The CT Station has been receiving its first major overhaul since it was built as an apartheid station in the early 1960s. I walked around the site a few days ago with colleagues from Intersite and the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) to look at the progress that has been made.
The main concourse, a point of arrival and departure in the city, is a delight. Previously cluttered with the detritus of the past 50 years, the light now streams in through new glass walls, reconnecting it with the city outside. On the train side, behind the refurbished turnstiles, the mini-concourse is now a pleasant thoroughfare, rather than a dingy corridor. The station entrances are bigger, new signage makes the precinct more visible, new public toilets and ticket offices are in place, and as I have written previously, the redesigned square in front of the station is destined to become a major new public space in town.
Its touch and go whether some of the areas are going to be fully ready for the opening game on 11 June between France and Uruguay. For example, a great deal of work is still needed to complete the paving along Adderley Street and Marine Drive, the walkways down to the Strand Street Concourse and the access routes on the Station Deck, and the whole of the precinct still needs a massive cleanup. But I’m confident that these issues will be sorted out in time for the City’s street party and switch-on of the lights planned for 10 June. (Ironically, we walked around the station during the recent Metrorail strike. The complete absence of commuters was a bit of a shock, but the strike did give the contractors extra time to catch up).
Some projects definitely won’t be ready, for example, the new Long Distance Bus Terminus and the stalls for traders on the Station Deck. It seems like quite a bit of the new retail and restaurant space in and around the station won’t be let and fitted out in time, and it’s unlikely that the new food hall next to the main concourse will be operating. This is disappointing, but then, it’s the long term impact I’m more interested in, not just the World Cup.
For years, the CT Station has stuck into the heart of the CBD like a sore thumb, deadening a lot of space and cutting off the East City from the Foreshore to the detriment of both these areas. As the current R440m upgrade nears completion, we are now only just beginning to see the potential role the station will play in the future of the Cape Town Central City. However, the devil will be in the detail, and there’s a great deal more work to be done on making the station work as a destination and as an intermodal transport hub. Here, I’m not even talking about the Phase II development proposals, including the possible sinking of and building over the railway tracks, which are likely to serve before the Intersite and Prasa Boards for a decision in August or September.
Once completed, the Long Distance Bus Terminus will add a major new facility to the city, and will serve as another important point of arrival and departure. The Station Deck will have new facilities for traders, although a great deal of thinking still needs to go into the way in which this space, which includes the minibus taxi rank currently under the management of the City Council, works as a whole.
At the end of the day, the most important goal is to ensure that an attractive and well-functioning CT Station helps to promote the use of rail and other forms of public transport. I am confident that this can happen.
The Cape Town Station falls under the passenger Rail Agency of South Africa and is managed by Intersite
New station signage makes the destination much clearer
The main station concourse - decluttered, light, with views of the city, but watch that slippery floor
Civic centre end of the upgraded station concourse where the long distance trains depart from
Loads of potential: the new Station Square, stepping out of the main concourse towards the start of the Fan Walk along Waterkant St
The new food court area will probably not be ready for the 2010 World Cup and may instead provide a space for an informal market
Blast from the past - murals around the side of the station have been retained, even though they tell a rather one-sided story of a Cape Town that no longer exists. The point however is to tell a new and more inclusive story about our city. Hopefully, this is something that can happen through public art as well as events on the new Station Square and in the main concourse
Under construction - The new retail and waiting area for the Long Distance Bus Terminus will only be ready after the World Cup
Under construction - the Long Distance Bus Terminus will add a major new facility to the Central City
CT Station Deck - acres of space with lots of potential after 2010. For the World Cup, the Station Deck, other than being a minibus taxi hub, will mainly provide access routes between the Main Transport Hub in Hertzog Boulevard and the Fan Fest on the Grand Parade
The new bays for traders on the Station Deck will also only be completed after the 2010 World Cup
An artist's impression of the potential eastwards Phase II redevelopment of the Station Precinct
Another view of the potential eastwards expansion of the station precinct, showing the possibilities of connecting areas like District Six, Woodstock and Salt River to the redevelopment of Culemborg
I personally think they totally underestimated the scope of the works and the project as a whole. The funding dilemma for the long distance terminal was unfortunate in that it delayed works by more than a year, but its crucial. Buses stopping alongside the station with passengers being harassed as they enter and exit is certainly no way to welcome visitors.
A temporary solution would be to simply pave the long distance bus area to relocate buses from Adderley Street causing congestion.
Its disappointing that the Strand Street facade we have seen in so many renders will not be ready. It seems as if the entire project has suffered from poor project management, and stated above, the scope of works totally underestimated.
A vital area that needs a rethink would be the platforms. It remains a dark and uninviting space, and should have been more of a priority than simply providing a light and airy concourse.
The walk from the Civic Centre exit of the station to the IRT station is far from inviting, lacks any signage and is certainly not pedestrian friendly until one actually reaches the Civic Centre.
Its all the in details. Two weeks to go.
Hi Andrew,
I conduct a photo stream on Old Cape Town on Flickr here http://www.flickr.com/photos/8270787@N07/sets/72157600938342274/
and are looking for some dates on the Cape Town Railway Station during the period 1960-1970. Could you perhaps help or point me in the right direction (a Google search could not supply what I am after.
Here are my questions;
(a) When did they commence with building of the “new” station.
(b) When was it taken into use.
(c) When did the old station cease operations and when was it demolished.
(d) On what date did the start with building work on the Paul Sauer building and when
was it finished.
Hope you can shed some light on this
Groete,
Etienne du Plessis.