaduct – that crosses the Ben Schoeman highway and the Jean Avenue Interchange. Trains continue to run across these structures on a regular basis en-route to and from Pretoria, as part of the current Trial Running programme.

At Centurion Station, all works within the station are substantially complete and the external works are also approaching completion. Trial Running of trains through this station commenced during March 2011 and is ongoing.

Gautrain bus departure from Centurion Station

CENTURION TO PRETORIA, INCLUDING VIADUCT 6 OVER EEUFEES ROAD

All civil construction works between Centurion and Pretoria – which include extensive earthworks, a number of bridges, U-shape structures through the military area and Viaduct 6 crossing Eeufees Road – are substantially complete, as are all railway installations and T&C activities. Remaining works include completion of drainage channels and maintenance roads, trimming of embankments, topsoiling and landscaping. Trial Running along this section of the route commenced during March 2011 and is ongoing.

PRETORIA STATION AND SATELLITE BUS DEPOT

At Pretoria Station, all works are substantially complete and the station is under the control of the Operator. Trial Running of trains into this station commenced during March 2011 and is ongoing.

Installed signage in front of the Pretoria Station facade

At the Pretoria Satellite Bus Depot, all works are substantially complete and this facility is under the control of the Operator. This facility is located to the north of the CBD, in the vicinity of the Pretoria Zoo. It is the base from where the fleet of Gautrain feeder and distribution buses that will serve the three stations in the Tshwane area will operate. Maintenance work and major servicing of the buses, however, will take place at the already operational Gautrain Bus Depot, which is located adjacent to the Train Depot and Operations Control Centre in Midrand. Operating out of the Pretoria Satellite Depot, trial running of Gautrain feeder and distribution buses along the Tshwane routes commenced during May 2011 and is ongoing.

PRETORIA TO HATFIELD, INCLUDING VIADUCT 7 OVER NELSON MANDELA BOULEVARD

Viaduct 7 comprises a set of “Y-shaped” viaducts and flyovers that carry the Gautrain railway lines into Pretoria Station from the south and then across Nelson Mandela Boulevard and the adjacent PRASA railway network towards Hatfield. Construction of all of these structures, together with the installation of trackwork and associated railway infrastructure across the decks, is complete.

Between Pretoria Station and Hatfield Station, a number of bridges crossing the existing PRASA railway line have been either widened or lengthened to accommodate the adjacent Gautrain tracks. All of these bridges have already been completed and reopened to traffic. The extensive lateral support works in cuttings, together with the earthworks and construction of the retaining structures necessary to widen the existing embankments, are complete, as is construction of dividing walls between the Gautrain and PRASA railway lines. Tracklaying operations and the installation of associated railway infrastructure between Pretoria and Hatfield are also complete. Remaining activities comprise finalization of minor sections noise barriers and boundary fencing and completion of adjacent road reinstatements.

Hatfield Station alignment adjacent to the Prasa railway reserve

Testing of trains and signalling systems between Pretoria and Hatfield commenced during April 2011 and has been completed. Trial Running of trains along this section of the route commenced during May 2011 and is ongoing.

HATFIELD STATION

At Hatfield Station, works within the station, at the parkade and at the adjacent bus terminus are substantially complete and the station is under the control of the Operator. Remaining works include the erection of a covered walkway from the bus terminus and finalization of the adjacent municipal road and sidewalk reinstatements.

The multi level parkade at Hatfield Station

Hatfield Station concourse

Construction of the new Grosvenor Street bridge is complete, but this bridge will only be opened to public traffic when station operations commence.

Trial Running of trains into this station commenced during May 2011 and is ongoing.

B) OVERALL PROGRESS

Construction started at the end of September 2006. Gautrain will be completed in two phases:

1. The first phase was initially planned to be of a 45 months contractual duration, but was completed three weeks ahead of this, on 08 June 2010. It includes the network between the OR Tambo International Airport and Sandton and includes the stations at OR Tambo, Rhodesfield, Marlboro and Sandton, together with the Depot and Operations Control Centre located near Allandale Road in Midrand.

2. The second phase will be completed during 2011. It includes the remainder of the rail network and stations linking Sandton to Park Station in Johannesburg and the route from Midrand to Hatfield.

Toll-free call centre: 0800-GAUTRAIN (0800-42887246). The call centre is operational weekdays between 7am and 7pm with an answering system after-hours. Communities are reminded that regular Community Liaison Forums are held in affected areas.

On 8 June 2010, Phase 1 of the Gautrain System was opened for commercial service. The first phase operations include the airport train service between Sandton Station and OR Tambo International Airport, a commuter service between Sandton and Rhodesfield – with an intermediate stop at Marlboro Station – as well as dedicated feeder and distribution bus services to and from the Sandton and Rhodesfield Stations. The Operations Control Centre, together with the Train and Bus Depot facilities located just south of Allandale Road in the Midrand area, were also completed as part of the first phase scope of works.

The remaining sections of Sandton Station required for the Phase 2 operations were completed during March 2011. These works included completion of the podium slab over the station complex, the remaining parking facilities, the third platform to service the southbound line to the Rosebank and Park stations and an undercover municipal taxi terminus. The reinstatement of Rivonia Road, which also formed part of these works, was completed and the road was re-opened to traffic in its final two-way configuration during December 2010.

Monthly Construction Updates now focus on progress of the Gautrain Phase 2 works, comprising the underground section between Sandton Station and Park Station, the route between Midrand Station and Hatfield Station and the Pretoria Satellite Bus Depot.

The Phase 2 works are well advanced, with those between Rosebank Station and Pretoria Station, including all testing and commissioning (T&C) activities, being substantially completed during March 2011. Access to the full railway alignment between Rosebank and Pretoria – which includes all stations along this section of the route – was provided to the Bombela Operating Company in early March 2011. Under the control of the Operator, Trial Running between Rosebank and Pretoria Stations commenced on 08 March 2011, and is ongoing. Trial Running along the final links to Park Station and Hatfield Station will follow and is planned to commence within the next few weeks.

Trial Running, which follows completion of the T&C process during which all systems and sub-systems are commissioned and tested to demonstrate that they meet required performance standards, is carried out under the control of the Operator. Trial Running comprises numerous drills and exercises, familiarisation of staff with operating conditions and – during the latter stages – running of the full system to the service timetable.

1. Underground Section

Within the southern portion of the Phase 2 tunnel section, all civil works, tracklaying, railway infrastructure installations and T&C activities are complete between Sandton Station and Rosebank Station and Trial Running within this section of the tunnel, under the control of the Operator, commenced on 08 March 2011 and is ongoing. From Rosebank Station to Park Station, all civil works, tracklaying and railway infrastructure installations are also complete, and T&C activities are well advanced.

The underground works also include the construction of seven emergency access shafts located at intervals along the single-track rail tunnel between Park Station and Sandton Station. These shafts will provide emergency services personnel access to the tunnels below. At the bottom of certain of these shafts there will be safe havens where passengers can gather in case of an emergency. Construction works at five of these emergency access shafts are substantially complete and are ongoing at the remaining two.

PARK STATION

All structural and building works for the station and parkade are complete, including the cut and cover tunnel linking the station to the tunnel portal, where backfilling is well advanced.

Within the underground station, internal finishes, platform tiling and mechanical and electrical (M&E) installations are all substantially complete and T&C activities are also approaching completion.

Johannesburg Park Station concourse

The Johannesburg Park Station tunnel section towards the Cut and cover

At the parkade structure, works are substantially complete, with pavement canopy installation and the erection of shadeport structures on the top parking level currently in progress. Cladding of the structural steel entrance pavilion on the southern side of Wolmarans Street is substantially complete and façade glazing is in progress. Construction of the ventilation structure on the northern side of Smit Street is substantially complete, apart from finishings, as are M&E installations within this shaft.

The Johannesburg Park Station parkade

Johannesburg Park Station parkade

The reinstatement of Wolmarans Street and Smit Street is complete and both of these roads are open to traffic. Reinstatement of the two remaining roads bordering Park Station – Eloff and Joubert Streets – is also substantially complete, but these will not be opened to traffic until the station external works are further progressed.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E1 (HILLBROW)

At Shaft E1, all construction works and M&E installations – including the lift – are substantially complete, as are the external works and landscaping.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E2 (THE WILDS, HOUGHTON)

At Shaft E2, installation of the structural steelwork access structure within the shaft is complete, construction of the surface head house building is also complete and lift installation is in progress. Landscaping and external works will follow and will be completed within the next two months.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E3 (RIVIERA)

At Shaft E3, all construction works and M&E installations – including the lift – are substantially complete, as are the external works and landscaping.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E4 (HOUGHTON)

At Shaft E4, all construction works and M&E installations – including the lift – are substantially complete, as are the external works and landscaping.

ROSEBANK STATION

At Rosebank Station, works within the underground station are substantially complete and access was provided to the Operator during March 2011 to enable Trial Running activities within the station to commence. Remaining internal works include completion of de-snagging and completion of the two additional station entrances that are located on the western side of Oxford Road.

Gautrain arrival at Rosebank Station

The parkade structure is also substantially complete, with the shadeport canopies on the upper parking deck now installed and final finishings are in progress.

Rosebank Station parkade

The phased reinstatement of Oxford Road adjacent to the station is ongoing. These road reinstatement works have been carried out on a phased basis to enable the two station entrances and the ventilation structure located on the western side of Oxford Road to be constructed. Oxford Road was opened to two – way traffic (two lanes in either direction) during April 2011. The remaining lanes will be opened once the works on the western side of the road have been completed. At the same time, various other roads in the Rosebank area that were re-configured to facilitate traffic flows during construction of the station will be reinstated to their original configurations. These works will be completed within the next few weeks.

Reinstated Oxford Road in the vicinity of Rosebank Station

Works to both of the western entrances and the ventilation shaft are well advanced. Remaining works to these structures comprise installation of façade louvres and canopy trims, completion of internal finishes, testing & commissioning of the lift and escalator and completion of roof cladding on the ventilation shaft.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E5 (DUNKELD, ROSEBANK)

At Shaft E5, all construction works and M&E installations – including the lift – are substantially complete. External works and landscaping have commenced and are ongoing.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E6 (ILLOVO)

At Shaft E6, all shaft installations, including lift installation, are substantially complete, as is the headhouse. Reinstatement of the adjacent pavements is ongoing and the temporarily-closed lane of Melville Road was re-opened to two-way traffic during April 2011.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E7 (WESTERN SIDE OF RIVONIA ROAD, SANDTON)

At Shaft E7, all construction works and M&E installations – including the lift – are substantially complete, as are the external works and landscaping.

2. Northern Section (Depot to Hatfield Station)

DEPOT TO MIDRAND

From the Depot to Midrand Station, all construction works, railway installations and T&C activities are complete. Trial Running along this section of the route commenced on 08 March 2011 and is ongoing.

MIDRAND STATION

At Midrand Station, all works, including all external works and landscaping, are substantially complete and access was provided to the Operator during March 2011 to enable Trial Running activities within the station to commence. Trains continue to run through the station on a regular basis en-route to and from Pretoria, as part of the current Trial Running programme.

Gautrain arrival at Midrand Station

Gautrain arrival at Midrand Station

MIDRAND TO CENTURION, INCLUDING VIADUCT 4 OVER RIETSPRUIT AND OLIFANTSFONTEIN ROAD SOUTH

From Midrand Station to Centurion, all construction works, railway installations and T&C activities are complete. Trial Running along this section of the route commenced during March 2011 and is ongoing.

CENTURION AREA, INCLUDING VIADUCT 5 OVER THE N1 AND BEN SCHOEMAN HIGHWAYS AND CENTURION STATION

Construction of all three of the Centurion viaducts is complete. These comprise Viaduct 5b – the balanced cantilever viaduct crossing the N1 and the John Vorster Interchange, Viaduct 5c – the approximately 3 km long segmental viaduct that carries the elevated Gautrain railway lines through Centurion and supports the Centurion Station platforms midway along its length and Viaduct 5d – the second balanced cantilever viaduct – that crosses the Ben Schoeman highway and the Jean Avenue Interchange. Trains continue to run across these structures on a regular basis en-route to and from Pretoria, as part of the current Trial Running programme.

At Centurion Station, all works within the station are substantially complete and access was provided to the Operator during March 2011 to enable Trial Running activities to commence. Trial Running of trains through the station is ongoing.

External works are also approaching completion, with remaining activities including final finishes, completion of external pavements and landscaping. These are currently in progress and will continue for the next few weeks.

Train approaching Centurion Station on top of Viaduct 5

Installed signage in front of the Centurion Station facade

CENTURION TO PRETORIA, INCLUDING VIADUCT 6 OVER EEUFEES ROAD

All civil construction works between Centurion and Pretoria – which include extensive earthworks, a number of bridges, U-shape structures through the military area and Viaduct 6 crossing Eeufees Road – are substantially complete, as are all railway installations and T&C activities. Remaining works include completion of drainage channels and maintenance roads, trimming of embankments, topsoiling and landscaping. Trial Running along this section of the route commenced during March 2011 and is ongoing.

PRETORIA STATION AND SATELLITE BUS DEPOT

At Pretoria Station, all works within the station are substantially complete and access was provided to the Operator during March 2011 to enable Trial Running activities to commence. Trial Running of trains into the station is ongoing.

Gautrain arrival at Pretoria Station

Gautrain arrival at Pretoria Station

External works are also approaching completion, with remaining items being completion of the external pavements along the site boundaries, landscaping and de-snagging.

Construction of the Pretoria satellite bus depot is almost complete. This facility is located to the north of the CBD, in the vicinity of the Pretoria Zoo. It is the base from where the fleet of Gautrain feeder and distribution buses that will serve the three stations in the Tshwane area will operate. Maintenance work and major servicing of the buses, however, will take place at the already operational Gautrain Bus Depot, which is located adjacent to the Train Depot and Operations Control Centre in Midrand. This facility will be handed over to the Bombela Bus Operator within the coming weeks, whereafter trial running of buses along the Tshwane routes will commence.

The Pretoria Station facade

PRETORIA TO HATFIELD, INCLUDING VIADUCT 7 OVER NELSON MANDELA BOULEVARD

Viaduct 7 comprises a set of “Y-shaped” viaducts and flyovers that carry the Gautrain railway lines into Pretoria Station from the south and then across Nelson Mandela Boulevard and the adjacent PRASA railway network towards Hatfield. Construction of all of these structures, together with the installation of trackwork and associated railway infrastructure across the decks, is complete. Test running of trains between Pretoria and Hatfield commenced during April 201 and is ongoing.

Between Pretoria Station and Hatfield Station, a number of bridges crossing the existing PRASA railway line have been either widened or lengthened to accommodate the adjacent Gautrain tracks. All of these bridges have already been completed and reopened to traffic, with minor finishing works ongoing. The extensive lateral support works in cuttings, together with the earthworks and construction of the retaining structures necessary to widen the existing embankments, are complete, as is construction of dividing walls between the Gautrain and PRASA railway lines. Erection of noise barriers and boundary fencing are also approaching completion. Tracklaying operations and the installation of associated railway infrastructure between Pretoria and Hatfield are also complete along the full length of this final section of the route. Energisation of the overhead catenaries took place during April 2011 and test running of trains between Pretoria and Hatfield is currently in progress.

HATFIELD STATION

At Hatfield Station, works within the station building and the parkade are substantially complete, apart from de-snagging and the finalisation of M&E testing and commissioning activities. Platform construction below the concourse slab is complete – including the platform canopy structures and cladding at either end – and the escalators between the concourse and the platform have been installed. Platform tiling was completed during April 2011.

Installed ticket vending machines at Hatfield Station

Hatfield Station multi-level parkade

At the adjacent bus terminus area, all works – including the bus management building, the bus canopies, the traffic surfaces and paving of pedestrian walkways – are substantially complete. Final finishings, landscaping and de-snagging are the major activities remaining.

Construction of the new Grosvenor Street bridge is complete and works on the bridge approach roads and surrounding municipal road upgrades are in their final stages. This bridge, however, will only be opened to public traffic when station operations commence.

B) OVERALL PROGRESS

Construction started at the end of September 2006. Gautrain will be completed in two phases:

1. The first phase was initially planned to be of a 45 months contractual duration, but was completed three weeks ahead of this, on 08 June 2010. It includes the network between the OR Tambo International Airport and Sandton and includes the stations at OR Tambo, Rhodesfield, Marlboro and Sandton, together with the Depot and Operations Control Centre located near Allandale Road in Midrand.

2. The second phase, being constructed concurrently, will be completed during 2011. It includes the remainder of the rail network and stations linking Sandton to Park Station in Johannesburg and the route from Midrand to Hatfield.

Toll-free call centre: 0800-GAUTRAIN (0800-42887246). The call centre is operational weekdays between 7am and 7pm with an answering system after-hours. Communities are reminded that regular Community Liaison Forums are held in affected areas.

On 8 June 2010, Phase 1 of the Gautrain System was opened for commercial service. The first phase operations include the airport train service between Sandton Station and OR Tambo International Airport, a commuter service between Sandton and Rhodesfield – with an intermediate stop at Marlboro Station – as well as dedicated feeder and distribution bus services to and from the Sandton and Rhodesfield Stations. The Operations Control Centre, together with the Train and Bus Depot facilities located just south of Allandale Road in the Midrand area, were also completed as part of the first phase scope of works.

The remaining sections of Sandton Station required for the Phase 2 operations were completed during March 2011. These works included completion of the podium slab over the station complex, the remaining parking facilities, the third platform to service the southbound line to the Rosebank and Park stations and an undercover municipal taxi terminus. The reinstatement of Rivonia Road, which also formed part of these works, was completed and the road was re-opened to traffic in its final two-way configuration during December 2010.

Monthly Construction Updates now focus on progress of the Gautrain Phase 2 works, comprising the underground section between Sandton Station and Park Station, the route between Midrand Station and Hatfield Station and the Pretoria satellite Bus Depot.

The Phase 2 works are well advanced, with those between Rosebank Station and Pretoria Station, including all testing and commissioning (T&C) activities, being substantially completed during March 2011. Access has been provided to the Bombela Operating Company to the full railway alignment – which includes all stations along this section of the route – and Trial Running between Rosebank and Pretoria Stations commenced on 08 March 2011. Trial Running along the final links to Park Station and Hatfield Station will follow and is planned to commence within the next few weeks.

Trial Running, which follows completion of the T&C process during which all systems and sub-systems are commissioned and tested to demonstrate that they meet required performance standards, is carried out under the control of the Operator. Trial Running comprises numerous drills and exercises, familiarisation of staff with operating conditions and – during the latter stages – running of the full system to the service timetable.

1. Underground Section

Within the southern portion of the Phase 2 tunnel section, all civil works, tracklaying, railway infrastructure installations and T&C activities are complete between Sandton Station and Rosebank Station and Trial Running within this section of the tunnel, under the control of the Operator, commenced on 08 March 2011 and is ongoing. From Rosebank Station to Park Station, all civil works, tracklaying and railway infrastructure installations are also complete, and T&C activities are ongoing.

The underground works also include the construction of seven emergency access shafts located at intervals along the single-track rail tunnel between Park Station and Sandton Station. These shafts will provide emergency services personnel access to the tunnels below. At the bottom of certain of these shafts there will be safe havens where passengers can gather in case of an emergency. Construction works at four of these emergency access shafts are substantially complete and are ongoing at the remaining three.

PARK STATION

All structural works for the station and parkade are complete, including the concrete ventilation chamber at the northern end of the platforms and the cut and cover linking the station to the tunnel portal. Backfilling of the cut and cover structure commenced during January 2011 and is ongoing.

Within the underground station, internal finishes, platform tiling and mechanical and electrical (M&E) installations are all substantially complete and T&C activities are in progress.

At the parkade structure, works are substantially complete, with pavement canopy installation and the erection of shadeport structures on the top parking level currently in progress. Cladding of the structural steel entrance pavilion on the southern side of Wolmarans Street is substantially complete, with façade glazing to follow. Construction of the ventilation structure on the northern side of Smit Street is also approaching completion, as are the M&E installations within this shaft.

The reinstatement of Wolmarans Street and Smit Street is complete and both of these roads are open to traffic. Reinstatement of the two remaining roads bordering Park Station – Eloff and Joubert Streets – is also substantially complete, but these will not be opened to traffic until the station external works are further progressed.

The parkade at Johannesburg Park Station

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E1 (HILLBROW)

At Shaft E1, all construction works and M&E installations – including the lift – are substantially complete, as are the external works and landscaping.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E2 (THE WILDS, HOUGHTON)

At Shaft E2, installation of the structural steelwork access structure within the shaft is complete, construction of the surface head house building is also approaching completion and installation of the lift will follow shortly. Landscaping and external works will follow and will be completed within the next three months.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E3 (RIVIERA)

At Shaft E3, all construction works and M&E installations – including the lift – are substantially complete, as are the external works and landscaping.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E4 (HOUGHTON)

At Shaft E4, all construction works and M&E installations – including the lift – are substantially complete, as are the external works and landscaping.

ROSEBANK STATION

At Rosebank Station, works within the underground station are substantially complete and access was provided to the Operator during the month to enable Trial Running activities within the station to commence. Remaining internal works include completion of de-snagging and completion of the two additional station entrances that are located on the western side of Oxford Road.

Rosebank Station platform

The parkade structure is also substantially complete, with the shadeport canopies on the upper parking deck now installed and final finishings in progress.

The phased reinstatement of Oxford Road adjacent to the station is ongoing. These road reinstatement works, which are being carried out on a phased basis to enable the two station entrances and the ventilation structure located on the western side of Oxford Road to be constructed, will be completed within the next few weeks. At the same time, various other roads in the Rosebank area that were re-configured to facilitate traffic flows during construction of the station will be reinstated to their original configurations.

Rosebank Station concourse

Works to both of the western entrances and the ventilation shaft are well advanced. Remaining works to these structures comprise installation of façade louvres and canopy trims, completion of internal finishes, testing & commissioning of the lift and escalator and completion of roof cladding on the ventilation shaft.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E5 (DUNKELD, ROSEBANK)

At Shaft E5, all construction works and M&E installations – including the lift – are substantially complete. Completion of the external works and landscaping will follow in the coming weeks.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E6 (ILLOVO)

At Shaft E6, installation of the structural steelwork access structure within the shaft itself is complete, lift installation is also approaching completion and construction of the head house structure is well advanced. Reinstatement of the adjacent pavements has commenced and once all external works are complete, the temporarily closed lane of Melville Road will be re-opened to traffic, which is planned to take place within the next few weeks.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E7 (WESTERN SIDE OF RIVONIA ROAD, SANDTON)

At Shaft E7, all construction works and M&E installations – including the lift – are substantially complete, as are the external works and landscaping.

2. Northern Section (Depot to Hatfield Station)

DEPOT TO MIDRAND

From the Depot to Midrand Station, all construction works, railway installations and T&C activities are complete. Trial Running along this section of the route commenced on 08 March 2011 and is ongoing.

MIDRAND STATION

At Midrand Station, all works, including all external works and landscaping, are substantially complete and access was provided to the Operator during the month to enable Trial Running activities within the station to commence. Trains continue to run through the station on a regular basis en-route to and from Pretoria, as part of the current Trial Running programme.

Landscaping at Midrand Station

Gautrain arrival at Midrand Station

MIDRAND TO CENTURION, INCLUDING VIADUCT 4 OVER RIETSPRUIT AND OLIFANTSFONTEIN ROAD SOUTH

From Midrand Station to Centurion, all construction works, railway installations and T&C activities are complete. Trial Running along this section of the route commenced during March 2011 and is ongoing.

CENTURION AREA, INCLUDING VIADUCT 5 OVER THE N1 AND BEN SCHOEMAN HIGHWAYS AND CENTURION STATION

Construction of all three of the Centurion viaducts is complete. These comprise Viaduct 5b – the balanced cantilever viaduct crossing the N1 and the John Vorster Interchange, Viaduct 5c – the approximately 3 km long segmental viaduct that carries the elevated Gautrain railway lines through Centurion and supports the Centurion Station platforms midway along its length and Viaduct 5d – the second balanced cantilever viaduct – that crosses the Ben Schoeman highway and the Jean Avenue Interchange. Trains continue to run across these structures on a regular basis en-route to and from Pretoria, as part of the current Trial Running programme.

At Centurion Station, all works within the station are substantially complete and access was provided to the Operator during the month to enable Trial Running activities to commence. Trial Running of trains through the station, which commenced during March 2011, is ongoing.

External works are also approaching completion, with remaining activities including final finishes, completion of external pavements and landscaping. These are currently in progress and will continue for the next few weeks.

CENTURION TO PRETORIA, INCLUDING VIADUCT 6 OVER EEUFEES ROAD

All civil construction works between Centurion and Pretoria – which include extensive earthworks, a number of bridges, U-shape structures through the military area and Viaduct 6 crossing Eeufees Road – are substantially complete, as are all railway installations and T&C activities. Remaining works include completion of drainage channels and maintenance roads, trimming of embankments, topsoiling and landscaping. Trial Running along this section of the route commenced during March 2011 and is ongoing.

PRETORIA STATION AND SATELLITE BUS DEPOT

At Pretoria Station, all works within the station are substantially complete and access was provided to the Operator during the month to enable Trial Running activities to commence. Trial Running of trains into the station, which commenced during March 2011, is ongoing.

The Pretoria Station facade

External works are also approaching completion, with the major items outstanding being completion of the bus management building, completion of the external pavements along the site boundaries, landscaping and de-snagging.

Gautrain arrival at Pretoria Station

Construction of the Pretoria satellite bus depot is well advanced. This facility is located to the north of the CBD, in the vicinity of the Pretoria Zoo. It is the base from where the fleet of Gautrain feeder and distribution buses that will serve the three stations in the Tshwane area will operate. Maintenance work and major servicing of the buses, however, will take place at the already operational Gautrain Bus Depot, which is located adjacent to the Train Depot and Operations Control Centre in Midrand. All buildings and external works, apart from final cleaning landscaping, are substantially complete and this facility will be handed over to the Bombela Bus Operator during the coming weeks.

PRETORIA TO HATFIELD, INCLUDING VIADUCT 7 OVER NELSON MANDELA BOULEVARD

Viaduct 7 comprises a set of “Y-shaped” viaducts and flyovers that carry the Gautrain railway lines into Pretoria Station from the south and then across Nelson Mandela Boulevard and the adjacent PRASA railway network towards Hatfield. Construction of all of these structures is complete and the installation of trackwork and associated railway infrastructure across the decks has also been completed.

Between Pretoria Station and Hatfield Station, a number of bridges crossing the existing PRASA railway line have been either widened or lengthened to accommodate the adjacent Gautrain tracks. All of these bridges have already been completed and reopened to traffic, with minor finishing works ongoing. The extensive lateral support works in cuttings, together with the earthworks and construction of the retaining structures necessary to widen the existing embankments, are complete, as is construction of dividing walls between the Gautrain and PRASA railway lines. Erection of noise barriers and boundary fencing are also approaching completion. Tracklaying operations and the installation of associated railway infrastructure between Pretoria and Hatfield, which commenced during October 2010, are substantially complete along the full length of this final section of the route. Energisation of the overhead catenaries is scheduled to take place during April 2011, whereafter test running of trains will commence.

HATFIELD STATION

At Hatfield Station, works within the station building and the parkade are substantially complete, apart from de-snagging and the finalisation of M&E testing and commissioning activities. Platform construction below the concourse slab is complete – including the platform canopy structures and cladding at either end – and the escalators between the concourse and the platform have been installed. Platform tiling has commenced and is ongoing.

The Hatfield Station facade

At the adjacent bus terminus area, the bus management building is substantially complete, the bus canopies have been erected and roof cladding to these structures is approaching completion. The Interlocking block paving to the traffic surfaces is substantially complete, as is paving of pedestrian walkways. Final finishings and landscaping are the major activities remaining.

Installation of the roof structures for the bus stop at Hatfield Station

Construction of the new Grosvenor Street bridge is complete and works on the bridge approach roads and surrounding municipal road upgrades are well advanced. This bridge, however, will only be opened to public traffic when station operations commence.

B) OVERALL PROGRESS

Construction started at the end of September 2006. Gautrain will be completed in two phases:

1. The first phase was initially planned to be of a 45 months contractual duration, but was completed three weeks ahead of this, on 08 June 2010. It includes the network between the OR Tambo International Airport and Sandton and includes the stations at OR Tambo, Rhodesfield, Marlboro and Sandton, together with the Depot and Operations Control Centre located near Allandale Road in Midrand.

2. The second phase, being constructed concurrently, will be completed during 2011. It includes the remainder of the rail network and stations linking Sandton to Park Station in Johannesburg and the route from Midrand to Hatfield.

Toll-free call centre: 0800-GAUTRAIN (0800-42887246). The call centre is operational weekdays between 7am and 7pm with an answering system after-hours. Communities are reminded that regular Community Liaison Forums are held in affected areas.

On 8 June 2010, Phase 1 of the Gautrain System was opened for commercial service. The first phase operations include the airport train service between Sandton Station and OR Tambo International Airport, a commuter service between Sandton and Rhodesfield – with an intermediate stop at Marlboro Station – as well as dedicated feeder and distribution bus services to and from the Sandton and Rhodesfield Stations. The Operations Control Centre, together with the Train and Bus Depot facilities located just south of Allandale Road in the Midrand area, were also completed as part of the first phase scope of works.

The remaining sections of Sandton Station required for the Phase 2 operations are now substantially complete. These works included completion of the podium slab over the station complex, the remaining parking facilities, the third platform to service the southbound line to the Rosebank and Park stations and an undercover municipal taxi terminus. The reinstatement of Rivonia Road, which also formed part of these works, was completed and the road was re-opened to traffic in its final two-way configuration during December 2010.

Monthly Construction Updates now focus on progress of the Gautrain Phase 2 works, comprising the underground section between Sandton Station and Park Station and the route between Midrand Station and Hatfield Station.

1. Underground Section

Within the southern portion of the Phase 2 tunnel section between Sandton Station and Johannesburg Park Station, the civil works are complete. Tracklaying within the completed tunnel is also approaching completion and has currently progressed southwards from Rosebank Station to the final section adjacent to the platform within Park Station itself. Test running of trains and testing of the signalling system between Sandton and Rosebank Stations commenced during January 2011 and is ongoing.

The underground works also include the construction of seven emergency access shafts located at intervals along the single-track rail tunnel between Park Station and Sandton Station. These shafts will provide emergency services personnel access to the tunnels below. At the bottom of certain of these shafts there will be safe havens where passengers can gather in case of an emergency. Construction works at four of these emergency access shafts are substantially complete and are ongoing at the remaining three.

Laying of the tracks through the cut and cover at Johannesburg Park Station

Laying of the final tracks at Johannesburg Park Station

PARK STATION

All structural works for the station and parkade are complete, including the concrete ventilation chamber at the northern end of the platforms and the cut and cover linking the station to the tunnel portal. Backfilling of the cut and cover structure commenced during January 2011 and is ongoing.

Within the underground station, internal finishes and mechanical and electrical (M&E) installations are well advanced and platform tiling is substantially complete. Ticket vending machines and fare gates have been installed on the concourse level.

At the parkade structure, works are substantially complete, with pavement canopy installation and the erection of shadeport structures on the top parking level currently in progress. Cladding of the structural steel entrance pavilion on the southern side of Wolmarans Street is substantially complete, with façade glazing to follow. Construction of the ventilation structure on the northern side of Smit Street is also approaching completion, as are the M&E installations within this shaft.

The reinstatement of Wolmarans Street and Smit Street is complete and both of these roads are open to traffic. Reinstatement of the two remaining roads bordering Park Station – Eloff and Joubert Streets – is also substantially complete, but these will not be opened to traffic until the station external works are further progressed.

The parkade at Johannesburg Park Station

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E1 (HILLBROW)

At Shaft E1, all construction works and M&E installations – including the lift – are substantially complete, as are the external works and landscaping.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E2 (THE WILDS, HOUGHTON)

At Shaft E2, installation of the structural steelwork access structure within the shaft is complete, construction of the surface head house building has reached roof level and installation of the lift will follow shortly. Landscaping and external works will be completed within the next three months.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E3 (RIVIERA)

At Shaft E3, all construction works and M&E installations – including the lift – are substantially complete, as are the external works and landscaping.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E4 (HOUGHTON)

At Shaft E4, all construction works and M&E installations – including the lift – are substantially complete, as are the external works and landscaping.

ROSEBANK STATION

At Rosebank Station, works within the underground station are approaching completion. The first Electrostar train arrived in Rosebank during January 2011. Since then, test running of trains and testing of the signalling system along the route between Rosebank and Pretoria has been taking place and is ongoing.

The parkade structure is also substantially complete, with final finishings and installation of shadeport canopies on the upper parking deck in progress.

Construction of the parkade at Rosebank Station

Installed fare gates at Rosebank Station

The phased reinstatement of Oxford Road adjacent to the station is ongoing. These road reinstatement works, which are being carried out on a phased basis to enable the two station entrances and the ventilation structure located on the western side of Oxford Road to be constructed, are scheduled to be completed by the end of March 2011. The reinstatements of Baker Street and the section of Oxford Road to the south of the station up to Bolton Road are ongoing. Works to both of the western entrances and the ventilation shaft are well advanced. The structural steel canopy structures have been erected, roof cladding has been completed and side cladding has commenced. Within the entrances, the escalator and the lift have been installed, stair tiling is complete and final finishes are in progress.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E5 (DUNKELD, ROSEBANK)

At Shaft E5, all construction works and M&E installations – including the lift – are substantially complete. Completion of the external works and landscaping will follow in the coming weeks.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E6 (ILLOVO)

At Shaft E6, installation of the structural steelwork access structure within the shaft itself is complete, lift installation is also approaching completion and construction of the head house structure is well advanced. Reinstatement of the adjacent pavements will commence shortly and once all external works are complete, the temporarily closed lane of Melville Road will be re-opened to traffic.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E7 (WESTERN SIDE OF RIVONIA ROAD, SANDTON)

At Shaft E7, all construction works and M&E installations – including the lift – are substantially complete, as are the external works and landscaping.

2. Northern Section (Depot to Hatfield Station)

DEPOT TO MIDRAND

Between the Depot and Midrand Station, all construction works are complete, as are all railway installations. The overhead catenaries are energised and test running of trains to Midrand Station commenced during December 2010. Test running of trains, together with testing of the signalling system, is ongoing along the full section of the route between Rosebank Station and Pretoria Station.

MIDRAND STATION

At Midrand Station, all works are substantially complete. Installation of street lighting along the new section of Grand Central Boulevard that provides access to the station from the Old Pretoria Road (K101) was completed during the month. Trains continue to run through the station on a regular basis en-route to and from Pretoria, as part of the current testing procedures.

MIDRAND TO CENTURION, INCLUDING VIADUCT 4 OVER RIETSPRUIT AND OLIFANTSFONTEIN ROAD SOUTH

From Midrand Station to Centurion, all construction works and railway installations are complete. The overhead catenaries are energised and test running of trains, together with testing of the signalling system along this section of the route, is ongoing.

CENTURION AREA, INCLUDING VIADUCT 5 OVER THE N1 AND BEN SCHOEMAN HIGHWAYS AND CENTURION STATION

Construction of all three of the Centurion viaducts is complete. These comprise Viaduct 5b – the balanced cantilever viaduct crossing the N1 and the John Vorster Interchange, Viaduct 5c – the approximately 3 km long segmental viaduct that carries the elevated Gautrain railway lines through Centurion and supports the Centurion Station platforms midway along its length and Viaduct 5d – the second balanced cantilever viaduct – that crosses the Ben Schoeman highway and the Jean Avenue Interchange. The overhead catenaries are energised and test running of trains along this section of the line, together with testing of the signalling system, is ongoing.

The facade at Centurion Station

At Centurion Station, all structural and building works are complete. Within the station buildings, internal finishings and M&E works are also substantially complete. The overhead catenaries through the station up to Pretoria are energised and test running of trains through the station, which commenced during January 2011, is ongoing.

Externally, carpark construction is well advanced, with asphalt paving, roadmarking and the erection of shadeport structures substantially complete to the park and ride area. Roadworks at the bus terminus area and the West Street entrance are also approaching completion. The bus management building and the perimeter palisade boundary wall are both substantially complete. Pedestrian paved areas within the station boundary are well advanced and completion of external pavements and landscaping will follow in the coming weeks.

Laying of bricks for the pavement at the Centurion Station parkade

Installation of the net-shading inside the parkade at Centurion Station

CENTURION TO PRETORIA, INCLUDING VIADUCT 6 OVER EEUFEES ROAD

Civil construction works along this section of the route – which include extensive earthworks, a number of bridges, U-shape structures through the military area and Viaduct 6 crossing Eeufees Road – are substantially complete. Remaining works include completion of drainage channels and maintenance roads, trimming of embankments, topsoiling and landscaping.

All railway installations are complete. The overhead catenaries are energised and test running of trains, together with testing of the signalling system along this section of the route, is ongoing.

PRETORIA STATION AND SATELLITE BUS DEPOT

At Pretoria Station, all works within the station are substantially complete, including the platform tiling. All railway installations are also complete and the overhead catenaries into the station are energised.

Test running of trains, together with testing of the signalling system between Rosebank Station and Pretoria Station, commenced in mid-January 2011 and is ongoing.

The facade at Pretoria Station

The Pretoria Station concourse

Externally, the car park and the bus terminal areas are well advanced, as is construction of the perimeter palisade boundary wall and the refurbishment of the heritage house, which will accommodate the bus management offices. Construction of the station ingress and egress routes is substantially complete, as are the various municipal road upgrades and widenings adjacent to the station.

Pretoria Station parkade

Construction of the Pretoria satellite bus depot is ongoing. This facility is located to the north of the CBD, in the vicinity of the Pretoria Zoo. It is the base from where the fleet of Gautrain feeder and distribution buses that will serve the three stations in the Tshwane area will operate. Maintenance work and major servicing of the buses, however, will take place at the already operational Gautrain Bus Depot, which is located adjacent to the Train Depot and Operations Control Centre in Midrand. Construction of the guardhouse, the office building, the workshop and the utility buildings is well advanced and the concrete hardstand areas are substantially complete.

PRETORIA TO HATFIELD, INCLUDING VIADUCT 7 OVER NELSON MANDELA BOULEVARD

Viaduct 7 comprises a set of “Y-shaped” viaducts and flyovers that carry the Gautrain railway lines into Pretoria Station from the south and then across Nelson Mandela Boulevard and the adjacent PRASA railway network towards Hatfield. Construction of all of these structures is complete and the installation of trackwork and associated railway infrastructure across the decks has also been completed.

Between Pretoria Station and Hatfield Station, a number of bridges crossing the existing PRASA railway line have been either widened or lengthened to accommodate the adjacent Gautrain tracks. All of these bridges have already been completed and reopened to traffic, with minor finishing works ongoing. The extensive lateral support works in cuttings, together with the earthworks and construction of the retaining structures necessary to widen the existing embankments, are complete, as is construction of dividing walls between the Gautrain and PRASA railway lines. Erection of noise barriers and boundary fencing are also approaching completion. Tracklaying operations and the installation of associated railway infrastructure between Pretoria and Hatfield, which commenced during October 2010, are well advanced along the full length of this final section of the route.

The Gautrain track alignment through Pretoria towards Hatfield Station

Vantage point from the parkade over looking Hatfield Station in the vicinity of the PRASA Metro Rail line

HATFIELD STATION

At Hatfield Station, works within the station building and the parkade are substantially complete, apart from de-snagging and the finalisation of M&E testing and commissioning activities. Platform construction below the concourse slab is complete – including the platform canopy structures and cladding at either end – and the escalators between the concourse and the platform have been installed. Preparations for the start of platform tiling are in progress and this activity will follow once final tamping of the railway tracks through the station has been completed.

The Hatfield Station facade

The Hatfield Station concourse

At the adjacent bus terminus area, the bus management building is substantially complete, the bus canopies have been erected and roof cladding to these structures will follow shortly. The Interlocking block paving to the traffic surfaces is substantially complete and paving of pedestrian walkways is well advanced. Final finishings and landscaping are the major activities remaining. Construction of the new Grosvenor Street bridge is complete and works on the bridge approach roads and surrounding municipal road upgrades are well advanced. This bridge, however, will only be opened to public traffic when station operations commence.

B) OVERALL PROGRESS

Construction started at the end of September 2006. Gautrain will be completed in two phases:

1. The first phase was initially planned to be of a 45 months contractual duration, but was completed three weeks ahead of this, on 08 June 2010. It includes the network between the OR Tambo International Airport and Sandton and includes the stations at OR Tambo, Rhodesfield, Marlboro and Sandton, together with the Depot and Operations Control Centre located near Allandale Road in Midrand.

2. The second phase, being constructed concurrently, will be completed during 2011. It includes the remainder of the rail network and stations linking Sandton to Park Station in Johannesburg and the route from Midrand to Hatfield.

Toll-free call centre: 0800-GAUTRAIN (0800-42887246). The call centre is operational weekdays between 7am and 7pm with an answering system after-hours. Communities are reminded that regular Community Liaison Forums are held in affected areas.