The planned R2 billion investment to ease Gautrain capacity constraints, which includes the acquisition of second-hand rolling stock from the United Kingdom, has been delayed because of restrictions on the movement of people and goods during the global Covid-19 pandemic.
Dachs said the GMA is looking for between 25 and 28 coaches and, depending on the number of coaches per train, this is between five and seven train sets. He added that the Development Bank of Southern Africa is still one of the potential funders of this investment programme. Laas added that the concession company is leading the procurement process for the additional train sets, and that Van der Merwe and Dachs plus some concession company people visited a few potential suppliers in late 2019.
“For that to work, the system has to generate a minimum level of revenue that will enable us, the concessionaires, to meet our cost obligations and to repay the debt. However, Dachs said the GMA engaged the commission directly after the release of the report and made the point that Gautrain is much more than moving people out of cars and the notion of Gautrain as a ‘middle class subsidy’ project is misguided.