Gautrain developer Bombela, with input from speciality chemicals and explosives group AECI and the Gauteng province, has started technical and economic studies into adding another station to the 80-km rail link.

AECI group communication officer Fulvia Putero confirmed on Monday that the studies, which are scheduled to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2007, look into the desirability of constructing the basic infrastructure for a station on property owned by the company in Modderfontein.

The feasibility studies, as well as the infrastructure, which includes piling, foundations and platforms for the station, are funded by AECI.

“AECI and the province of Gauteng agree that a fully operational station at Modderfontein would be desirable when justified in terms of passenger volumes and economic considerations at some time in the future. More detailed discussions in this regard would be undertaken at that time,” she said. Bombela would operate the operational station like the train system, in accordance with its concession agreement with the province.

Putero noted that the Modderfontein station would be open to all passengers, not for the exclusive use of AECI employees.

Currently, the Gautrain project has ten planned stations, which include Hatfield station, Pretoria station, Centurion station, Midrand station, Marlboro station, Sandton station, Rodesfield station, OR Tambo International station, Rosebank station and Johannesburg Park station.

The proposed Gautrain route extends for about nine kilometres over the AECI property. Some 1 530 ha at the Modderfontein site are surplus to the company's operational requirements and, therefore, have been earmarked for potentially lucrative development by AECI's Heartland Properties.

She said that planning focus had already intensified on the station precinct and surrounds.

This followed last week's agreement reached between the Gauteng provincial government and AECI over access to the firm's Modderfontein property, which stipulated the province build an extra seven bridges across the Gautrain line to allow access to its land.

Last January, AECI lodged an application with the High Court against the Gauteng government, seeking it to restrain the provincial government from expropriating a portion of land at its Modderfontein site. The company argued that it was concerned about the project's technical design, which included issues such as a wider rail reserve than what was originally indicated, as well as the fact that the line would dissect a large strip of land, with small allowance for structures, such as bridges, to connect the property.

Putero reported that AECI's internal and external property professionals were satisfied that the new proposed design provided adequate connectivity across the railway line.