GAUTRAIN PRESERVES STATION HERITAGE IN HATFIELD

Gautrain will preserve most of the old Rissik Street Station in Hatfield for future generations. It includes beautiful scluptures that currently adorn the columns of the parking bay.

Rich in history, the Rissik Street Station was built in the late 1940s. From here, government documents were transported to and from the Union Buildings. These important documents were loaded in special crates on dedicated trains between Pretoria and Parliament in Cape Town. The rail siding, as well as two elevators, were used specifically for transporting these documents.

The station was also frequently used by government ministers and civil servants. The station features rest rooms, a ticket office and two overhead foot bridges. These will be  preserved with the exception of the western foot bridge which will be demolished to allow for the Gautrain clearance.

The new Gautrain rail line will be built in place of the existing rail siding at the southern half of the station. This section was extended around 1975 when an undercover parking park was built. The car park will remain as only the foundation strengthening of all the columns on platforms two and three will be carried out.

During the initial Environmental Impact Assessment, heritage experts surveyed areas affected by Gautrain’s proposed new rail line in accordance with the National Heritage Resources Act. Local communities were also consulted. Thereafter, specialists drew up Gautrain’s Environmental Management Plan which stipulates how cultural-historical resources will be protected during the construction of Gautrain.

Structures older than 60 years need to be protected in terms of heritage legislation. The Rissik Street Station is not old enough to be legally protected from demolition. However, heritage experts found the station to be the only of its kind in the country and that this visual landmark has intangible heritage value that needs to be conserved. Items that need to be demolished include the southern elevator shaft, the western foot bridge and the rail siding. The northern half of the station will be completely preserved.

Demolition permits are issued by The South African Heritage Resource Agency (SAHRA) and Gauteng Province Heritage Resources Agency (GPHRA) who regulates heritage protection.