28 June 2011
Final details and tests on the Gautrain route from Johannesburg to Pretoria are under way and the final operating permit could be issued in July, the Railway Safety Regulator said on Friday.
“We are in the final phase of assessing all the last outstanding details, and provided that the current system stability tests are successful, we should be in a position to consider the issuing of the final operating permit in the course of July,” the regulator said in a statement.
The route from Johannesburg to Pretoria, via Rosebank, Sandton, Midrand and Centurion, was due to open on July 1.
Rigorous safety testing
“The Gautrain’s Bombela Operating Company (BOC) will have to satisfy the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) that rigorous safety testing and trial runs have been successfully completed and that all the required safety measures are in place before a safety permit is granted for the Johannesburg to Pretoria route.”
The RSR had worked closely with BOC since 2007 on the safe completion of the Gautrain.
“All these efforts are aimed at ensuring the rapid rail project operates safely once introduced for commercial operation.”
‘Expected snags’
The RSR said since the BOC took charge of the system in March to conduct tests there had been some snags.
“The RSR observes that as expected with a new system of this magnitude a number of snags emerged during this ‘settling in’ period, which have been systematically addressed by BOC and its partners.”
The RSR said the operator had co-operated fully during this phase.
Sapa
