Big upgrades planned for Gautrain stations

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08-09-2026
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Gauteng MEC for roads and transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, has revealed ambitious upgrade plans for Gautrain stations across the province.

Speaking to SABC News amid the Gautrain’s 16th birthday celebration, she said upgrade plans included smart licensing centres and day care centres for children.

“Our goal is to ensure that we expand and improve the infrastructure. It gives us an opportunity to rethink our services, as well as our fare model,” she said.

“One of the things that is coming with the new concessionary process is the commercialisation of our stations. We’ve already started with the smart licensing centres throughout all except Pretoria station.”

Diale-Tlabela added that the Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) would launch a “G Cafe” coffee shop for those using the smart licensing centres.

In addition, she said she was passionate about establishing day care centres at the stations for mothers who used the Gautrain.

The plans for the stations form part of the new concession, following the conclusion of the GMA’s 19½-year concession agreement with the Bombela Concession Company (BCC).

The agreement officially ended on Friday, 27 March 2026, which the GMA said closed an important chapter in one of South Africa’s most successful public-private partnerships (PPP).

“The Gautrain will continue operating under the PPP model going forward, ensuring stability, continuity and sustained private-sector participation,” the GMA said.

As the province and GMA failed to select a replacement for the BCC, the Bombela Operating Company was chosen to manage the Gautrain under a contractual holdover arrangement for up to six months.

The GMA is currently in final negotiations with the preferred bidder identified for the new concession agreement.

“The preferred bidder will operate, maintain, refurbish, upgrade, and modernise the Gautrain system for the next 15 years,” the GMA said.

“Passengers can be fully assured that Gautrain services will continue without interruption, maintaining the high standards, reliability, and efficiency that have defined the system since its inception.”

First new Gautrain stations revealed

Gautrain passing over a bridge in Kempton Park. Photographer: Brasol Makgalemela / Shutterstock.com

The Gauteng Provincial Government has announced plans to build 19 new Gautrain stations and a new maintenance depot over the next 15 years.

In March 2026, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi revealed which parts of the province would be first to receive new Gautrain stations as part of the provincial government’s 15-year expansion project.

He said the province would soon announce the winning bidder for the contract to expand the rail network to more parts of Gauteng.

“In a few weeks’ time, we will announce the winner who will then expand Gautrain to Springs, Atteridgeville, Fourways, and other economic nodes of our province,” Lesufi said.

Lesufi said new Gautrain stations would open in Soweto, Mamelodi, Springs, Atteridgeville, Fourways, and parts of the West Rand.

Future planned expansions would see new stations open in Sedibeng and the Vaal, and expansions to the new stations are expected to include connecting stations.

For example, the route from Mamelodi to Fourways would also have stations built in Hazeldean and Sunninghill.

The expansion project will be carried out in five phases, with each phase having its own tender procurement process.

Construction on the first phase is planned to begin in 2026, with full operation of the new routes expected from 2030.

“The Gautrain rail expansion will be a gateway to opportunity, creating more than 125,000 construction jobs while igniting growth in property, retail, and logistics along its path,” Lesufi said.