The expansion of Gauteng’s high-speed Gautrain network is a step closer to reality with the publication of a Notice of Route Determination. The notice, issued by the MEC for Roads and Transport in Gauteng, has detailed the proposed routes:

• Little Falls Station to Jabulani Station (Soweto) via Roodepoort Station.
• Cosmo City Station to Samrand Station via Fourways Station, Sunninghill Station, and Olievenhoutbosch Station.
• Cosmo City Station to Lanseria Station via Cradle Station and Smart City Station.

Currently, Gautrain connects Johannesburg, Pretoria, Kempton Park, and OR Tambo International Airport.

This notice marks the first step in a two-phase process of establishing the railway line.

The first phase is the Route Determination, which outlines all the processes for determining a new route. The second phase is the Preliminary Design, focused on establishing the design for the extensions.

The draft Route Determination Report is now open for public comment. The report includes a preliminary route alignment study and an environmental investigation report. The MEC has given interested and affected parties, including municipalities and stakeholders, until March 31 to submit written comments due to the potential impact on land use along the proposed routes.