Vote for the Gautrain logo
Lucille Davie
9 March 2006
South Africans are being asked to vote for one of two brand logos for the new Gautrain rapid rail link, which will begin construction in the next few months.
"This will be a brand that reflects the views of the people of Gauteng," Paul Mashatile, Gauteng MEC for finance and economic affairs, said on Tuesday.
The logos include branding for the train itself, stations, signage and linking bus stops. One features the South African flag, while the other has a gold-and-blue design.
With prize money of R5 000 up for grabs, people can vote for their favourite logo via SMS, a 24-hour phone line or the Gautrain
website.
- Vote for your favourite logo on 083 918 0801, on the Gautrain website, or by sending an SMS to 32310. Five prizes of R1 000 each will be awarded, and the deadline for votes is 17 March.
The idea is to establish the Gautrain as a brand immediately recognised in everyday life, says Ignatius Jacobs, MEC for public transport, roads and works.
The brand needs to reflect the major cities of Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane, and be part of a "world-class African hub".
"We are making Gauteng part of that, more globally competitive," he says. Spreading the wealth of the province to the benefit to all people was another aim.
An African brand
Jacobs speaks about "Africanising" the Gautrain brand, particularly as the train would be Africa's first high-speed train.
According to a press release, the red line in the first logo represents the
"aerodynamic and modern shape of the train. The green and blue lines represent the principle of 'connection' as they travel in different directions. Grounding the logo is a subtle gold arc, which intrinsically represents the 'richness' of the Gauteng land". The logo "exudes world-class status: it is fresh and modern and the classic design of the typography and use of primary colours will ensure that the logo can 'live' successfully for years to come."
The second gold logo is "distinctively South African/African; and it represents Gauteng, its heritage, its soul and its dreams of a golden future. It is gold that we have used as the key element for this version of the 'The Gold Train', the Gautrain."
It is hoped that the "powerful design shapes encompass all that the Gautrain has to offer: speed, efficiency and futuristic world-class design".
Jobs and bursaries
The 80km Gautrain will run between Johannesburg, Tshwane and Johannesburg
International Airport, with an approved budget of R20-billion. The project is expected to create 93 000 jobs over the next five years in construction, operation and maintenance.
The Gautrain will be a public-private partnership, with the Department of Transport making R10-billion available from its infrastructure budget over the next three years, and the other R10-billion coming from loans and the private sector.
The MEC for local government, Qedani Mahlangu, said that in an effort to ensure adequate skills transfer, the Gautrain team would offer 15 bursaries, five each to mechanical, civil and electrical engineering students.
As soon as construction started, students would be taken on board, with the offer of getting practical experience in France, Canada and England, at the headquarters of the international companies in the consortium formed to construct the train, the Bombela International Consortium.
"It will be very exciting for a young engineer to
work on something like this," she said.
Source: City of Johannesburg
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