A section of the Gautrain is slated to come into operation about two weeks ahead of the 2010 Soccer World Cup kick-off, according to the latest Gautrain Rapid Rail Link update issued on Tuesday.
The working section would consist of a stretch of track between the OR Tambo International Airport and Sandton, and the Midrand depot and operations centre.
According to the May 2008 construction update, these sections should be completed by the end of May 2010.
The Soccer World Cup kick-off is scheduled for June 11 in Johannesburg. The final is on July 11.
The rail linking this section with Pretoria and downtown Johannesburg would only be completed ”towards 2011”, the update added.
Without providing the actual dates, the update said that construction started at the end of September 2006 and that the first Gautrain phase ”has a duration of 45 months”.
The second phase, linking these working sections to Pretoria and downtown Johannesburg, ”will be completed in 54 months, towards 2011”, it said.
The World Cup will therefore put additional pressure on the already congested Ben Schoeman highway. – Sapa