BOT proposal for $500 million, 80 km-long line linking Pretoria, Johannesburg, Airport and Sandton under discussion for construction start in 2002, commissioning 2006 for Gauteng provincial government. Feasibility studies conducted by Khuthele Projects, Argus-Gibb and Lebone Engineering proposed 8 km-long bored rock tunnel. Visit www.gibb.co.za 16/01. Notice for request for prequalification, deadline 5th April, 2002 published by the European Investment Bank for the Gautrain Rapid Rail Link between Johannesburg, Tshwane and Sandton and the Johannesburg international airport. Eleven kilometres of tunnel are considered. Project to be built on Public Private Partnership. The concessionaire will be required to firstly design, construct and finance the rail infrastructure, and secondly to operate and maintain the rail system for approximately 15 years. Value about R7 billion. Visit http://ted.eur-op.eu.int/ojs/en/frame.htm, OJ S 45, document 34850-2002 or E-mail Lungile Mazwai lungile@gautrain.co.za. Also visit http://www.gautrain.co.za/rfq.htm 11/02.The Gautrain Rapid Rail Link project will link Pretoria, Johannesburg and the Johannesburg International Airport. The following double-tube tunnels are planned, each tube with a single track: 9,330 m from Park Station to Rosebank Station; 8,200 m from Rosebank Station to Sandton Station; 4,930 m from Sandton Station to Marlboro Station; 960 m from Rhodesfield Station to Johannesburg International Airport; and the 1,540 m Salvo Hill tunnel in Pretoria. In all, this represents a total length of 24,960 m. The tunnel diameter is 7 m. In addition, there will be five underground stations: Rosebank, Sandton, Rhodesfield, Johannesburg International Airport, and Pretoria. Other underground infrastructure include ventilation shafts and possible tunnel cross connections as would be required for normal operational and safety requirements. The expected geology is complex, comprising andesitic lava, quartzites, shales, granite, grandiorite and greenstone shist. The rocks dip 30 to 40 degrees to the south and are intersected by numerous faults and dolerite dykes and sills. Water can be expected in the quartzites and shales in minor quantities and is likely to occur on fault planes. In the granites, minor water ingress is likely within the more weathered rock or in fissures in the fresh rock. Regarding the excavation method, both drill/blast and TBMs are considered. In poor ground conditions, explosives will be supplemented by mechanical excavators and breakers. Support by means of sprayed concrete with fibres and bolts, and permanent cast concrete lining. For mucking-out, loco and muck cars behind the TBM and loaders and dumper trucks at drill/blast sections. The concession contract is expected to be awarded in November 2004. The expected start date for construction is second half of 2005 and expected end date is 2009. Read E-News Weekly 46/2003, 18/2003, 44/2002 & 19/2002. Visit www.gautrain.co.za 37/04.The Bombela consortium has been selected by the Gauteng provincial government as the preferred bidder for the Gautrain Rapid Rail Link project. The infrastructure works in the design-build contract will be delivered by Bouygues, Murray & Roberts, and Loliwe Rail Contractors, a company which consists of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) contractors including Blackstone, ZMK Construction, Biyana, Realeka, LET Property Developers, Powerhouse and Tiespro. For the electrical and mechanical system, which represents approximately 35% of the design-build contract, the consortium includes Bombardier and Loliwe Rail Express, a new BEE company. Bombela will establish a maintenance company, which will be owned by the Loliwe companies, Murray & Roberts and RATP Developpement, whose parent company operates the Paris transport system. The Bombela consortium is 50% owned by its international partners and 50% by Murray & Roberts and the Loliwe companies, which represent the consortium's Black Economic Empowerment.The Gautrain consists of an 80 km rail system linking Johannesburg, Sandton, Tshwane and Johannesburg International Airport. The civil works will take 4.5 years. It will include construction of 10 stations (3 of which are underground), 20 km of tunnel section, 9 km of viaducts and bridges and 10 million cu m of earthworks. The project is to be implemented as a Public Private Partnership and includes financing, design, build, operation and maintenance. Gautrain will be transferred back to the Gauteng provincial government at the end of the concession period (4.5 years for construction followed by a 15-year operating period). The project will be complete just before the Football World Cup in 2010. Click za/11. Visit www.gautrain.co.za and www.bouygues-construction.com 27/05.Request for prequalification, deadline 28th October, 2005 for Independent Certifier for the Gautrain project. The IC will perform an independent review, monitoring and audit function during the implementation of the Gautrain Rapid Rail Link project. The IC's duties will include issuing of interim payment certificates, multi-disciplinary monitoring and inspection services relating to the design, construction, manufacture, installation and commissioning of the Gautrain system, and completion services relating to the issuing of the operating commencement certificate and certificate of final completion. The railway, which will link metropolitan areas of Johannesburg and Tshwane (Pretoria) and the Johannesburg international airport, will be made up of two routes totalling around 80 km with 10 stations and a depot. Construction will include approx. 27 km of mined and cut-and-cover tunnels. Visit http://corporate.gautrain.co.za/index.php?cid=916&pid=796&ct=1 or contact Gautrain Rapid Rail Link Project Office, 12th Floor, Ten Sixty Six, 35 Pritchard Street, Johannesburg. Contact: Nico Wolmarans and Bruce Evans, fax +27 112984916, e-mail priscillam@gautrainpo.co.za 42/05.Scetauroute and Jean Muller International have won three lots of the Gautrain project, awarded by the Bombela consortium. Lot 1 deals with the optimisation of the tunnel route. Lot 2 is for the geotechnical studies. Lot 6 is for earthworks, drainage and structures. This lot will pose major technical difficulties due to the presence of dolomitic areas and possibly underground cavities. Click za/11. Visit www.scetauroute.com 48/05.