South African agency in bid to speed up project for World Cup deadline.

Text of report by influential, privately-owned South African daily Business Day website on 26 August

The Gautrain Management Agency, which oversees the building of the rapid rail project, said yesterday it sought to have the first phase ready a month before the original scheduled date so it would be in time for the Soccer World Cup next year.

Jack van der Merwe, CEO of the agency, said the parties signed the contract in September 2006, before the date of the World Cup was known.

Van der Merwe said the agency was negotiating with the Bombela Concession Company, which is building the Gautrain, to determine the costs of accelerating construction of the R25bn …