Gauteng Publishes Route Determination for Gautrain Network Extensions
The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport, on 24 March 2026, issued a notice of route determination for the Soweto Extension and Cosmo City Junction of the Gauteng Rapid Rail Integrated Network (GRRIN) Extensions Project, in terms of the Gauteng Transport Infrastructure Act, 2001 (Act No. 8 of 2001), as amended.
The project provides for approximately 72 km of new rail and forms part of the expansion of the Gauteng Rapid Rail Integrated Network.
According to the notice, the route includes three primary corridors.
The first corridor runs from Little Falls Station to Jabulani Station in Soweto via Roodepoort. The route begins near the N14 (Hendrik Potgieter Road), approximately 1.6 km south of Little Falls Station, and runs entirely underground to Little Falls Station. From there, it continues in a south-easterly direction beneath Helderkruin and Horizon View, before aligning with the PRASA line towards the proposed Roodepoort Station. The alignment then deviates around Braamfischerville, Meadowlands West and Dobsonville, passing under the R41 (Randfontein Road), continuing east of Roodepoort Plain, and crossing previously mined areas. The route proceeds beneath Meadowlands East, Molapo North and Jabavu, intersecting the PRASA line at Jabulani Station.
The second corridor extends from Cosmo City Station to Lanseria Station via Cradle Station and Smart City Station. This section spans approximately 17.4 km and is entirely above ground, including around 7 km of viaduct structures. The route runs north-west through vacant land, crosses South Africa Drive via a viaduct, and turns north-east before passing under William Nicol Drive to reach Cradle Station. It continues north-west, crossing the R114 and N14 by viaduct, before turning south-east and crossing William Nicol Drive again towards the proposed Lanseria Airport Station, located north of the existing airport parking area. A Cradle Depot rail-siding is planned parallel to Malibongwe Drive, connecting back into the route. The alignment then continues to the proposed Smart City Station, located between the R114, R512 (Malibongwe Drive) and N14.
The third corridor links Cosmo City Station to Samrand Station via Fourways, Sunninghill and Olivenhoutbosch. This section spans approximately 30.4 km, with the majority of the route underground. The alignment runs from Cosmo City towards Fourways, crossing the R512 (Malibongwe Drive) before entering a tunnel near Witkoppen Road. It continues beneath Witkoppen Road to Fourways Station and then north-east beneath Leeukop Road, the M71 (Main Road) and the M9 (Leeukop Road) towards Sunninghill. The route proceeds towards Olivedale, Woodmead and Alexandra, passing beneath the N1 and crossing the R55 (Old Pretoria Road), before reaching Olivenhoutbosch Station. It then continues northwards to Samrand, crossing beneath the R101, R55 and N1, and passing beneath the existing Gautrain system before emerging above ground at the future Samrand Station.
The notice states that regulatory measures in terms of Section 7 of the Act will take effect upon publication of the route. These measures require that applications for township establishment, subdivision, land use changes or other developments be considered in relation to the determined route and its future design.
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