The Gautrain took a step nearer completion today, as the first shipment of the Gautrain Electrostar rail cars arrived in South Africa from the UK, where they were built.

Bombardier Transportation shipped the two rail from the east coast of the English Midlands to Durban. A further shipment of an additional two cars are expected to arrive next week, on December 8. 

The current shipment will now be delivered by road to the Gautrain depot in Midrand, where each of the cars will begin undergoing quality testing and safety checks.

Bombardier is also shipping the body shells and components for a further 81 rail cars to South Africa to be assembled locally by the Union Carriage and Wagon Partnership (UCWP) in Nigel

When completed, the Gautrain will link Sandton, Johannesburg, Tshwane and OR Tambo International Airport.