The long, frustrating slog in peak-hour traffic between Johannesburg and Pretoria central could soon come to an end - the Gautrain will drop commuters at their destination within 35 minutes.

The second phase of the project, showcased to the media yesterday, will open to the public on July 1.

>>Gautrain fares and timetables

>>Gautrain feeder and distribution routes

>>Integration map

At R39 for one trip, one way, on a monthly ticket, the ride from Pretoria's Hatfield station to Johannesburg's Park station is expected to take only 42 minutes, with trains leaving about every 12 minutes.

The Pretoria-Sandton trip takes only 27 minutes on the train, which accelerates from zero to 160km/h in a minute.

Announcing the fares Wednesday, roads and transport MEC Ismail Vadi said they were highly competitive, comparing "favourably to the cost of a single trip between Hatfield and Johannesburg CBD for a 1600cc car, which is R61".

"This is for fuel and tyres only, and excludes depreciation, maintenance and parking costs."

Parking at each Gautrain station will cost passengers R10 a day, but that becomes R80 if you do take the train.

All trips to and from the OR Tambo International Airport are the highest priced : the trip from the airport to Pretoria stations - Hatfield, Pretoria central and Centurion - are the steepest, at R125 a ride.

Trips from newly opening Johannesburg stations - Midrand, Rosebank and Park - to the airport will cost R115.

Vadi also announced a R5 increase in the most expensive rate for the journey from Sandton station to the airport.

Fares for a trip between the airport and Sandton, via Malboro and Rhodesfield, will rise from R100 to R105 in June.

Gautrain project CEO Jack van der Merwe told of plans to upgrade the Gautrain's coaches to enable passengers to use their laptops and cellphones on board.

"We have laid [internet] cables in the tunnels," he said.

Van der Merwe said tenders were being invited for the implementation of the technology, and the Gautrain's Gauteng Management Company was already in discussions with cellphone companies.