How safe is the Gautrain?

maxxis said:
Has anyone had any negative experiences on either the Centurion, Midrand, or Sandton stations?
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In all the years, the Gautrain trains have had only 13 collisions. That's pretty safe, I guess. (Bonus: No seatbelts also usually means no suffering.)

You would be wise to exit the stations sprinting, because that increases your everyday fitness levels as well as your survival rate probabilities in not landing yourselves in the midst of the (machine gun) crossfire between the taxi drivers and the Uber/Didi/Bolt drivers.
 
Never ever had safety concerns with Gautrain, I've only ever been concerned about being pickpocketed (not that it ever actually happened) when it got overcrowded in pre-covid times.
 
eg2505 said:
except for that one bit between Malboro and Midrand, where theres a gentle turn,
and some of the cars you hear a Loud bang bang, as I think its crossing over expansion joints or something on the tracks,

super safe, guards everywhere, cameras everywhere,
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Heard from someone (not sure how true this is) that there are two separate electricity line systems for the Gautrain, one from before Malboro going to Joburg and another from before Midrand going to Pretoria. According to this person, the train disconnects from the first, glides a very short distance then connects to the second, which is the cause of the bangs (disconnection then reconnection). Never investigated it so don't know how true it is, but I found the thought fascinating.
 
sjm said:
Heard from someone (not sure how true this is) that there are two separate electricity line systems for the Gautrain, one from before Malboro going to Joburg and another from before Midrand going to Pretoria. According to this person, the train disconnects from the first, glides a very short distance then connects to the second, which is the cause of the bangs (disconnection then reconnection). Never investigated it so don't know how true it is, but I found the thought fascinating.
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makes sense, but why does it got to be so loud, I mean on European/American trains you don't hear this almighty BANG and then the train moves,
you barely hear it, here in Africa it sounds like the cars decoupling or derailing completely, its so loud and sudden.
 
Wanting to take the kids to Pretoria Zoo, landing on a Saturday moring. is it safe to use on weekends to Pretoria?

Last time I went to Pretoria Zoo, I dreaded parking there. So thinking of Gautrain and Uber instead.
 
F1 Fan said:
Wanting to take the kids to Pretoria Zoo, landing on a Saturday moring. is it safe to use on weekends to Pretoria?

Last time I went to Pretoria Zoo, I dreaded parking there. So thinking of Gautrain and Uber instead.
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I don't recommend Pretoria Main station. It's the largest taxi rank you can want. Hatfield is the only Gautrain station I use in Pretoria if I have a choice. I've used it happily over weekends and it works like a bomb. If you get stuck, have someone in Pretoria who can come rescue you. I live in Pretoria, so I'll be your lifeline if you need it :)

Just remember with Ubers: the last time I grabbed one from a Gautrain station the drivers were still sensitive about the taxi drivers beating them up, so you might have to walk a block away from the station with your kids for a pickup. Which is perfectly safe in Hatfield, and a nightmare at Pretoria Main.
 
F1 Fan said:
Wanting to take the kids to Pretoria Zoo, landing on a Saturday moring. is it safe to use on weekends to Pretoria?

Last time I went to Pretoria Zoo, I dreaded parking there. So thinking of Gautrain and Uber instead.
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Zoos...what a lekker life for animals...

www.dailymaverick.co.za

No shade, no company, no exercise – that’s no life for sad elephant Charlie

Specialists from around the world have petitioned Environment Minister Barbara Creecy to release into a sanctuary a Pretoria Zoo elephant bereaved by the loss of partners and offspring and showing sig…
www.dailymaverick.co.za www.dailymaverick.co.za
 
F1 Fan said:
Wanting to take the kids to Pretoria Zoo, landing on a Saturday moring. is it safe to use on weekends to Pretoria?

Last time I went to Pretoria Zoo, I dreaded parking there. So thinking of Gautrain and Uber instead.
Click to expand...

Some Uber drivers refuse to go to Gautrain stations, they'll drop you a block away from it, too scared of the taxi drivers.
 
Foxhound5366 said:
I don't recommend Pretoria Main station. It's the largest taxi rank you can want. Hatfield is the only Gautrain station I use in Pretoria if I have a choice. I've used it happily over weekends and it works like a bomb. If you get stuck, have someone in Pretoria who can come rescue you. I live in Pretoria, so I'll be your lifeline if you need it :)

Just remember with Ubers: the last time I grabbed one from a Gautrain station the drivers were still sensitive about the taxi drivers beating them up, so you might have to walk a block away from the station with your kids for a pickup. Which is perfectly safe in Hatfield, and a nightmare at Pretoria Main.
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Lol thanks!

I know about the Uber issue, so it may be a challenge again. The reviews on the zoo are mixed at the moment, not sure how well it is being maintained. The key thing is the kids want to go on a train, and I thought the Zoo was the perfect destination. Is there any other places I could take them to close to a Gautrain station?

Otherwise I may just take the Gautrain to pretoria and back for the ride.

Anyone been to Gold Reef City recently? Want to take my kids that are 6 and 3.
 
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F1 Fan said:
Lol thanks!

I know about the Uber issue, so it may be a challenge again. The reviews on the zoo are mixed at the moment, not sure how well it is being maintained. The key thing is the kids want to go on a train, and I thought the Zoo was the perfect destination. Is there any other places I could take them to close to a Gautrain station?

Otherwise I may just take the Gautrain to pretoria and back for the ride.

Anyone been to Gold Reef City recently? Want to take my kids that are 6 and 3.
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Well, you can take the airport Gautrain to Sandton Gautrain ... and then walk around the corner to Sandton City. Plenty for your kids there, and I've done that before and the kids I was with really enjoyed it :)
 
F1 Fan said:
Wanting to take the kids to Pretoria Zoo, landing on a Saturday moring. is it safe to use on weekends to Pretoria?

Last time I went to Pretoria Zoo, I dreaded parking there. So thinking of Gautrain and Uber instead.
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There is a special Gautrain "Zoo" bus form PTA main station.
Don't have a clue how safe the change over to the buses is. Have not ventured into the PTA city centre in 15 years.

What to see in PTA?

The zoo.
And then there is the zoo.
Did I mention the zoo?

Other things places used to be the museum, Melrose House, The Voortrekker Monument, Klapperkop fort ( very dangerous now), The Botanical Gardens, Fountains picnic area, The Wonderboom nature reserve, Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Smuts House in Irene, AirForce Museum at one of the military airfields (forget which one).

And then there is the zoo.
 
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Geoff.D said:
There is a special Gautrain "Zoo" bus form PTA main station.
Don't have a clue how safe the change over to the buses is. Have not ventured into the PTA city centre in 15 years.

What to see in PTA?

The zoo.
And then there is the zoo.
Did I mention the zoo?

Other things places used to be the museum, Melrose House, The Voortrekker Monument, Klapperkop fort ( very dangerous now), The Botanical Gardens, Fountains picnic area, The Wonderboom nature reserve, Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Smuts House in Irene, AirForce Museum at one of the military airfields (forget which one).

And then there is the zoo.
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You forgot the natural history museum
 
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