The Gautrain adds a new dimension to the Sandton area by introducing a new mode of transport, namely a modern rapid rail link and a direct non-stop service to the OR Tambo International Airport. The new service will further promote the developments for which Sandton is world-renowned without the negative impacts of road-based transport.
GAUTRAIN’S SANDTON STATION
1. LOCALITY
The proposed Sandton Station is located under Rivonia Road between Fifth Street in the south and West Street in the north.
Sandton Station is the third station on the primary north-south axis of the Gautrain system when travelling north from the Johannesburg Park Station. The other station is Rosebank Station that lies between Johannesburg Park Station and Sandton Station. From Rosebank Station the rail line continues underground for five kilometres beneath Dunkeld, Hyde Park, Inanda Ext 1 and Rivonia Road to a station within the Sandton business district. After Sandton Station the route remains underground beneath Sandown, Strathavon, the M1 and Marlboro Drive before appearing onto the surface in Marlboro, approximately four kilometres from Sandton.
- Click here for the Sandton Station Locality Plan.
Sandton Station can be considered to be a hub in the Gautrain rail network because it is nor only located on the north-south primary spine of the Gautrain network, but is also the western terminal station of the OR Tambo International Airport service and the east-west commuter service to Ekurhuleni.
Click here or on the image for a larger version
2. RAIL SERVICES AVAILABLE FROM SANDTON STATION
From Sandton Station passengers can use the Gautrain commuter service on the north-south spine of the rail link as well as the airport link service and the commuter service on the west-east spine of the rail network.
Passengers can disembark from the Gautrain at Sandton Station from any of the other Gautrain stations on the north-south service. They can also board it to any of the other stations on the north-south spine. The OR Tambo International Airport service is provided non-stop between Sandton Station and the OR Tambo International Airport terminal building.
Passengers can also use the east-west commuter service to the Marlboro Station and the Rhodesfield Station in Kempton Park in Ekurhuleni.
3. VISION OF THE SANDTON STATION
Currently Sandton is dominated by road-based transport, where even pedestrian movement is limited and it is known for its hotel, office and retail uses. In support of the Gautrain residential land use, densification will have to be increased to achieve a greater level of balance, while existing land uses will be retained and strengthened. A trend has already established in Sandton to construct high density and high-rise apartment buildings and thousands of dwelling units have been built or are under construction or being planned in the area surrounding the Sandton Station.
Owing to the developed nature of Sandton, little scope or need exists for intervention. Nonetheless the area has a clear vision, which is to:
- strengthen the existing urban structure as a second business district for Johannesburg and retain the office composition which focuses strongly on the banking sector;
- create friendly pedestrian pathways that link the surrounding areas to the station;
- re-design the environment to adopt a more human scale which should improve integration, pedestrian mobility and interaction within the node; and
- increase residential densities.
The Municipality and the business sector have joined forces in the management of the Sandton City Improvement District, branded as Sandton Central.
- Click here for an artist impression of Sandton station.
4. ACCESS TO THE SANDTON STATION
According to the demand modelling it is anticipated that Sandton Station will accommodate almost 60 000 daily commuters by 2017. It is expected that Sandton Station will attract a mix of commuters ranging from business commuters, shoppers to visitors of both the South African and international tourist market.
Sandton Station is also seen as a destination station for the Sandton central business district (CBD) including international visitors from the OR Tambo International Airport. To facilitate movement from the Sandton Station, a circular dedicated distributor service is planned for the Sandton CBD. However, a significant number of people will also travel by means of dedicated feeder and distribution services to the Sandton Station to access the Gautrain from activity nodes to the west and north of the station. Feeder services are provided from areas such as Cresta and North Gate.
These routes are in the area of Sandton CBD and are shown in the Sandton station feeder and distribution map.
Facilities for public transport services and a substantial number of parking bays, as well as car rental services have been planned for the Sandton Station.
5. ATTRACTIONS IN THE SANDTON STATION AREA
Despite the functional demarcation of Sandton it does not exist in isolation, but links to several important places. The following attractions and destinations are important places in an around Sandton Station and, hence, appropriate linkages will be created to facilitate access and connectivity:
- Locally, the station should have strong linkages into the functional area to connect to the businesses, hotels and residential areas. Such linkages should be created through proper pedestrian design. Examples of these linkages are the Balalaika, Michelangelo, Hilton and Garden Court Hotels, Sandton Towers, Sandton Square and Sandton City.
- Sandton has become the financial core of South Africa and houses financial institutions and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
- The Sandton Convention Centre has established itself as venue for national and international conventions and events.
- Regionally, Sandton plays an important role and should therefore be linked to Randburg, Rivonia, the M1 motorway, the N1 freeway, Rosebank and Alexandra.
Both its regional and local connections are important to advance the function of the station.
- Click here to view these attractions and destinations.
6. IMPACTS OF THE GAUTRAIN IN THE SANDTON STATION AREA AND MITIGATING MEASURES
The potential impact of the Gautrain in the Sandton area is limited as the route and station are mainly underground.
From a biophysical point of view concerns were raised about the potential impact on Mushroom Farm Park and Innisfree Park. Mitigation measures have been set in place to manage these potential impacts.
No significant noise and vibration impacts are predicted at the surface when the line is in tunnel. The noise and vibration limits set for the Gautrain will not be exceeded. Since the train is underground, no significant impacts occur in terms of the biophysical environment.
Heritage Impact Assessment
In terms of the National Heritage Resources Act of 1999, the Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) focused on the heritage resources which could be affected by the recommended route alignment for Gautrain. The cultural significance of a heritage resource had to be determined and the HIA thus focussed on heritage resources with aesthetic, architectural, historical, scientific, social, spiritual linguistic or technological value or significance. The assessment included aspects such as buildings, structures and associated equipment, townscapes, landscapes, natural features, archaeological and palaeontological sites, graves and burial grounds.
The Gautrain recommended route alignment in the area between the Johannesburg Station and the Sandton Station is underground, and it was thus unnecessary to conduct a detailed identification and mapping of existing heritage resources in this area.
More can be read about Gautrain’s heritage impact on Sandton in section 6.3 of the HIA Final Report.
Traffic Impact Assessment
The estimated traffic volumes travelling to and from the Gautrain Sandton Station are described in the Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA). The assessment is done based on the impact such expected traffic will have on the normal traffic in the immediate area of the station. Aspects considered include accessibility to the station, peak hour traffic, and the volume of traffic from different modalities and the potential upgrade of the road network.
The road network in Sandton is highly developed; highly congested and upgrading opportunities are limited. Although current congestion can be eased by improving traffic signal settings, the projected Gautrain traffic is expected to add to traffic demand around the station.
To alleviate projected traffic demand, it is recommended that road upgrading and improved traffic signal settings be implemented. The upgrading of specific intersections is also recommended to alleviate congestion. Other alternatives and additional congestion alleviation measures recommended are, inter alia, additional feeder and distributor services and facilities and remote park and ride sites.
More can be read about the TIA of Sandton’s Gautrain Station in the Proposed Sandton Station Traffic Impact Assessment.
Summaries of other potential environmental impacts specific to the Gautrain Sandton Station can be viewed in the Environmental Impact Assessment Addendums: Johannesburg Park Station to Sandton Station, 2.5 and Sandton Station to Marlboro Station, 2.6.
7. CONTRIBUTION OF THE GAUTRAIN TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE INFLUENCE AREA OF THE GAUTRAIN SANDTON STATION
The Gautrain is a strategic development initiative that is aimed at economic development and job creation, over and above its benefits from a public transport perspective and the reduction in traffic pressure on major roads.
The development framework of the Gautrain Sandton Station translates the vision of the station and the proposed interventions. At the heart of the Sandton node is the existing retail core. Except for the introduction of pedestrian friendly pathways linking the core with surrounding areas and the station, the status quo remains.
Residential densification and office intensification are proposed for the area between Rivonia Road and Katherine Street. In general, densification of residential areas and the introduction of residential units to office and retail re-development in the form of penthouses are encouraged in support of the Gautrain. Together with the increase in residential density, community facilities should be increased to ensure provision for schools, crèches, clinics and the like.
The introduction of pedestrian friendly pathways the Sandton Station to surrounding land uses and main attractions.
8. POSSIBLE FUTURE EXTENSION
The Gautrain adds a new dimension to the Sandton area by introducing a new mode of transport, namely a modern rapid rail link and a direct non-stop service to the OR Tambo International Airport. The new service will further promote the developments for which Sandton is world-renowned without the negative impacts of road-based transport.
More information about the Sandton Station can be read in section four of the Station Functional Area Guidelines of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality.
For further information on the EIA carried out for the Gautrain, see below.
Gautrain EIA summary
Draft EIA report
Addendum to draft EIA report
Gautrain EIA website
Construction Update
- CONSTRUCTION UPDATE – JUNE AND JULY August 26, 2011A) CONSTRUCTION COMPLETION AND THE START OF PHASE 2 OPERATIONS 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 […]
Newsroom
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- Gautrain Media Release – 25 April 2012 April 25, 2012
- SHOOTING OF GAUTRAIN BUS DRIVER CONDEMNED March 19, 2012
- February 2012 bus strike reimbursement procedure February 20, 2012
