Those who commute by train may have seen all the closure notices throughout the lower sections of the Cape Town Station, near Adderley Street. If you were wondering what’s happening there, wonder no more. IOL reports that the train station is set to get a R1-billion upgrade, in the form of a 120-room hotel, as well as an office and retail complex on the western portion of the property.
A commercial development has been on the cards for a while now. Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) invited development partners to undertake and manage the redevelopment of portions of Cape Town Station in 2010, and it has finally come to fruition. The plans still have to be approved, but if they are, a consortium of three property developers will be involved.
Cape Town station set for R1bn facelift https://t.co/HRAV2W5Y2A | Independent Online pic.twitter.com/jop3yJfLpN
— IOL News (@IOL) July 18, 2016
As someone who used to take the train regularly, I am of two minds about this proposed development. While new developments do mean new job opportunities and income for the city, image the congestion around the station during the building phase. Walking or driving on Adderley is already a nightmare, add construction to the mix and it will be downright unbearable.
Also, hundreds (if not thousands) of people pass through the station every day. How will this affect the people trying to get to work? Will more people have to cross over Adderley Street rather than walk under it? There are a lot of questions that will probably only be answered when the development is approved and plans are drawn up.
Apocalypse on Cape Town station. pic.twitter.com/8GpmTU9gYI
— Morné ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ (@TimeLord_91) April 22, 2016
In other development news, World Casino News reports that Tsogo Sun Holdings has a number of projects lined up, including a new casino in Cape Town. When, where and how this will happen has not be been revealed, but as soon as we know, we’ll spread the word.
There is a good and bad side to any development, but considering the world class status and numerous honours the city has recently received, it seems building new spaces that benefit tourists and locals is a good idea. What do you think?
Photography courtesy
Trained and armed security at ALL stations and trains, Lights, safe bridges and running trains which are on time for a change. So tell me how is this “upgrade” going to bring this to us as commuters…?? Chaos is all I see with the already over crowded station as is.
Was this station not upgraded recently?
I see another tender going out to do repeat work.
If Cape Town can implement something like Gautrain in Joburg traffic conjection from N2 will go down.Metrorail its not reliable
We need security on trains never mind upgrading the station first sort out the trains
Security on the platforms actually enforcing the rules…ie no smoking and no hawking/begging!
why spend a billion on a new station when the trains are falling apart,always late,always full and not safe?metrorail should get their priorities straight
Unnecessary expenditure on services already close at hand….rather improve the security, time tables and rolling stock…
Well done cape town xx
clean, safe and secure
Trains will be better…station facilities will be more posh..thus making the waiting times for non existing and non appearing trains more pleasurable. Also improving the conditions in which u will be mugged by thieves.
Why comment ….we were promised that new trains will be implemented and that was 2013 ….lets hope the money will still be 1 billion when the plans are approved
full of thieves
What about the toilets on the station? Hope they will be improved !
We don’t need another commercial property development; we need a safe, fully functional and more inclusive of additional areas commuter train service!
Why not run a high speed train to the very outskirts of town and make big parking lots there. Then the commuters can drive to for instance Joostenberg Vlakte in the morning and not into town. This will take the strain off the incoming traffic. Also sell a ticket on miciti that is valid for the whole day or incorparate that with the outskirt train.
Get a decent reliable rail service and have zero tolerance of any breeches, illegals etc
This makes zero sense. Upgrade the train service first, then upgrade the station.
A better safer train service
I think there are enough hotels in cape town already and that sprasa should focus on the actuall trains at this stage, im my eyes as a commuter who has no option but to take the train, having to stand in a over loaded train is not fun and risky, a hotel and new look to the station isnt going to benefit me as a local passenger!
A reliable, punctual, regular, cheap, safe, public rail and road transport network! Seriously now! We don’t need another hotel, and shopping mall…. in the City Centre…. Vok nee!
Just a thought for the long term, we have a big problem with traffic in and out of the city, please consider running a rail service above our 2 main high way with feeder busses to the various stations on this route.
Just to be save so lots off surcurity and clean neat modern like in Europe stations
Make the trains safe..no use having fabulous station and innocent people are dying and getting hurt on the trains..take that money and make the trains safe,that’s not going to benefit me if I’m dead.
Wow at last!!!!! What a mess it is at the moment.
Better trains first because peoples lives are in danger
New station with burnt trains….nice