This incident took place in a different location to that which affected train services last week but unfortunately the same stations were affected. As before, an emergency bus service was implemented between Hatfield, Pretoria and Centurion stations to transport passengers affected by the incident. Full train services were restored to these stations by 14h00.

A secondary train service interruption also affected the line between Rosebank and Sandton stations between 05h30 and 10h30 this morning. The origin of this disruption was a tunnel drainage pump alarm which registered in the Operational Control Centre. Standard safety procedures require that all such alarms be physically inspected before passenger services can commence in the affected area. As a result, train services had to be suspended between Sandton and Rosebank stations. On inspection it was discovered that the pump was in fact working after all but that a temporary construction phase valve had malfunctioned. As this valve was only required during construction and has now been removed, this problem cannot reoccur.

The Gautrain’s staff and management acknowledge and share the frustration of commuters as a result of these incidents and sincerely apologises for the inconvenience which they have endured.

Issued by the Bombela Concession Company (Pty) Ltd

Some unknown criminal elements have, unfortunately, caused mayor disruptions to the service of Gautrain as there was interference with necessary equipment for the operation of Gautrain on the morning of 10 August 2011. Copper cables were stolen in the Tshwane area which disrupted the Gautrain service between Hatfield and Centurion stations. A total of 54 trains were cancelled due to this act of criminality.

Realising the inconvenience this criminal act caused to passengers, the Bombela Concession Company provided buses between Hatfield and Centurion stations to assist passengers in their daily commute. Seven hours later, by 13:00, the normal Gautrain service between the affected stations was restored.

The Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Mr. Ismail Vadi, does not only see this criminal act as interference of the normal functioning of public transport but as an act of economic sabotage which he condemns in the strongest terms and which has caused a massive inconvenience to thousands of working people using the Gautrain. Mr. Vadi calls on law enforcement agencies not to see this as petty crime and urges them to leave no stone unturned in apprehending these perpetrators of these criminal acts.

Mr. Vadi also calls on the Bombela Concession Company to take pro-active steps to prevent any further theft of cables which could disrupt the Gautrain service to the public.

The section to be opened will extend from Rosebank Station in Johannesburg to Hatfield Station in Tshwane and will include all stations on this section. The Gautrain’s bus services will also be fully functional along this route.

The final, southward leg from Rosebank Station to Park Station in the Johannesburg CBD will be opened at a later date to accommodate additional engineering works in that section of the route. This is a precautionary measure to ensure that the highest passenger safety standards are adhered to, while engineering works are in progress.

All the Gautrain Stations (with the exception of Park Station) will be opened to the public from Friday 29 July 2011 to enable prospective passengers to familiarize themselves with the train and bus services available and also to pre-purchase Gautrain tickets. Train and bus services will however only become operational from 2 August 2011. Commuters are encouraged to make use of this opportunity in order to avoid queuing when the system opens for service on Tuesday.

From 2 August 2011, train services will operate daily between approximately 05h30 and 20h30, including weekends. Trains will run at 12-minute intervals during peak periods on weekdays (05h30 – 08h30 and 16h00 – 19h00) and at 20-minute intervals during off-peak hours. The trains will run at 30-minute intervals during weekends.

Subject to road traffic conditions, the Gautrain bus timetable is integrated with the train timetable. There is no bus service on weekends and public holidays.

Commuters are referred to www.gautrain.co.za / www.gautrain.mobi / 0800 GAUTRAIN / 0800 4288 7246 as well as information guides available at all stations for more detailed user information.

The Gauteng Provincial Government, the Gautrain Management Agency and the Bombela Concession Company are pleased that the negotiations relating to the further engineering works, the cost implications thereof and the opening of the next phase of the Gautrain, have been satisfactorily resolved.

Gautrain is a Public Private Partnership where risk allocation is of paramount importance. The Gauteng Provincial Government and the Bombela Concession Company agreed in 2006 when the Concession Agreement was signed on specifications for the entire system and the allocation of risks. Water ingress in the Rosebank to Park Station tunnel is amaterial issue for the certification of the entire Gautrain system. First it had to be established whether the water ingress in the tunnel was more than the specifications that were agreed in the Concession Agreement. Once this had been established, Bombela was asked to submit a tunnel works plan for additional engineering works that will be implemented to reduce the volume of ground water seeping into this section of the tunnel.

It must be stated clearly that although the water ingress in the Rosebank to Park Station section is not within the contract specification, the entire system, including the tunnel section between Rosebank and Park Stations is completely safe. Hence the issuing, by the Railway Safety Regulator, of the Operating Permit on 11 July 2011. Although safety had not been compromised, the Gauteng Province and Bombela are concerned about the impact of water ingress, above the agreed upon levels, on the long-term viability and integrity of the infrastructure. Gautrain has been a huge investment for both parties and it is their responsibility to look after this investment.

The delayed opening of the tunnel section between Rosebank Station and Park Station will enable Bombela to address the water ingress problem in the shortest possible time with the least impact on the rest of the system. The cost of undertaking this additional engineering works will not be for the account of Province.

The engineering works will include drilling small diameter holes through the tunnel floor and injecting low viscosity grout into the surrounding rock. This will reduce the permeability of the rock mass and thus reduce the water which enters the tunnel drains. This is an iterative process and it is difficult to predict how long it will take to achieve the desired results; however it is envisaged that the section between Rosebank and Park Stations could be opened by the end of 2011. For those commuters who want to use this part of the Gautrain route, buses will be provided to transfer them between Rosebank and the Johannesburg CBD. The actual routes of these bus services will be communicated at a later stage.

The Gauteng Provincial Government, the Gautrain Management Agency and Bombela Concession Company wish to apologise to the public for any inconvenience caused with regards to the delay in operating the next phase of Gautrain. We would like to thank our prospective commuters for their patience and understanding. We look forward to them using the Gautrain next Tuesday.

Details:

Residents are advised that there will be Gautrain night testing between Pretoria Station and Hatfield Station as of Friday, 15 April 2011 until Thursday, 21 April 2011, and will resume on Tuesday, 26 April 2011 until Friday, 29 April 2011. Testing will take place between 22:00 and 04:00.

Several roads in the Rosebank CBD will be reinstated following diversions that have been in place since December 2006 to facilitate Gautrain construction. The works will commence with the reinstatement of Oxford Road into a carriageway with two lanes traveling both north and southbound. Reinstatements will also take place at Baker Street, Sturdee Avenue as well as Bath Street, and are expected to be in place by mid-May. The planned works are expected to take place as follows (dates subject to change):

Oxford Road (between Jellicoe & Baker Streets), Friday 15 April 2011 & Saturday, 16 April 2011:

• Currently a two lane carriageway in a southerly direction, Oxford Road will be reinstated into a two lane dual carriageway. Oxford Road in the northern direction between Jellicoe Street and The Zone will be reinstated on Friday, 15 April. The section between The Zone and Bolton Road will be reinstated on Saturday, 16 April.

Baker Street, Saturday 16 April 2011 – Tuesday 26 April 2011:

• 18 April – 24 April: There will be partial lane closures along the eastbound lane on Baker Street to facilitate the construction of parking bays, islands and road markings.
• 21 April: Baker Street will be diverted onto the northern side of Bolton Road. Baker Street will remain a one-way between Hood Road and Oxford Road.
• 25 April 2011: Baker Street will be temporarily closed to facilitate final road markings and traffic signalling works.
• 26 April 2011: Baker Street (between Hood Road and Oxford Road) will be reopened and reinstated to a one-lane dual carriageway with public parking.

Sturdee Avenue, Tuesday 26 April 2011 – Tuesday 03 May 2011:

• 26 April – 29 April: Partial lane closures along the northbound carriageway on Sturdee Avenue will be implemented to facilitate road marking works.
• 02 May: Sturdee Avenue will be temporarily closed to facilitate the final construction of parking bays, and road marking and traffic signalling works.
• 03 May 2011: Sturdee Avenue (between Jellicoe Road and Bolton Road) will be reopened and reinstated to a single lane carriageway travelling in both directions, with provision for public parking.

Bath Street, Tuesday, 03 May 2011 – Friday, 06 May 2011:

• Bombela will be implementing a temporary lane closure on the designated northbound lane on Bath Street to facilitate public parking road marking works. Bath Street will remain a southbound two-lane carriageway with public parking.

Necessary signage informing the public of the scheduled works will be erected at relevant points. For further information, members of the public contact the Gautrain Call Centre on 0800 GAUTRAIN (4288 7246).

ends

Issued by the Bombela Concession Company (Pty) Ltd
For enquiries contact:
Kelebogile Machaka
Mobile: 083 725 6547
Email: kelebogile.machaka@bombela.com