The Gautrain's second phase was "substantially complete" and should be ready for commercial use in June.

"We are about 99 percent complete. All the finishing touches are still in progress... but we are more or less finished with tracks in the tunnels," Gautrain spokeswoman Barbara Jensen told Sapa on Wednesday.

"There is still a small section between Pretoria and Hatfield that still needs to be laid. We are busy now with testing and positions."

The estimated date of completion for the second phase was the end of June. That was when the train would hopefully carry passengers on the route between Midrand and Hatfield.

The remainder of the rail network and stations linking Sandton to Park Station in Johannesburg would also be completed then, Jensen said.

The project's first phase was completed on June 6 last year and opened to the public on June 8, ahead of the soccer world cup.

The operations included the airport train service between Sandton and OR Tambo International Airport, a commuter service between Sandton and Rhodesfield, as well as bus services to and from these stations.

Construction for both phases started in September 2006.