Those who must travel through Johannesburg and between the City of Gold and Pretoria have greatly benefited from the Gautrain. In an effort to alleviate the significant traffic issue in and around Johannesburg and Pretoria in Gauteng, the Gautrain—a mass rapid transit railway system—was built. Since it was finished in 2012, the Gautrain has not only made these struggles less frequent but also provided a practical substitute for other public transportation options for both local commuters and tourists.
The fleet of this opulent railway currently consists of 24 Electrostar Sets, which travel from 10 stations through Johannesburg and Pretoria. Pretoria Station, OR Tambo International Airport, and Johannesburg Park Station are the primary stations. Centurion, Hatfield, Marlboro, Midrand, Rhodesfield, Rosebank, and Sandton are the additional stations that benefit from the Gautrain. These have been thoughtfully positioned among the city’s busiest areas to provide travellers with the most possible access to the city’s commercial, retail, and entertainment attractions.
The railroad line is 80 kilometres (or 50 miles) long and operates on a daily schedule. Every 12 minutes, a train travels through the stations during rush hour. This increases to a train every 20 minutes during off-peak hours. Due to the Gautrain’s amazing speed of 160 kilometres per hour (nearly 100 miles per hour), commuters can get to their destinations more quickly and safely (as opposed to travelling on the roads). Actually, the trip between Johannesburg and Pretoria on the Gautrain only takes 35 minutes; by contrast, travelling by car typically takes at least an hour, even in light traffic.
The Gautrain is connected to other public transportation systems, though. Therefore, it has 125 buses in its own fleet (which operate within a 15-kilometre radius of the station), but is also supported by taxis and the public train system Metrorail to make it easier for commuters to get where they need to go.
The trains have air conditioning, and carpeting, are well-maintained, and have courteous, professional security staff on board all the time. In order to maintain the cleanliness and orderliness of the train, these people keep a close eye on all of the passengers and even make sure that they do not eat or drink on it. One truly gets the distinct impression of travelling in style thanks to this.
At the Gautrain stations, vehicles may be left in safe, access-restricted parking areas. A customized electronic card, which is accessible from the train stations itself, is required for access to the train and the Gautrain buses. Discounts are given for individuals who only use the railway during off-peak hours, as well as for those who purchase weekly or monthly passes.
