GAUTRAIN A SHOWCASE OF JUNE 16 IDEALS

During youth month Gautrain rededicates itself to the June 16 pioneers who heroically fought for a better education and equal opportunities.

Using world-class technology and ground breaking engineering methods, Gautrain serves as a role model and showcase of our June 16 ideals. As the first ever rapid rail project in Africa, Gautrain also evokes feelings of accomplishment and pride having acquired the skills needed to build a project of this magnitude.

Gautrain reminds us that the sacrifices of June 16 were not in vain. Some of those who fought the struggle are now occupying key positions on the Gautrain project, creating a new legacy of empowerment and opportunities.

Acknowledging that access to knowledge is the first step in building this legacy, Gautrain relies on its award-winning websites to educate today’s youth in the age of the Internet.

Reaching high school learners at a stage when they are desperate for career related information and suitable subject choices, Gautrain provides an extensive youth website called MyTrain. There is helpful information and tips on how to start a career in the numerous professional disciplines involved in building Gautrain. Special attention is given to engineering related career opportunities for which school subjects such as maths and science are crucial.

Apart from serving as an information portal for careers, the MyTrain website also showcases world-class engineering methods used to construct Gautrain.

For younger brothers and sisters in primary school, Gautrain offers a website called Kids’ Station. This interactive website features friendly animated characters like Swift the cheetah and Slo-Mo the tortoise. See how they join their African animal friends to play games, tell stories and solve puzzles. Together they learn about the latest technology used to build Gautrain as well as the socio, economic and environmental benefits of the project.

Having received several awards for these two websites recognises the way in which the websites opened new doors of opportunities for future generations interested in infrastructure development projects.

Kids’ Station won the prestigious International Union of Public Transport Youth Project award in the category, ‘Promoting Public Transport to the Youth’ in 2007. Kids’ Station and MyTrain each received a silver award from the South African Web Awards for its outstanding content, layout, functionality and overall appeal.

In addition to empowering the youth with web-based information, Gautrain also has learnerships in place. An amount of about R23 million from the National Skills Fund was allocated to the Gautrain for training This training initiative is over and above the training undertaken by the Bombela Consortium as part of their commitments under the Concession Agreement.

By providing critical and scares skills training in construction and construction vehicle operation, Gautrain has created a better future for more than one thousand employed and unemployed people so far this year.

Over and above the training initiative that is financed through the National Skills Fund, Gautrain has created or sustained more than 4 700 local direct jobs and an estimated total of more than 25 400 direct, indirect and induced jobs in the 2007/08 financial year.

The story of Gautrain is not about a train
It’s about how far we’ve come.
The faces we meet, the places we see,
and our everyday life’s journey.

It’s about a new energy that has come to life
A golden thread that connects Africa to the world.
Bringing jobs to the people
and people to the jobs.

It’s a story of a new face and pace of Gauteng’s public transport.
We’ve come a long way and still we’re on the move…
faster than ever.

This is the story of a province with a pulse that never stops.  This is the story of an amazing ride as Gautrain comes to life.

Phambili, Gauteng, Phambili!