Tribunal orders Bombela to fix Gautrain water problem

Bombela has been ordered to repair the water leaks in the Gautrain tunnel between Park Station and Rosebank. Image: Wiki Images

"The ruling was made by a tribunal of three retired judges appointed by the Arbitration Foundation of SA," Gautrain spokesman Barbara Jensen said.

Bombela designed and built the Gautrain rapid rail project,

Jensen said the tunnel sections between Johannesburg Park Station and E2 (Emergency Shaft Two), and between Rosebank station and the Marlboro portal, were not in accordance with the contract specifications.

"With respect to the tunnel section between Johannesburg Park Station and E2 close to the Wilds in Johannesburg, remedial work must be undertaken by the Bombela Concession Company," she said.

Jensen said Bombela was not allowed to appeal against the ruling and was expected to present the Gautrain management agency with plans to fix the problem.

Water's leaking into the tunnel

Water was seeping into both sections of the tunnel, but the water level between Park station and E2, near Roedean School in Parktown, was far higher than in the rest of the tunnel.

Both problems would be fixed, but Park station would be first.

She said this had been a long dispute between the Gauteng provincial government and Bombela that sometime around the end of 2010 or the beginning of 2011 when the rail company decided not to open the Johannesburg Park Station section along with the rest of the system.

Jensen could not say whether operations would stop during the remedial work.

She said that closure of the link was not open for discussion yet, as Bombela must first present its plans to Gautrain management.

The remedial work is due to start some time next year.

Source: Sapa via I-Net Bridge