gautrain could save motorists 585 000km per day
01 October 2008

This is according to Transport Minister Jeff Radebe, emphasising the various advantages to utilising the train to commute between Pretoria and Johannesburg and visa versa. “We also believe that the Gautrain project will reduce the severe traffic congestion between the Johannesburg and Pretoria traffic corridor which has over 300 000 vehicles on it per day growing at an estimated 7 percent per annum. “Our estimates indicate that the Gautrain Rapid Rail Link will reduce this amount by 20 percent,” said Mr Radebe, speaking at the launch of Transport Month, Tuesday.
October is celebrated as Transport Month.

Delivering his address from OR Tambo International Airport, which will have its Central Terminal Building connected to the Gautrain, the minister highlighted that Gautrain will have a major role to play in ferrying tourists to South Africa during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.  “Just two weeks before the world cup, a stretch of the route between OR Tambo airport and the Sandton station, including two stations in between and the Midrand operations centre, will be opened.

“This will be a crucial segment of the route as the majority of football fans visiting the country will enter the count4y through OR Tambo International Airport.  “The project will serve as a catalyst in our public transport system as clearly demonstrated by the independent cost benefit analysis which has indicated that:

·         Gautrain will save 585 000 vehicle km per day;
·         Lower traffic congestion will result in travel cost savings of all vehicles in Gauteng of 3 cents per km;
·         Total accident cost savings will be R475 million per annum;
·         Gautrain will save R3.8 billion per year in vehicle operating costs by the year 2030; and
·         Gautrain will save R7.1 billion per annum in time costs for passengers travelling in this corridor by 2030.

The minister congratulated Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) and Gautrans for the work they had done at the airport as well as for making the Gautrain project a reality.  “Our government has certainly made it a part of significant considerations with R163 billion to be spent on transport over the next three years,” said Mr Radebe.

Michael Appel,  www.bua.gov.za