The Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) is over a year behind schedule in appointing a bidder to continue operations, a delay that industry bodies warn could undermine Gauteng’s business and travel economy.
The current operator, the Bombela Concession Company (BCC), runs the system under a nearly 20-year-old concession agreement that expires on March 29, 2026. Despite this looming deadline, no replacement operator has been announced.
According to the GMA’s High-Level Programme Schedule for the Post-2026 Gautrain Concession Project and Request for Proposal tender advertisement, the entity should have selected a new operator by August 5, 2024, and the agreement would have reached a financial close by September 10 this year.
Had the GMA met its own deadlines, it would have allowed for a six-month transition period from the old to new operator, reducing the impact on the services, its commuters and the rail network’s planned expansion.
However, BCC told News24 that the GMA had requested an extension of the bid validity period to February 24, 2026, just one month before its concession ends.
Tourism Update asked the GMA whether this plan would offer it enough time to complete the bidder appointment, the complex transactional process and the potential transition to a new bidder, however no response was received by the time of publishing.
Delays threaten travel
The Gautrain is crucial to Gauteng’s businesses and travellers, the Southern African Association for the Conferencing Industry (SAACI) and Sandton Tourism and Business Association told Tourism Update.
“As the Gautrain’s concession period nears its end, service continuity must remain stable and fully reliable to maintain confidence in Gauteng as a world-class meetings and events destination,” said Glenton de Kock, CEO of SAACI.
“The Gautrain’s role goes far beyond daily commuting; it enables business travel, supports major conferences and events and strengthens Gauteng’s ability to attract regional and international investment.”
A member of Sandton Tourism and Business Association expanded on this, noting that the train is also particularly popular among younger international leisure visitors travelling to and from Sandton or Rosebank.
Travel News also asked the GMA whether the delay to the bidding process would impact the proposed R120bn ($7bn) Gautrain expansion plan. The plan includes the construction of links to Soweto, Randburg, Cosmo City, Roodepoort, Fourways, Sunninghill, Boksburg and Lanseria.
The Sandton Tourism and Business Association member explained that demand on some of these routes, particularly between Fourways, the East Rand and Sandton, would see great uptake from local commuters, especially tourism and hospitality staff who travel into Sandton or Rosebank daily to service incoming travellers.
“The continued expansion of the service, particularly into underserved corridors, will unlock even greater economic value, improve accessibility and ensure that Gauteng remains competitive in a rapidly evolving global market,” said De Kock.
“The Gautrain remains a crucial part of Gauteng’s business and corporate travel network. Its reliability, safety, and efficiency continue to offer a competitive edge for the province, facilitating the smooth movement of delegates, professionals and travellers across major economic hubs,” he said.
