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Johannesburg - A new Gautrain service linking Johannesburg and Pretoria is testament to government's commitment to modernising the local railway system, the transport department said on Monday.
"Travelling at 160km/h, taking 38 minutes between Johannesburg and Pretoria, the Gautrain will set a benchmark for future developments in South Africa," Minister Sbu Ndebele said in a statement.
He said the government's goal was to make rail transport the backbone of the public transport system.
From Tuesday, the Gautrain would start running between the Rosebank in Johannesburg and Hatfield in Pretoria. Trains would operate between 5.30am and 8.30pm daily, with bus services along the route.
"Transport infrastructure over the next two years is guaranteed to radically change the way South Africans travel due to a multi-billion rand boost by government," Ndebele said.
"Amounting to R66bn this year [2011/12], and rising to R80bn by 2013/14, the improvements are set to also create numerous jobs and tourism opportunities."
The high-speed train between Sandton and OR Tambo International Airport started operating in June 2010. The new line was part of the second phase of the Gautrain project.
The transport department had contributed about R12.99bn towards the project.
"Travelling at 160km/h, taking 38 minutes between Johannesburg and Pretoria, the Gautrain will set a benchmark for future developments in South Africa," Minister Sbu Ndebele said in a statement.
He said the government's goal was to make rail transport the backbone of the public transport system.
From Tuesday, the Gautrain would start running between the Rosebank in Johannesburg and Hatfield in Pretoria. Trains would operate between 5.30am and 8.30pm daily, with bus services along the route.
"Transport infrastructure over the next two years is guaranteed to radically change the way South Africans travel due to a multi-billion rand boost by government," Ndebele said.
"Amounting to R66bn this year [2011/12], and rising to R80bn by 2013/14, the improvements are set to also create numerous jobs and tourism opportunities."
The high-speed train between Sandton and OR Tambo International Airport started operating in June 2010. The new line was part of the second phase of the Gautrain project.
The transport department had contributed about R12.99bn towards the project.
