SA: High speed train project delays

  1. Posted on Wednesday 11 November 2009 - 17:10
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    Peter Griffiths, AfricaNews reporter in Johannesburg, South Africa Photo: Bas Vlugt
    Gauteng, South Africa's economic province, would not showcase its high-speed train during the Fifa 2010 World Cup.
    Road trip from Johannesburg to Lehututu, photo by Bas Vlugt.jpg
    The R26-billion (¤2.3-billion) project would see Johannesburg’s international airport connected by rail to Sandton, downtown Johannesburg and Pretoria. It was hoped that the Bombela Consortium, who are building the project, would be willing to accelerate the completion of the first leg between the airport and Sandton by a few weeks.

    Little over a year ago, according to Gautrain project leader Jack van der Merwe, the Gauteng government made R150-million available to bring the original deadline for the completion of the first phase forward from June 27, 2010. The tournament will run from June 11 to July 11.

    However, the Bombela Consortium’s offer to accelerate the project at a cost of R1.3-billion (¤115-million) is just high.

    Deputy transport minister Jeremy Cronin, said that the high cost to gain a couple of weeks did not make sense considering that the State purse was already strained by the recession.

    Cronin was also critical of Bombela: “It’s a pity that they will not use the World Cup to show off the project. Money means more to them than such considerations.”

    Cronin also believed that the new date that the consortium published to complete the project of October 2010 was part of a negotiating tactic, and accused the consortium of dragging its feet.

    The consortium argued that the finances were needed to, amongst other things, ensure “passenger and system safety”.

    “Acceleration and scope of service availability for 2010 is a complex issue and there is more that must be considered than just direct financial implications,” according to Jerome Govender, chief executive of the Bombela Consortium.

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