LUXURY TRAVEL WITH WORLD-CLASS SAFETY AND SECURITY

Commuters can look forward to a luxury travel experience that will compare to the best in the world. Gautrain’s 24 four-car train sets will ride on air suspension to ensure smooth travel at 160 kilometres per hour.

Each air-conditioned four-car train set can comfortably carry up to 321 seated passengers. Attractive moquette upholstery will be used—a form of soft, woven cloth that is durable and easy to clean.

GAUTRAIN DIGNITARIES ON THE TRAIN

Whilst travelling, passenger information will be constantly displayed on light emitting diode (LED) panels in each car. Information such as the destination of the train, and locality of the next station will be displayed. In case of delays, train drivers will be able to make announcements using public address systems.

Safety and security

Access to stations and trains will be controlled via a tight security monitoring system. Only ticket holders have access to platforms and closed circuit television systems will constantly monitor suspicious activities. Visible security officers will further patrol the stations.

Safety will be ensured through an automatic train protection system. Whilst the driver will have full control of the train, in the unlikely event that a train driver is incapacitated the system will kick in and automatically bring the train safely to a stop. This system will also control the various maximum permitted speeds of the train throughout the Gautrain system to ensure that the speed limit for any particular section of the track is not exceeded.

Trains will be provided with blended braking systems. Once a train driver decides to brake a train, the system first goes into regenerative braking mode, thus using its electric motors as brakes which in turn provides electrical energy for use by any other train in the system requiring energy at that time. After maximum regenerative braking is reached, disc brakes will be blended in provide the remainder of the braking demand.

World class technology

Gautrain will run on the standard railway gauge of 1435mm, which is used in a majority of countries. Standard gauge railways comprise more than 60% of the length of all railways worldwide, resulting in attractively priced trains from global sources. It is wider than the 1067mm Cape Gauge used elsewhere in South Africa. A wider track gauge enhances safety and stability at high speed.

This means that the Electrostar trains, originating in the UK, can be supplied without compromising on tried and tested international safety and reliability features.

Electrostar trains will be manufactured in the UK and South Africa by Bombardier, a world leader in the aerospace and rail transportation sectors.

The vehicle bodies are fabricated mainly from aluminium, leading to a low mass which in turn leads to reduced energy consumption during operations. The state-of-the-art design incorporates crash worthiness fully compliant with modern safety requirements.

TRAIN ON THE TEST TRACK AT THE DEPOT IN MIDRAND

Convenience

Train services will commence at 05:30 and the last trains are planned to leave the four terminal stations at 20:30.

For the first three years of operation, train frequencies during the three-hour morning and afternoon business day peaks will be 12 minutes, increasing to 10 minutes thereafter (6 trains per hour, per direction). For the rest of the day, train frequencies are planned to be 20 minutes for the first year, increasing to 18 minutes from the eighth year and eventually becoming 12 minutes from the eleventh year onwards.

Weekend and public holiday services will be at 30 minute frequencies generally with the exception of the airport link where they will increase to 20 minute frequencies from the ninth year onwards.

Special features

To accommodate people with disabilities, each train set will have two spaces allocated to wheel chairs. The height and gap between the car floor and the platform is also designed for easy wheelchair access.

The front two cars on each train between Sandton and OR Tambo International Airport will be designated airport cars and will feature special interior luggage racks near the doors. Their interior will also be more spacious, achieved by fewer seats per car, to allow easy movement for people with luggage. Doors of airport cars will remain locked at intermediate stationsto prevent the use of the airport cars by commuters who are not travelling to the airport.

Travelling time between Sandton and the airport will only take 15 minutes. At the OR Tambo International Airport the Gautrain airport terminal station will be fully integrated with the passenger interchange facility presently being constructed by ACSA between the existing international and domestic terminals at the airport. This direct access is in line with global trends in modern airport-to-city rail links.

Driver training

Before the first journey can start, the recruitment and training of drivers will take place. Gautrain’s driver compartments and control systems will have advanced features compared to other trains running in South Africa at present.

Extensive testing and training will be carried out on the test tracks adjacent to the train depot in Midrand.

GAUTRAIN HEAD CAR AND CONTROLS FOR THE TRAIN

Maintenance

At the maintenance depot in Midrand, all train sets will undergo regular preventative and corrective maintenance. Dedicated technicians will be specially trained to maintain Gautrain according to original equipment manufacturer’s specifications.

Trains will also be safely stored overnight at the train depot.

Cleaning personnel plus an automatic train washing plant will make sure that trains are kept clean inside and outside.