SA launches high-speed train rails for WC

  1. Posted on Tuesday 8 June 2010 - 13:40
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    John Afful Jnr, AfricaNews reporter in Accra, Ghana
    Africa's first high-speed train starts operations in South Africa on Tuesday. The first commuter rail on the continent has been described as Africa's biggest and would link Johannesburg's international airport with the World Cup host city in record time.
    High speed train
    The 25.4-billion-rand (3.2-billion-dollar) Gautrain began service three days before the World Cup kicks off in Johannesburg. The sleek silver-and-gold trains clip along at a maximum speed of 160 kilometres per hour, covering 19.8 kilometres between OR Tambo International Airport and Sandton business and hotel district in 12 minutes.

    According to reports on The Earth Time website, Gauteng provincial government is believed to have exerted considerable pressure on Bombela to open the first leg of the service for the football extravaganza to facilitate many World Cup tourists who will be staying at Sandton.

    On its first operations Tuesday morning, excited passengers have express satisfaction and compared it to a "European train." The trip to the airport costs 100 rand (12.8 dollars).

    Africa's first high-speed railway was built by the Bombela Consortium, starting in 2006.
    Bombela is a partnership between Murray & Roberts and Strategic Partners Group from South Africa, Bombardier Inc of Canada and France's Bouygues Construction.

    The trains will eventually extend its services to central Johannesburg and the capital Pretoria.

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