Full steam ahead: It is hoped that the Gautrain will leave a legacy of integrated public transport
This month, the Gautrain celebrated Heritage Month by collaborating with the Mail & Guardian in hosting a Critical Thinking Forum to debate issues of public transport, particularly the Gautrain and heritage. Public transport has the ability to break societal barriers by bringing people from all walks of life together. It is government’s responsibility to ensure ease of mobility to its citizens. Citizens are, however, responsible for protecting and respecting public transport infrastructure by exercising basic human etiquette when utilising such services. Miantaining a culture of respect for public transport, is what heritage means.
As a way of ensuring that public transport continues to positively change the lives of citizens in Gauteng, the Gauteng Provincial Government conducted a detailed study on the current transport network in Gauteng as part of the Province’s proposed 25-year Integrated Transport Master Plan (ITMP25). The plan aims to deliver a world class and sustainable transport system that supports Gauteng’s economic, social and cultural and environmental goals. It also set out to further position Gauteng as an attractive destination for investment and tourism. The plan has been approved and contains the proposed route extension for the Gauteng rapid rail network. Not only will the ITMP25 contribute to positively changing the lives of citizens in Gauteng through integrated, acceptable public transport, but it will also leave a legacy for our children.
Public transport is not only a major part of heritage and culture but the vehicle to economic development and the Gautrain is the perfect example. The Gautrain Management Agency recently commissioned KPMG to determine the economic impact that the Gautrain system has had in the Gauteng province thus far — including job creation, lifestyle changes, links to government policy and property development. The results were better than what could have been imagined. Gautrain has had huge impact on business activity with additional investment in the retail industry. During construction the Gautrain generated a variety of positive economic spin-offs and these includes a R20-billion contribution to provincial GDP during its construction.
A feasibility study for the proposed Gauteng rapid rail network have been conducted by the Gautrain Management Agency and the results will be available during 2017. The purpose of the feasibility study is to inform the decision to proceed with the Gauteng rapid rail network extensions and the preferred routes that should be developed. This will be based on a number of benefits such as the transformational impact on the Gauteng economy, the modernisation of public transport, passenger access and mobility, improved spatial development, environmental impact and other benefits such as job creation and poverty alleviation.
Gautrain is a transport flagship project in Gauteng that has managed to break societal barriers by bringing people from all walks of life together while providing a convenient, fast and efficient means of travel that is enjoyable and stress free. Gautrain as South Africa’s prideand now becoming part of Gauteng’s heritage and culture. The system has become a symbol of Gauteng’s culture of pride in its people, constant upward mobility and vibrant relationships. Like with the heritage of Gauteng, Gautrain’s brand represents what a nation can achieve with the right leadership and attitude.
But Gautrain has respected heritage since its inception and construction. Preservation of Gauteng’s heritage, similar to that of the environment, has been part of Gautrain’s objectives. When land had to be identified for Gautrain’s route, special care was taken to honour heritage sites. Experts were consulted and careful research was done to ensure that places of historical significance would be protected for future generations. Before any construction took place, all impacted areas were scrutinised for heritage structures or resources more than 60 years old. A list was drawn up and a full cultural-historical analysis accompanied by photographs was provided for each item. Following heritage protection guidelines, the following were protected by Gautrain:
- The 1910 Johannesburg Technical College was demolished to make way for the Gautrain Park Station. Artefacts of historical significance such as doors, iron gates and window frames were preserved and handed over to authorities for preservation.
- In Tshwane, the coach-washing shed from early 1900 in the Pretoria Station precinct was renovated, preserved and incorporated into the new Gautrain Pretoria Station.
- Mature Palm trees were preserved in Tshwane. The trees were treated, pruned and replanted on University Road.
- Places of historical value not directly affected by construction such as the Modderfonteinspruit Valley and the Salvokop/Freedom Park precinct were regularly inspected during the construction phase and, in some areas, fenced for protection.
When asked about Gautrain’s brand, a Gautrain passenger said “The Gautrain is an excellent service, an excellent project. Gauteng is now embedded in transport excellence, thanks to public transport projects such as Gautrain. Our transport heritage is now paved with gold — Gautrain is becoming our golden heritage.”
Currently over 60 000 train passengers and over 23 000 bus passengers use the complete service on a typical weekday. Since Gautrain’s operation has started, the overall system (train, buses and parking) has performed extremely well and continues to receive very high customer satisfaction ratings of 98% overall performance, as reflected in the monthly customer satisfaction surveys.
This airport service recently competed with the best in the world on customer service and was consequently awarded the Global AirRail Alliance (GARA) Award for customer service excellence in 2014. The GARA awards are international awards dedicated to the air-rail industry, recognising the best services of delivering an enjoyable and stress free journey between air and rail travel. Some of the finalists included Birmingham Airport (UK), Flytoget (Oslo, Norway) and Canada Line (Vancouver, Canada).
Apart from offering a stellar service to the people of South Africa, Gautrain also stays true to the heritage of South Africa by making public transport of choice part of everyday life — a sustainable culture of public transport.
For more information visit www.gautrain.co.za, follow @TheGautrain/@Gautrainlinks on Twitter or www.facebook.com/gautrain call 0800 42887246 or SMS the alert line on 32693