The Independent Certifiers for the project, Arup, have confirmed that they will be in a position to issue the Operating Commencement Date Certificate for this phase of operations on Monday 1 August. This follows a rigorous evaluation of all the contractual and technical requirements for this phase.
The section to be opened will extend from Rosebank Station in Johannesburg to Hatfield Station in Tshwane and will include all stations on this section. The Gautrain’s bus services will also be fully functional along this route.
The final, southward leg from Rosebank Station to Park Station in the Johannesburg CBD will be opened at a later date to accommodate additional engineering works in that section of the route. This is a precautionary measure to ensure that the highest passenger safety standards are adhered to, while engineering works are in progress.
All the Gautrain Stations (with the exception of Park Station) will be opened to the public from Friday 29 July 2011 to enable prospective passengers to familiarize themselves with the train and bus services available and also to pre-purchase Gautrain tickets. Train and bus services will however only become operational from 2 August 2011. Commuters are encouraged to make use of this opportunity in order to avoid queuing when the system opens for service on Tuesday.
From 2 August 2011, train services will operate daily between approximately 05h30 and 20h30, including weekends. Trains will run at 12-minute intervals during peak periods on weekdays (05h30 – 08h30 and 16h00 – 19h00) and at 20-minute intervals during off-peak hours. The trains will run at 30-minute intervals during weekends.
Subject to road traffic conditions, the Gautrain bus timetable is integrated with the train timetable. There is no bus service on weekends and public holidays.

City.Mobi

Also in South Africa today, City.Mobi is celebrating the success of its new guide to Johannesburg.

City.Mobi offers the most comprehensive mobile travel guides available, with over 800 cities in 200 countries listed. Each is developed by the City.Mobi team to combine into a single global travel directory.

However, each city retains its own mobile identity via a dedicated domain. Already on offer are Brussels.Mobi, Paris.Mobi, Sanfrancisco.Mobi and Sydney.Mobi.

Joburg.city.mobi is the latest in this illustrious line up, offering click to call functionality – which means no scribbling down telephone numbers.

Most entries are also linked to websites where users can quickly access more detailed information if needed.

Other key features include information on accommodation, restaurants, attractions, entertainment, nightlife, shopping, and transport.

City.Mobi guides include user reviews and traveller utilities such as a translation guide, currency converter, news and local weather guide.