Johannesburg - The Railway Safety Regulator has issued a safety permit to the Gautrain's operating company Bombela to operate the routes between Park Station in Johannesburg and Hatfield in Pretoria, and Sandton to OR Tambo International Airport.
Bombela has satisfied the regulator that rigorous safety testing and trial runs have been successfully completed, and that all the required safety measures are in place to enable the transportation of passengers.
"The Railway Safety Regulator has been working closely with the Bombela Concession Company since 2007 to ensure the safe completion and operation of the Gautrain rapid rail project. To this end the regulator has engaged the Gautrain rapid rail project in the phases of design, construction and testing and commissioning by conducting safety reviews, assessments and inspections on all safety aspects," the regulator said.
In addition, the regulator has issued safety permits for the operation of construction trains, as well as for the testing and commissioning phases.
All these efforts were aimed at ensuring the rapid rail project operates safely once introduced for commercial operation.
The safety permit forms part of the documentation that has to be available to the Gauteng provincial government in terms of the concession agreement conditions.
After this has taken place, the Gauteng provincial government must then determine with Bombela which portion of the network will be introduced, and when.
Bombela has satisfied the regulator that rigorous safety testing and trial runs have been successfully completed, and that all the required safety measures are in place to enable the transportation of passengers.
"The Railway Safety Regulator has been working closely with the Bombela Concession Company since 2007 to ensure the safe completion and operation of the Gautrain rapid rail project. To this end the regulator has engaged the Gautrain rapid rail project in the phases of design, construction and testing and commissioning by conducting safety reviews, assessments and inspections on all safety aspects," the regulator said.
In addition, the regulator has issued safety permits for the operation of construction trains, as well as for the testing and commissioning phases.
All these efforts were aimed at ensuring the rapid rail project operates safely once introduced for commercial operation.
The safety permit forms part of the documentation that has to be available to the Gauteng provincial government in terms of the concession agreement conditions.
After this has taken place, the Gauteng provincial government must then determine with Bombela which portion of the network will be introduced, and when.