Route through Joburg Most of the route in Johannesburg and its suburbs will be underground, moving from Park Station under the Johannesburg Hospital in Parktown towards Rosebank and on to Rivonia Road and Sandton. At the Mushroom Farm Park in Sandown the route surfaces for a short section before going into a tunnel again and then surfaces once more to cross over Grayston Drive. It passes under the M1 freeway and comes up for air at Marlboro Gardens. The entire section between Marlboro and Midrand is above ground. The draft EIR divides the route up into sections, indicating the proposed route for each section, alternative routes suggested in the public meetings, as well as the EIA recommendations. The report can be accessed on the internet. RELATED STORIES: Gauteng's bullet train gamble Two teams shortlisted to build Gautrain Gautrain: they are listening to you 'Good progress' with Gautrain alternatives Business expresses doubt about Gautrain FIND out more on the Gautrain web site: Gautrain Rapid Rail

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Gautrain heritage draft available for comment By Lucille Davie March 19, 2003 THE draft Heritage Impact Assessment for the recommended route for the proposed Gautrain between Pretoria and Johannesburg is available for public comment in the next week. The draft will be available at six venues until 19 March, and interested and affected parties are requested to submit their comments within that time. It is hoped the Gautrain will relieve the congestion of some 300 000 passengers each week travelling between Gauteng's two biggest cities. The 80-kilometre Gautrain, with an offshoot from Sandton to the Johannesburg International Airport, will take 15 minutes to reach the Airport, whereas the trip between Johannesburg to Pretoria will take 35 minutes, travelling at 160km/h. The cost of the return trip will be between R15 and R25. There will be four underground stations and eight surface stations, and some 14 kilometres of underground track (in some places 80 metres down). The findings of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) have been available for viewing since September 2002, and a number of open meetings have been held to receive feedback from the people most affected by the proposed route, which goes through a number of Johannesburg suburbs, mostly underground. Some 650 homes will have to be expropriated to make way for the train. The Gautrain has to attract at least 60 000 passengers a day to make the operation pay. The Gauteng province, the proposers of the project, is selling it on the back of a "ridership guarantee". This means that if commuter numbers don't reach the expected 60 000 a day, the province will pay the future operator the shortfall. The province could end up paying millions each year in terms of this agreement. The Heritage Impact report can be viewed at the following venues: Halfway House Public Library, Value Faire Shopping Centre, Gallager Road. Linbro Park Public Library, 108 Hilton Road. Modderfontein Public Library, Lakeside Shopping Centre, Library Building City of Tshwane, Munitoria Building, Vermeulen Street. Sammy Marks Public Library, corner Van der Walt and Church Streets. Brooklyn Public Library, corner Middle and Veale Streets, Brooklyn Square. Suggestions and comments should be submitted to Nanette Hattingh of Bohlweki Environmental, on telephone: 011 805 0250, fax: 011 805 0226, or e-mail: bohlweki@pixie.co.za Print this Page Send an online postcard E-mail this article to a friend Help using Joburg.org.za