Gautrain budgets a billion for IT

By Leon Engelbrecht, ITWeb senior writer

Johannesburg, 28 Mar 2008

The Bombela Consortium, building the Gautrain, is setting aside about R1 billion for the development and installation of IT, electronic and communication systems that will be used to support the rapid rail system once operational.

Bombela spokesperson Kelebogile Machaka says the R1 billion is a projection that "will include costs for train design, electronic and communication systems to be fitted at the control centre, as well as electronic systems to be fitted at the stations". A more detailed budget breakdown was not immediately available.

Machaka adds that the cost of maintenance "will depend on service provider tenders and contracts post-development phase, which, at this stage, is projected at R25 million over 15 years".

She explains the money will go towards software maintenance, as well as hardware rental, maintenance and replacement.

Construction on what is now a R35 billion project started in September 2006. The first phase is scheduled to be ready in time for the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

When first mooted in 2002, the total cost was a tenth of the latest estimate: R3.5 billion to R4 billion. A year later, the projected cost stood at R7 billion and in 2005 officials said the new total was R20 billion.

ICT deals

The last update on actual spend was in December, when Gauteng premier Mbhazima Shilowa said R8.3 billion had been spent to that date. Shilowa said the project had by then injected R440 million into the Gauteng economy "through the purchase of South African materials and equipment. Small, medium and macro enterprises have gained R70 million for providing goods and services required on the projects."

On the IT side, two contracts have been awarded. In November, Bombela awarded the French Thales Group and its local partner, Stimela Infrastructure Management Services, a R100 million contract to provide a "contactless e-ticketing solution".

The contract, now operative, requires Thales to design and deploy a contactless e-ticketing system at all 10 Gautrain stations, including OR Tambo International Airport.

The other ICT deal was awarded to Siemens SA. The value of this contract has not been disclosed.

What Gautrain will do

Once operational, the Gautrain will run on an 83km track between Johannesburg, Pretoria and OR Tambo International Airport, at speeds of up to 160km/h, covering the distance between the two city centres in less than 40 minutes.

The Gautrain Web site says trains will initially run at a "minimum frequency" of six trains per hour, per direction, and it will operate about 18 hours per day.

According to some estimates, the project could employ as many as 18 000 people over the next 20 years and generate business activities worth up to R3.6 billion per annum.

Gautrain is a public-private partnership involving the Gauteng government's Blue IQ investment company and the Bombela Consortium.