Pretoria - The Gautrain is the celebration of delivering a dream, says Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane.
Speaking at the launch of a book on the history of the Gautrain - From Dreams to Reality - on Wednesday, Mokonyane noted that the Gautrain project had at its inception been considered ambitious.
"When announced by the Gauteng Provincial Government, the Gautrain project was perceived as ambitious, if not almost impossible to achieve, only a dream. Today we know differently, Gautrain is a celebration of delivering a dream. It inspires us to hold onto our dreams for an integrated intermodal safe and secure public transport system that will drastically transform the lifestyle of the people of Gauteng," she said.
The Gautrain history book is an interactive coffee table book that tells of the Gautrain's history, a project that was proof to what the nation was capable of, the Gautrain Management Agency said.
The Gautrain's history is a living record of valuable lessons learnt, new skills acquired and successful partnerships formed, it added.
The book reads as a timeline rather than detailed, in-depth historic events, taking the reader through a process of unfolding letters, pull-outs and inserts giving comprehensive detail about certain aspects of the project.
These aspects, together with the style of writing and design, ensured the winning of three awards - an international and an African award as well as a local one.
The book also celebrates the people that made the project a reality.
Jack van der Merwe, CEO Gautrain Management Agency, said the launch of the Gautrain history book was also a time for reflection.
"Reflecting on the route we have travelled on the journey of turning Gautrain from a vision into reality. The journey was by no means easy, but it will always be remembered as a journey well worth travelling. In more ways than one, it was indeed an incredible journey," he said. - SAnews.gov.za
