Download Train To Jozi By Dj Ace
Torie Crivello
My friend and I had only just decided that we would go to South Africa when I came across this story in the New York Times about a train journey between Johannesburg and Cape Town. Apparently one of the most scenic train rides in the world. Not the Blue Train, which is still on my bucket list, but a more affordable and still quite luxurious option. Twenty-six hours with the Shosholoza Meyl Railways Premier Classe Train compared to the two hours that it would take to fly between the two cities.
Safe, comfortable South African trainsContrary to what you may have heard and to what many middle-class South Africans may tell you, taking the train is a remarkably safe, civilised & enjoyable way to travel between cities in South Africa. In fact, you'd be crazy not to consider it. Thereare several completely different train services:
Airport passengers may embark or disembark at Marlboro as well as Sandton stations. This means that passengers may catch a train directly to the airport from Marlboro station, or transfer from the North/South line to the East/West Airport line at either Sandton or Marlboro stations.
Transfer times should be carefully considered when passengers are planning their trips as the last Train from the Airport does not have a connection to the Northern or Southern stations, and the last trains from the Northern and Southern stations do not have a connection to the Airport.
During the installation of the Gautrain concerns for safety and security were given the highest priority, and it is worth noting that the entire train system adheres to the highest international standards. The train is also served by highly trained personnel. The train system is also integrated in such a way that it offers connectivity to the Sandton, Rosebank, Pretoria, Hatfield and Rhodesfield stations, and the car rental facilities at Sandton as well. Further, the train has a reliable timetable and thus making certain that you can never miss your flight from the OR Tambo International Airport. Additionally, the Gautrain only takes twelve minutes to travel from Sandton to the airport.
All the stations on the East-West commuter line are usually opened fifteen minutes before the first train arrives and are usually closed fifteen minutes after the last train arrives. The first and the last trains arrive at 5:30 AM and 8:30 PM respectively. Service intervals are usually twelve minutes apart during peak periods, 20 minutes during off-peak periods, and 30 minutes over the weekends and public holidays. The morning peak periods and afternoon peak periods both last for three hours as from 5:30 AM and 4:00 PM respectively.
Gautrain is a rail system in South Africa for commuters that connects several important locations including Pretoria, Hatfield and Johannesburg, and also provides a separate airport service that connects Marlboro and Sandton to O .R. Tambo International Airport.
The train can reach a speed of up to 100 miles per hour (about 160 kilometers an hour), making for very quick journeys -- for example, it takes about 35 minutes when taking the Gautrain between Pretoria and Johannesburg, compared to about one hour when driving.
When you are at a Gautrain station, look for either the ticket office where you can buy a Gautrain card from a station employee, or use an automated ticket vending machine. You are able to use either bank cards or cash to pay for your initial Gautrain card and fare. The minimum amount of money that you must have on a Gautrain card is 30 South African Rand (equivalent to about $2), and you can add more money to your card via the machines or the ticket office.
You can find on this page the Johannesburg (Joburg Jozi) trains map to print and to download in PDF. The Johannesburg (Joburg Jozi) trains map presents the rail network and railway stations of the trains of Johannesburg (Joburg Jozi) in Gauteng - South Africa.
The Johannesburg (Joburg Jozi) rails map shows all the railway stations and lines of Johannesburg (Joburg Jozi) trains. This railway map of Johannesburg (Joburg Jozi) will allow you to easily plan your route with the trains of Johannesburg (Joburg Jozi) in Gauteng - South Africa. The Johannesburg (Joburg Jozi) rails map is downloadable in PDF, printable and free.
The Metrorail Gauteng commuter rail system connects central Johannesburg (Joburg Jozi) to Soweto, Pretoria, and most of the satellite towns along the Witwatersrand. The railways transport huge numbers of workers everyday. However, the Metrorail infrastructure was built in Johannesburg (Joburg Jozi) infancy and covers only the older areas in the city south. The northern areas as its shown in Johannesburg (Joburg Jozi) rail map, including the business districts of Sandton, Midrand, Randburg, and Rosebank, are served by the rapid rail link Gautrain.
A part of the Gauteng Provincial Government Blue IQ Project, Gautrain has made provision for a rapid rail link, running north to south, between Johannesburg and Pretoria, and west to east between Sandton and the OR Tambo International Airport as you can see in Johannesburg (Joburg Jozi) rail map. Construction of the Gautrain Rapid Rail started in October 2006 and as of August 2011, all stations were running except for Park Station in Johannesburg (Joburg Jozi) CBD. It consists of a number of underground stations, as well as above ground stations. Stations on the North-South line include Johannesburg Park Station, Rosebank, Sandton, Marlboro, Midrand and Pretoria. There is also a line from the OR Tambo International Airport travelling to Sandton via Rhodesfield and Marlboro. The east-west line from the airport to Sandton opened in June 2010 in time for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, while the North-South line opened on 2 August 2011, except for Park Station which will open at a later date.
There is something wonderfully magical about travelling by train. It conjures a sense of nostalgia for an era so utopian. Long distance train travel used to be purely for practical reasons. People, in the past, would use the train to get from point A to B, but today, when life refuses to slow down; taking the train might just be what you need. The train ride from Johannesburg to Cape Town is a picturesque paradise. The train glides through the most beautiful parts of the country that we only see in coffee table books. You can fly from Johannesburg to Cape Town and arrive in less than two hours or you can take the scenic route and see the country in greater detail.
The route between Johannesburg and Cape Town is a beautiful blend of semi desert landscape with unending mountains and greenery. The land is vast and will offer rolling hills and flat lands alike. The 27 hour train journey starts in Johannesburg Park Station and segues through sixteen beautiful small towns and four provinces namely; Gauteng, Northwest, Northern Cape and Western Cape. The journey starts off with cramped squatter camps become townships which disappear into sunflower fields and eventually become Cape Winelands. If you are lucky, you might even spot some wildlife on the way. Just remember to keep your eyes peeled and have your camera ready. In some stations, the train stops for longer and passengers can disembark, stretch their legs and catch some fresh air. This is also a good time to take that perfect train station selfie. When the train stops in Worcester, be ready to buy the biggest and freshest grapes.
A Shosholza Meyl train, carrying 599 people, crashes into a dump truck at a crossing, with at least nineteen people killed. The train was near Kroonstad, on its way from PE to Johannesburg. It's alleged that the truck tried to beat the train at the crossing.
A Shosholoza Meyl train from Johannesburg headed for Port Elizabeth with almost 220 passengers derailed while pulling into the station. The cause of the derailment was attributed to a section of the track snapping as the train switched tracks. There were no fatalities.
Shosholoza Meyl start running a seperate train for each class on the Joburg - Cape Town route, with the economy class train running every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The tourist class train runs every Tuesday and Thursday.
Shosholoza Meyl have indicated that the Durban - Cape Town (direct) route will resume as from the 1st of April, with the first train run being on the 4th from DUR - CPT and will be available every Wednesday ONLY from then on, departing at 18h30 and arriving on Friday at 08h45. The return service departs on Monday ONLY at 18h50 and arrives on Wednesday at 08h10. It will be a single class (Tourist/Sleeper) service and the fare will be R 740 per person one way.
Passengers are left stranded when Shosholoza Meyl long-distance train services are suspended due to a dispute between Transnet and the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa. It seems that Transnet refuses to certify Prasa trains that are not maintained by Transnet Rail Engineering, following Prasa making the decision to move the maintenance of its trains to its own workshops and other unnamed private contractors at the beginning of the week (saying that Transnet Rail Engineering was unreliable and costly). However, Transnet spokesman Mboniso Sigonyela released the following statement: "Transnet would like to place on record that there is no dispute between the parties relating to locomotive maintenance that is preventing Prasa trains from running on Transnet's network or any other dispute that would lead to the suspension of the Shosholoza Meyl service. Notwithstanding significant payment delays and pricing disputes, Transnet has continued to provide maintenance and upgrade services to Prasa. However, in mid-July 2010, Prasa revised certain governance processes that related to the manner in which work performed by TRE would be authorised by Prasa. The revisions have resulted in approximately 70 locomotives awaiting maintenance due to Prasa's inability to comply with these very same processes. Numerous attempts by Transnet officials for Prasa to address this serious matter have been unsuccessful and the situation continues."
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