SOUTH AFRICA | Railways

[goschio]

Wow, really nice. Big step for Africa.

[The E.N.D]

Johannesburg Park Station



That's the station shell going up.






Rosebank station


Sandton station (in operation)








Marlboro Station (in operation)




Rhodesfield station (in operation)





OR Tambo International Airport station






Midrand station






Centurion station




Pretoria station




Hatfield station




All pics sourced from http://www.gautrain.co.za/img_gal/

[The E.N.D]

Midrand station

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[Inertia]

July 2010:

Park Station:







Rosebank Station:







Sandton Station:





North-south line


Rhodesfield Station:











ORTIA Station:





Midrand Station:







Centurion Station:





Industrial lights??


Hatfield Station:









Pretoria Station:





Bus Depot:







www.gautrain.co.za

[The E.N.D]

Cross post from the Gautrain SA thread.

Originally Posted by Pule

Taken today

[The E.N.D]

My two fave stations which are still U/C.

Midrand Station


Centurion Station

[The E.N.D]

Station de Sandton.

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By Lee Pyne Lee Pyne-Mercier


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By Green_Guerrilla David Alves




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By fmgbain Henti Smith


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[The E.N.D]

Midrand station open day.
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By The E.N.D

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[signol]

Several South African cities have a suburban Metrorail network, used mainly by commuters, but a couple are used by tourists (most notably the Simonstown line in Cape Town).

Last month we visited relatives in Durban, and took a ride on the Metrorail line along the coast, from Amanzimtoti to Scottburgh. Here are a couple of pics.

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signol

[Alestorm]

Didn't know they also have a line that goes along the coast. You guys were in 3rd class by the way, or Metro instead of MetroPlus. The seating in MetroPlus is far better.

People don't have a very high opinion of Metrorail in Durban and Gauteng, probably why it was so empty.

[signol]

Originally Posted by Alestorm

Didn't know they also have a line that goes along the coast. You guys were in 3rd class by the way, or Metro instead of MetroPlus. The seating in MetroPlus is far better.

People don't have a very high opinion of Metrorail in Durban and Gauteng, probably why it was so empty.

We actually bought Metro Plus tickets, but the Plus carriage was the far end of the train when it arrived. We headed in that direction, but had to get on when the train was about to depart, and the baby's pushchair wouldn't fit through the carriage connecting doors!

My wife, who's from Pinetown, wouldn't use it in the city centre, but the outer coastal route is ok. And I waited until almost at the end of the line to take photos Most seats were taken, with a few people getting off at each stop.

signol

[The E.N.D]

Sandton station

By munschroom
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[HigerBigger]

A) CONSTRUCTION

On 8 June 2010, Phase 1 of the Gautrain System was opened for commercial service. The first phase operations include the airport train service between Sandton Station and OR Tambo International Airport, a commuter service between Sandton and Rhodesfield – with an intermediate stop at Marlboro Station – as well as dedicated feeder and distribution bus services to and from the Sandton and Rhodesfield Stations. The Operations Control Centre, together with the Train and Bus Depot facilities located just south of Allandale Road in the Midrand area, were also completed as part of the first phase scope of works.

The remaining sections of Sandton Station required for the Phase 2 operations will be completed by early next year. These works include completion of the podium slab over the station complex, the remaining 2/3 of the parking facilities, the third platform to service the southbound line to the Rosebank and Park stations, an undercover taxi terminus and the final reinstatement of Rivonia Road.

Monthly Construction Updates now focus on progress of the Gautrain Phase 2 works, comprising the underground section between Sandton Station and Park Station and the route between Midrand Station and Hatfield Station.

1. Underground section



Within the southern portion of the Phase 2 tunnel section between Sandton Station and Johannesburg Park Station, the civil works are now complete. Tracklaying within the completed tunnel is ongoing and is currently progressing southwards towards Park Station, from south of Rosebank Station.

The underground works also include the construction of seven emergency access shafts located at intervals along the single-track rail tunnel between Park Station and Sandton Station. These shafts will provide emergency services personnel access to the tunnels below. At the bottom of certain of these shafts there will be safe havens where passengers can gather in case of an emergency. Construction works at three of these emergency access shafts are substantially complete and are ongoing at the remaining four.

PARK STATION




The large gantry crane that was located adjacent to the tunnel portal near Smit Street and that was utilized to service the tunnel and underground construction works is no longer required, so has been dismantled and removed from site. All structural works are complete, including the cut and cover section linking the station to the tunnel portal. Remaining works within the station mainly comprise the completion of internal finishes and testing and commissioning of the mechanical and electrical (M&E) installations. Internal finishes and M&E installations are well advanced and platform tiling is ongoing. Ticket vending machines and fare gates are in position on the concourse level.

At the parkade structure, all six decks are complete, as is erection of precast parapets, and finishing works are in progress. Cladding of the structural steel entrance pavilion on the southern side of Wolmarans Street is substantially complete, with façade glazing to follow.

Construction of the ventilation structure on the northern side of Smit Street is substantially complete apart from finishings and M&E installations within this shaft are well advanced.

The reinstatement of Wolmarans Street and Smit Street is complete and both of these roads are open to traffic. Reinstatement of the two remaining roads bordering Park Station – Eloff and Joubert Streets – is also substantially complete, but these will not be opened to traffic until the station external works are further progressed.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E1 (HILLBROW)

At Shaft E1, construction works are substantially complete, including the external works and landscaping.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E2 (THE WILDS, HOUGHTON)

At Shaft E2, installation of the structural steelwork access structure within the shaft is complete and construction of the surface head house building has reached roof level.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E3 (RIVIERA)

At Shaft E3, construction works are substantially complete, including the external works and landscaping.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E4 (HOUGHTON)

At Shaft E4, construction works are substantially complete, with the external works and landscaping also approaching completion.

ROSEBANK STATION




At Rosebank Station, works within the underground areas are in a similar state of completion to Park Station. Wall tiling at both concourse and platform levels is substantially complete, concourse floor tiling is also approaching completion and platform tiles have been laid. Outstanding works largely comprise final internal finishes and and testing and commissioning of the mechanical and electrical installations. Tracklaying through the station is complete.

The main entrance to the station, as well as the parkade structure, are both located on the eastern side of Oxford Road and there are two additional entrances to the underground station on the western side of Oxford Road. The parkade structure is substantially complete, with perimeter brickwork and plastering well advanced. Final finishings and parking boom installations are in progress and erection of shadeport canopies on the top parking deck will follow in the coming weeks.

The phased reinstatement of Oxford Road adjacent to the station is ongoing. These road reinstatement works, which are being carried out on a phased basis to enable the two station entrances and the ventilation structure located on the western side of Oxford Road to be constructed, are scheduled to be completed by the end of March 2011. Lateral support and excavation at the both of these western entrances are complete, as are the breakthroughs into the station box, and structural works are also approaching completion.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E5 (DUNKELD, ROSEBANK)

At Shaft E5, the temporary sound-mitigating structure that was in place during the underground construction operations has been dismantled and removed from site. Installation of the structural steelwork access structure within the shaft itself is complete and construction of the head house building will follow in the coming weeks.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E6 (ILLOVO)

At Shaft E6, installation of the structural steelwork access structure within the shaft itself is complete and construction of the head house building will follow in the coming weeks.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E7 (WESTERN SIDE OF RIVONIA ROAD, SANDTON)

At Shaft E7, installation of the structural steelwork access structure within the shaft itself is complete and construction of the head house building is in progress.

2. Northern Section (Depot to Hatfield station

DEPOT TO MIDRAND

Between the Depot and Midrand Station, all construction works are complete, as are all railway installations. The overhead catenaries have been energized and test running of trains to Midrand Station will commence shortly.

MIDRAND STATION





At Midrand Station, all works are substantially complete.
The new section of Grand Central Boulevard that provides access to the station from the Old Pretoria Road (K101), together with the widening of a section of the K101 adjacent to the station, were both completed during the month.

MIDRAND TO CENTURION, INCLUDING VIADUCT 4 OVER RIETSPRUIT AND OLIFANTSFONTEIN ROAD SOUTH

From Midrand Station to Centurion, all construction works and bridge structures, including Viaduct 4 crossing over Rietspruit and Olifantsfontein Road South, are complete. Tracklaying operations and the installation of associated railway infrastructure in this area are also approaching completion along the full length of this section. The overhead catenaries will be energized shortly, to enable test running of trains along this section of the line to commence.

CENTURION AREA, INCLUDING VIADUCT 5 OVER THE N1 AND BEN SCHOEMAN HIGHWAYS AND CENTURION STATION

Construction of all three of the Centurion viaducts is complete. These comprise Viaduct 5b – the balanced cantilever viaduct crossing the N1 and the John Vorster Interchange, Viaduct 5c – the approximately 3 km long segmental viaduct that carries the elevated Gautrain railway lines through Centurion and supports the Centurion Station platforms midway along its length and Viaduct 5d – the second balanced cantilever viaduct – that crosses the Ben Schoeman highway and the Jean Avenue Interchange. Tracklaying operations and the installation of associated railway infrastructure are substantially complete across all of these structures.




At Centurion Station, all structural and building works are complete. Within the station buildings, internal finishings and M&E works are also substantially complete. Ticket vending machines and fare gates have been installed in the concourse. Rail tracks have been laid through the station and tiling of the elevated platforms is in progress.

Externally, carpark construction is ongoing, with final layer works, drainage, kerbing, premix surfacing and erection of car shadeport canopies well advanced. The bus management building and the perimeter palisade boundary wall are both substantially complete.

CENTURION TO PRETORIA, INCLUDING VIADUCT 6 OVER EEUFEES ROAD

Civil construction works along this section of the route – which include extensive earthworks, a number of bridges, U-shape structures through the military area and Viaduct 6 crossing Eeufees Road – are substantially complete. Remaining works include completion of the on-ramp onto the N14, trimming of embankments and the completion of landscaping activities.

Tracklaying operations and the installation of associated railway infrastructure are also approaching completion along the full length of this section of the route, around Salvokop and into Pretoria Station.

PRETORIA STATION AND SATELLITE BUS DEPOT




At Pretoria Station, all structural and building works are complete. Within the station buildings, internal finishings and M&E works also substantially complete and the ticket vending machines and fare gates have been installed in the concourse. Rail tracks have been laid into the station and platform tiling will commence shortly.

Externally, carpark earthworks are approaching completion, drainage, final layer works and kerbing are ongoing – as is premixing of completed areas of base course – and erection of carpark canopies has commenced.

Refurbishment and cladding of the historically significant loco shed is substantially complete, as is construction of the perimeter palisade boundary wall. Refurbishment of the heritage house, which will accommodate the bus management offices, has commenced.

Construction of the Pretoria satellite bus depot is ongoing. This facility is located to the north of the CBD, in the vicinity of the Pretoria Zoo. It is the base from where the fleet of Gautrain feeder and distribution buses that will serve the three stations in the Tshwane area will operate. Maintenance work and major servicing of the buses, however, will take place at the already operational Gautrain Bus Depot, which is located adjacent to the Train Depot and Operations Control Centre in Midrand. Bulk earthworks and layer works have been completed, concreting of the hardstand area surface beds on which the buses will be parked is in progress, and construction of the office and guardhouse buildings is ongoing. The workshop structural steelwork has been erected, with roof and wall cladding to follow in the coming weeks.

PRETORIA TO HATFIELD, INCLUDING VIADUCT 7 OVER NELSON MANDELA BOULEVARD

Viaduct 7 comprises a set of “Y-shaped” viaducts and flyovers that carry the Gautrain railway lines into Pretoria Station from the south and then across Nelson Mandela Boulevard and the adjacent Prasa railway network towards Hatfield. Construction of all of these structures is complete and the installation of trackwork and associated railway infrastructure across the decks is well advanced.




Between Pretoria Station and Hatfield Station, a number of bridges crossing the existing Prasa railway line have been either widened or lengthened to accommodate the adjacent Gautrain tracks. All of these bridges have already been completed and reopened to traffic, with minor finishing works ongoing. The extensive lateral support works in cuttings, together with the earthworks and construction of the retaining structures necessary to widen the existing embankments, are substantially complete. Construction of dividing walls between the Gautrain and Prasa railway lines, final layerworks, drainage works and the erection of noise barriers and boundary fencing are also approaching completion along the full length of this section. Tracklaying operations in this area, which commenced during October 2010, are ongoing.

HATFIELD STATION




At Hatfield Station, concourse construction is ongoing, with structural steelwork, roof cladding and façade glazing all substantially complete. Floor and wall tiling and internal finishes are also approaching completion, as are the mechanical and electrical installation. The multi-storey parkade structure is also substantially complete. Platform construction below the concourse slab is well advanced, including the platform canopy structures and roof cladding at either end. At the adjacent bus terminus area, the bus management building is substantially complete and layerworks and the bus canopy roof structures are well advanced. Construction of the adjacent Grosvenor Street bridge, including parapets, is complete and the approach road upgrades are in progress. This bridge, however, will only be opened to public traffic when station operations commence.

B) OVERALL PROGRESS

Construction started at the end of September 2006. Gautrain will be completed in two phases:
1. The first phase was initially planned to be of a 45 months contractual duration, but was completed three weeks ahead of this, on 08 June 2010. It includes the network between the OR Tambo International Airport and Sandton and includes the stations at OR Tambo, Rhodesfield, Marlboro and Sandton, together with the Depot and Operations Control Centre located near Allandale Road in Midrand.
2. The second phase, being constructed concurrently, will be completed during 2011. It includes the remainder of the rail network and stations linking Sandton to Park Station in Johannesburg and the route from Midrand to Hatfield.

[HigerBigger]

[Svartmetall]

Given that the Gautrain is only running at 160km/h I am going to merge this thread with the normal South African rail thread as it doesn't meet the international standard for high speed rail.

[Lydon]

Where are we supposed to discuss the inter-city high speed rail projects?

[Svartmetall]

Originally Posted by Lydon

Where are we supposed to discuss the inter-city high speed rail projects?

In a new thread. If any such projects eventuate that fulfill the criteria for "High Speed Rail" then you're more than welcome to open a new one. It's just a little confusing having the mostly urban transport Gautrain being represented so strongly across one thread (and another in the Urban Transport section) when in actuality it only travels at the same speed as many commuter rail systems around the world (Stockholm Pendeltag for example travels at 160km/h).

EDIT: Here you go, the South African High Speed Rail thread.

[Gadiri]

South Africa forum : National Transport Master Plan (Natmap) 2010-2050



http://www.dhv.nl/dhvnl/files/80/809...a3319f14e8.pdf

[Gadiri]

[Gadiri]