CAPE Town’s rail station is to be revitalised. R418 million has been allocated to the project in an effort to upgrade the transport facility in time for the 2010 Soccer World Cup. According to project manager, Pierre Cronje, the Cape Town Station has become functionally obsolete. “The station should be able to accommodate the city’s needs for 2010 and in this regard the following priorities are being pursued in the design of the refurbishment: operational efficiency, safety and security, passenger information, and aesthetics. The station will first and foremost remain a railway service – an interface with taxis and long-distance buses. However, the renovation will include numerous other elements and new features, including a transport museum, an art gallery, a travel agency, a bureau de change, an Internet café, a local crafters’ market, convenience stores, restaurants, fast-food outlets, a small conference venue and medical services. Also, Cape Town Tourism plans to open a visitors’ centre at the station. Construction began in 2007 on underground services and basic infrastructure while alterations to the existing station buildings started in September last year. “The portion of work to prepare the station for 2010 will be finished by the end of June but we are not stopping there – the refurbishment and revitalisation of the station is planned to continue after 2010 with a team of highly creative professionals working on the development,” says Cronje. “We hope to change Cape Town Station into a world-class railway station. The experience of a visitor moving through the station will be safe and clean with retail, services and information to complement the travel experience.”