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The Gautrain has puffed passed another
milestone with the unveiling of its high-tech Operational Control Centre in
Midrand.
GAUTENG Premier Nomvula Mokonyane
jokingly said that driving the Gautrain simulator was better than being a
premier.
Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane learns the ropes at the train simulator
"This is quite exciting," she said at
the controls. "It is very user-friendly, my nails are not affected - you can be
a lady at the controls."
Another milestone in the story of the
Gautrain was witnessed at the Gautrain Depot this week as the Operational
Control Centre (OCC) in Midrand was unveiled. She described the centre as the "heartbeat
of Gautrain".
The depot comprises world-class technology
used by highly skilled specialists, ensuring that the service provides a "safe,
quick and seamless movement of all 24 Gautrain rail cars and 125 feeder buses",
according to Gautrain spokesperson Barbara Jensen.
The OCC will be in constant contact with
train and bus drivers to monitor punctuality, safety and security. It also has
the ability to remotely stop a train in case of the driver becoming
incapacitated.
Safety
"The on-board Automatic Train Protection system is a safety-critical system
that continuously supervises the movement of the train," explains Jensen. "It
warns the driver in case of exceeding the 160km design speed and when
approaching stop signals or changes to the static speed profile."
The OCC will also monitor and control
the continuous supply of power throughout the Gautrain network.
"Gautrain will change the face of public
transport - not only in Gauteng but also in the rest of South Africa," said
Mokonyane. "We celebrate the beginning of a whole new lifestyle for the people
of Gauteng."
Over the years, the budget for Gautrain
has crept up. Starting at R7-billion when originally proposed in 2002, it shot
up to R26-billion several years later. Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan
announced in his mid-term budget speech on 27 October that an amount of
R144-million had been allocated to the Gautrain. This is to be matched by the
provincial government, contributing a further allocation of about R300-million
to the construction of the train.
The dazzling golden Gautrain in the depot in Midrand
Despite the additional funding, the
Gautrain will not be available for commuters on 11 June 2010, when the 2010 FIFA
World Cup™ kicks off. Instead, passengers will be able to step aboard two weeks
later, on 27 June. This means that the construction of the airport link to
Sandton, via Marlboro, is on target, as per the agreement signed on 28
September 2006, confirms Jensen.
The Rhodesfield Station at OR Tambo
International Airport is almost complete.
"The Gautrain will be a bonus if it is
ready for 2010," emphasised Monkonyane.
Flexible
She stressed that rail transport was very flexible, taking into consideration
passengers' changing needs.
"This is the beauty of rail. Systems can
be dynamically adjusted to passenger needs while integration with other modes
of transport brings Gautrain within easy reach of all the people of Gauteng," she
added.
"Our vision of ‘public transport being a
natural part of travel in a sustainable society' means that our services need
to be sufficiently attractive and competitive for people to choose public
transport over their own car."
The depot, where the simulator and
control centre are situated, comprises maintenance workshops for the 24 train
sets and 125 buses. From the depot, signalling, telecommunications, fare
collection, traction power, and CCTV cameras will be managed.
Mokonyane said the Gautrain would help
to reduce the congestion on the province's roads, as well as its carbon
footprint.
Passengers can expect six trains per hour
per direction, during peak times. They will receive real-time information on
timetables, fares and destinations of trains and buses, displayed on electronic
boards at the stations. Buses will travel along some 36 routes radiating from
the stations. Stations will be positioned every half a kilometre in built-up
areas. All buses will be tracked by satellite.
Security
The security of the Gautrain will be guaranteed with 650 CCTV cameras, the SAPS
Railway Police and over 400 security offers at stations, car parks and inside
trains.
Fencing will be constructed along the
entire route, to prevent unauthorised access and vandalism of the Gautrain and
its stations.
Mokonyane outlined the Gautrain's
socio-economic development obligations record. Sub-contracting in the
construction of the train had involved 490 BEE companies, to the value of
R1,8-billion. A total of 90 new BEEs had been involved, to the value of
R720-million. This meant that by the end of March 2009, 13 400 jobs would have
been created, of which 92 percent were local and 70 percent were historically
disadvantaged individuals. More than 11 000 unskilled and semi-skilled people
were trained, 1 400 of whom received training in management skills.
The first of nearly 50 train drivers
have been trained on the simulator.
"Our Golden Train will become synonymous
with people on the move, hungry to invest in new opportunities, seeking new
investments and opening up new markets. Today we celebrate a giant step closer
to that exciting reality," she concluded.
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