Gautrain enters next phase under new 15-year concession

Sihamba Sonke Mobility (SSM), a consortium comprising the AIIM-Motseng JV, Alstom, RATP Dev, GIBB-Crede, AIH Connect and SSM InvestCo, has reached financial close on the Post-2026 Gautrain Concession, marking the start of the next 15-year phase for Gauteng’s flagship rapid rail system.

The 15-year concession, running from 2026 to 2041, covers the operations, maintenance and refurbishment of the Gautrain and its integrated feeder-bus network. The concession has been procured under South Africa’s public-private partnership framework and is contracted with the Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) on behalf of the Gauteng Provincial Government.

The Gautrain is a strategic component of Gauteng’s transport infrastructure, linking Johannesburg, Pretoria and OR Tambo International Airport. Under the new concession, SSM will be responsible for the continued operation and maintenance of the existing system, including the refurbishment required to support its long-term performance, reliability and quality throughout the concession period.

SSM InvestCo has been established as a black broad-based ownership vehicle designed to enable Gauteng residents to participate directly in the ownership of the concession company, extending the economic participation associated with one of the province’s most significant public assets.

Mpho Mutloane, Investment Principal - AIIM, Sihamba Sonke Mobility, said the concession represented both an important responsibility and an opportunity to build on the foundation established by the Gautrain over the past two decades.

“The Gautrain has become an important part of Gauteng’s economic and transport infrastructure. As Sihamba Sonke Mobility, we recognise the responsibility that comes with taking stewardship of an asset of this significance. Our focus is on ensuring continuity, maintaining the standards commuters have come to expect and investing in the system so that it can continue to serve the people and economy of Gauteng for many years to come.”

The Post-2026 concession became effective on 28 September 2026, allowing for continuity between the current and new operating arrangements.