Commenting on the announcement made on 2 July, Brian Bruce said: “For more than a 100 years, Murray & Roberts has been a business leader in the design and implementation of much of the infrastructure and economic capacity of South Africa and southern Africa. The Gautrain project represents another major advance in socio-economic development in the region and Murray & Roberts is proud to have played a leading role in assembling the domestic and international expertise and group of companies with the capacity to deliver this complex project.”

Negotiations between Bombela and the Government will now begin for finalisation of the concession agreement and financial closure of the project. Construction is only expected to begin in 2006 and the construction period is 54 months, which means that the project should be completed a few months before the start of the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

Gautrain will offer a rapid rail link between Johannesburg, Sandton, Tshwane and Johannesburg International Airport, including a feeder bus system to serve each station and parking facilities. The project will be implemented as a Public Private Partnership (PPP) and includes the design, construction, operation and maintenance as well as financing of the complete transport system. The concession will be for a total of 19,5 years which comprises a 4,5 year construction period and a 15 year operating period.

Bombela Consortium is a partnership between Bombardier Transportation of Canada, Bouygues Travaux Publics and RATP Développement of France, Murray & Roberts and the Loliwe companies of South Africa. Bombela is 50% owned by its international partners and 50% by Murray & Roberts and the Loliwe companies, the latter representing black economic empowerment participation led by Black Management Forum Investment Holdings. Murray & Roberts will participate in all aspects of the project implementation and operation:

• As a partner in the overall concession contract
• As a partner with Bouygues Travaux Publics and Loliwe Rail Contractors to build 10 stations, three of which are underground, 20km of tunnels and 9km of viaducts and bridges and some 10 million cubic metres of earthworks
• As a partner with RATP Développement and the Loliwe companies in the operations and maintenance of the system over the full concession period
• Through empowered subsidiary The UCW Partnership, in the final assembly of rolling stock supplied by Bombardier Transportation

Murray & Roberts will play a leading role with the Loliwe companies, through the UCW Partnership and in terms of other planned initiatives, supporting Bombela to achieve significant black economic empowerment participation in the project, stimulate local job creation and ensure skills transfer into the local community.