​By: Sibusiso Gebenga
The Gauteng Provincial Government is set to
assume ownership of the multi-billion
Gautrain rapid rail system that has
contributed significantly to the provincial
economy, its spinoff and created
employment opportunities.
This was unveiled by Head of Department
(HoD) Dr Thulani Mdadane, at an outside
broadcast held at the Marlboro Gautrain
Station on Thursday, 12 October 2023, in
Alexandra - Johannesburg.
 He highlighted
that the rapid rail system will revert back to
the Department after the end of the
concession period in 2026.
“Gautrain is a strategic asset which will be
handed over to the province at the end of
this current concession. The Gauteng
Provincial Government will own a R45
billion asset which has contributed
significantly to the issues of the provincial
economy, infrastructural spinoffs and
employment opportunities” noted the HoD. 
Gautrain is an 80-kilometre higher-speed
express commuter rail system which links
Johannesburg, Pretoria, Kempton Park and
O. R. Tambo International Airport. 
The community engagement initiative
serves to celebrate October Transport
Month (OTM) by profiling the province’s
approach to making rail the backbone of
public transport and highlight contributions
by Gautrain towards socio-economic
development in the province.
Dr Mdadane also highlighted that Gautrain
has made possible the creation of over 61
000 indirect job opportunities with a further
10 000 direct jobs created. The rapid rail
system contributes over R61 billion to the
country’s GDP, he added. 
He further added the expansion will cover underserviced areas including townships.
This, he said, was part of Gauteng Premier
Panyaza Lesufi’s call for the Gautrain’s
expansion plans to include townships and
not only Alexandra”. Thus, the main objective
being to build, operate and maintain a
sustainable rail system for the benefit of all.
In addition, Dr Mdadane further assured
commuters the new concession will look
into ticket price model to accommodate
low-income groups and areas as Gautrain
expands its services across the province. 
Sharing the stage with the CEO, Mr. William
Dachs - Gautrain Management Agency chief
executive - detailed the background and
future plans for the project. "The current
Gautrain project was in phase one, with 80
kms of rail network linking key economic
areas in the province. The agency is
planning to expand by another 150 kms of
rail network which will link the outline
areas”. He revealed the expansion project is
currently at an advanced stage. Last year,
the agency completed a route proclamation
that included areas such as Randburg, Little
Falls and Cosmo City further north. 
This was a critical stage in the process of
securing and obtaining land rights. Work is
underway conducting Phase 2 of the
proclamation routes towards Roodepoort
and Soweto, he added. 
During OTM campaign, the Department and
the rail agency will host and attend various
activities highlighting achievements in the
public transport sector, new innovations in
promoting and developing an efficient,
affordable, integrated and safe public
transport system.