The prestige Gautrain history book was launched by Gauteng Premier, Nomvula Mokonyane. The interactive coffee table book tells the Gautrain’s history, a project that is proof to what this nation can do. As an example for South Africa and the rest of the world, Gautrain’s history is a living record of valuable lessons learnt, new skills acquired and successful partnerships formed.

Said Mokonyane on launching the history book: “When announced by the Gauteng Provincial Government the Gautrain project was perceived as ambitious if not almost impossible to achieve, only a dream. Today we know differently, Gautrain is a celebration of delivering a dream. It inspires us to hold onto our dreams for an integrated intermodal safe and secure public transport system that will drastically transform the lifestyle of the people of Gauteng.”

Unlike a normal history book, Gautrain the book reads as a timeline rather than detailed, in-depth historic events. Its interactive nature takes the reader through a process of unfolding letters, pull-outs and inserts giving comprehensive detail about certain aspects of the project. These aspects, together with the style of writing and design, ensured the winning of three awards – an international and an African award as well as a local one.

The book’s golden pages does not only carry the impressive history of the planning and construction of Gautrain but it also celebrate those that made this project a reality, those that turned the dream into a reality and in the process added to the greatness of Gauteng. They made history and left Gautrain as a legacy to our future generations!

Jack vd Merwe, CEO Gautrain Management Agency said: “As much as the launch of the Gautrain history book is a celebration, it is also has a reflective nature. Reflecting on the route we have travelled on the journey of turning Gautrain from a vision into reality. The journey was by no means easy, but it will always be remembered as a journey well worth travelling. In more ways than one, it was indeed an incredible journey. Has it all been worth it? A resounding yes. Will we do it do it again? Yes!”