Viaduct 2 over the Modderfontein Spruit and two adjacent bridges over the future Frankenwald and Maxwell Roads are complete, together with the erection of noise barriers along this section. Rail tracks are in position on all three structures.

Midrand Depot
The 24 trainsets will be maintained, serviced and stabled here. The adjacent bus depot will perform similar functions for Gautrain’s fleet of 125 buses. The administration buildings for both depots are finished. The train maintenance workshops and electrical and mechanical installations within the building are all complete, as are other depot facilities, including the washbay for cleaning the trains and sand-filling equipment. Other aspects such as stabling platforms, level crossings, track lighting and entry gates are all complete.

The installation of equipment for the operations control centre in the train depot administration building has been completed. This centre will manage signalling, telecommunications, automatic fare collection, traction power and overhead distribution, cctv cameras and maintenance, using high technology systems.

Precast Yard
The precast yard – a temporary facility at the depot – has been using twin concrete batching plants, overhead gantries and tower cranes for manufacturing a variety of precast concrete elements. These include viaduct segments, bridge beams and parapets, tunnel walkway sections and noise barriers.

The deck segments for the viaducts are erected using massive, purpose-built, launching girders. These are launched across the supporting piers to assemble the precast deck segments which are then bonded and stressed together to form the deck spans. Minimal disruption is caused to existing infrastructure and road traffic.
The last of approximately 3,200 viaduct segments was cast at the end of May 2009. Production of the remaining precast components, including M-beams for bridges, will be completed by the end of September.
Part of the temporary precast yard has been dismantled and construction here of the remaining bus depot facilities has commenced.


Tracklaying
The laying of stabling sidings at the depot, including the erection of overhead electrification masts and all associated railway installations in the yard, such as the overhead catenary and the signalling system, is complete. Main-line tracklaying and ballasting, together with catenary installation, is proceeding outwards from the depot in both directions, using specialised, highly mechanised equipment. Rails are welded into 216 metre lengths at the depot and transported on specially equipped wagons. Once placed in position on concrete sleepers, they are welded together to form a continuous rail.

On the north-south route, the double track from just south of Dale Road in Midrand, past the depot to behind Linbro Park, is complete and operational. This section of the route, approximately 7km in length, is being used for dynamic testing of all rolling stock.

ROLLING STOCK
Following a specialised construction and assembly process at Bombardier Transportation’s facility in Derby, UK, Gautrain’s first shipment of two completed rail coaches arrived in Durban on 29 November 2008. After further deliveries, testing of the first complete four-car trainset began during February 2009.

The first 15 coaches, together with body shells and major components for the rest of the fleet, were manufactured in Derby, and all have been despatched to South Africa. Following a successful skills transfer programme, local technicians are working on the assembly of the remaining 81 coaches at the Union Carriage and Wagon Partnership in Nigel.

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