South Africa’s first purpose-built rapid transit system will commence operations on 8th June 2010, in time for the soccer World Cup which opens on 11th June. The first section to open for service will be between OR Tambo International Airport and Sandton, where test trips have been running since April 2010. The system is known as “Gautrain”, taken from the name of the province Gauteng, which means “place of gold”. The Gautrain system has been built to the world standard gauge of 4’8 ½”, so it is not interchangeable with South Africa’s rail gauge of 3’6”. One of the 4-car Electrostar trainsets is seen racing away from the camera, past Kelvin Power Station towards Sandton, with an airport bound train approaching on the right of the picture.
