Bombardier Electrostar at O. R. Tambo International Airport. Picture: Wikimedia Commons
Commuters can breathe a sigh of relief as the Gautrain service between Park Station and Rosebank Station is officially back in operation. The disruption, caused by illegal drilling activity, suspended train services more than a week ago.
On Monday, a post on the official X account of Gautrain informed commuters that the service was back on track.
“Good news! The Great Borehole Incident of ’25 is officially behind us! Our engineers have patched things up, filled the hole, and declared the tunnel safe for travel. You can now return to the subterranean bliss you’ve come to know and love,” the message read.
The service suspension was the result of unauthorised drilling on private property above the Gautrain tunnel. The drilling, conducted by the Hillside Village Body Corporate, led to water and soil seeping into the tunnel, rendering it unsafe for train operations.
For a week, those wishing to travel from the city centre to Rosebank had to hop onto Gautrain buses which were made available every 15 minutes. Engineers were deployed to assess and repair the damage to ensure the tunnel’s stability before resuming operations.
SMread: Electricity Minister Confident Load Shedding Will End by Week’s End
Legal action
The Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) confirmed that it will pursue legal action against the Hillside Village Body Corporate for the unauthorised drilling that led to the disruption.
The agency has also urged property owners and developers to adhere to regulations and follow due process when undertaking construction activities near critical transport infrastructure.
“We urge all stakeholders to follow due process when any land use changes or construction activities are planned in the vicinity of transport infrastructure in Gauteng, so that such occurrences are prevented in the future,” said spokesperson Albi Modise.
Between 2010 and 2012, the Gautrain facilitated 175 million passenger trips. It is an important link between Johannesburg and Pretoria, metropolitan hubs in South Africa’s most populous province.
