New rail routes for Gauteng
Seven new rail routes have been proposed in an effort to encourage public transport usage in Gauteng, transport MEC Ismail Vadi said on Thursday.
The proposed routes were part of the province's Integrated Transport Master Plan (ITMP25), with the rail system being the backbone of the province's transport network, Vadi said.
The proposed routes were prioritised according to predicted volumes of commuters throughout the province.
They would connect the following places:
-- Sandton to Honeydew, via Randburg;
-- Ruimsig to Samrand via Cosmo City, Fourways, Sunninghill and Blue Hills;
-- Samrand to Tshwane East via Irene;
-- Rhodesfield to Boksburg via East Rand Mall;
-- Westgate (JHB CBD) to Park Station;
-- Naledi (Soweto) to Ruimsig via Roodepoort;
-- Tshwane East to Mamelodi.
Vadi said this was a draft plan open to public comment.
"It is my intention to take the ITMP25 to the provincial cabinet quite soon," Vadi said.
It was unclear which parts of the expansions would be done by Gautrain and which by the Passenger Rail Agency of SA
All transport systems were working together in order to improve transport in the whole of Gauteng.
The proposed ITMP25 plan was unveiled in August. It is yet to be approved by Gauteng's cabinet.
-Sapa