How safe is the Gautrain?

[Lupus]

Pretoria station after dark is not recommended. Hatfield is better. Other than that, I've always felt safe using it, but I tend to use it during the day. Seems you're not going near PTA though so probably all good. It's a great service. Gautengers are lucky to have it.

How are we lucky to have it? It doesn't even reach most of Gauteng.

 

[F1 Fan]

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

I didn't know there was much to do at Sandton City for Kids?

Was hoping Kidzania had opened but no luck there..

 

[Foxhound5366]

I didn't know there was much to do at Sandton City for Kids?

Was hoping Kidzania had opened but no luck there..

Kids don't need much haha. There's a Haagen Daz icecream place, plenty of fast food, the cinemas, a big toy shop ... and a walk through the mall to Nelson Mandela Square next door (where you can see the big old statue of Madiba and get some fresh air).

 

[F1 Fan]

Kids don't need much haha. There's a Haagen Daz icecream place, plenty of fast food, the cinemas, a big toy shop ... and a walk through the mall to Nelson Mandela Square next door (where you can see the big old statue of Madiba and get some fresh air).

Ya you right. I'll prob then take the train from OR to Pretoria, stay on, and then come back to Sandton and jump off....That allows them to get a leka train ride

 

[deweyzeph]

What I can say is be careful when using cabs from the station. The mafia cabs don't appreciate bolt/uber and they (uber/bolt) won't fetch you at the terminal. You have to venture out to the street. That's the one time I haven' felt safe on Gautrain - on the street at Pta station near dark.

I always offer to sit in the front seat when I take an Uber, even in Cape Town. I reckon it keeps both me and the driver safer by making it less obvious that we're in a taxi. Drivers always appreciate it as well.

 

[Foxhound5366]

Ya you right. I'll prob then take the train from OR to Pretoria, stay on, and then come back to Sandton and jump off....That allows them to get a leka train ride

I think play that part by ear. It can be quite overwhelming, so at least one of the kids with me was excited to get on the train and then not so happy on the train itself. You can ask the kids when you reach the station which is a junction to Sandton if they want to stay on or if they want to get off there.

 

[Affieplaas]

As a Capetonian, I always use the Gautrain to get to Sandton or Hatfield (depending on where I need to go). I have only ever felt unsafe at Park Station with some super dodgy guys hanging around the entrance. It is a fantastic service and I wish we had something like that in Cape Town from the Northern Suburbs into the CBD.

 

[Stefan.dl]

Used it for 3 years between Hatfield and Park Station, no issues with security except for one incident where my wallet was stolen from my jacket pocket.

 

[Bobbin]

How are we lucky to have it? It doesn't even reach most of Gauteng.

I did an experiment once to get from Fourways to Melrose Arch starting from Montecasino.

2h30 minutes, but that's including getting to Monte admittedly - busses didn't go further than that.

Long hot bus trips in traffic, confusing switches, and eventually you get to Melrose Arch shopping center.

Meh.

 

[Lupus]

I did an experiment once to get from Fourways to Melrose Arch starting from Montecasino.

2h30 minutes, but that's including getting to Monte admittedly - busses didn't go further than that.

Long hot bus trips in traffic, confusing switches, and eventually you get to Melrose Arch shopping center.

Meh.

Exactly, would've been quicker in a car

 

[spiff]

Recently moved to Centurion and I work in Midrand. My fiance works in Sandton.

All three locations are close to the stations and the train is making more sense to me than driving. Also, my car isn't very economical and sitting in peak traffic between Centurion and Midrand does not appeal to me nor does Centurion to Sandton to her.

Being vigilant on the stations is a given but I do have some concerns over having my work laptop etc in a backpack making me us targets. I'm more worried about her.

Has anyone had any negative experiences on either the Centurion, Midrand, or Sandton stations?

it drives on it's own track so pretty safe

 

[Lupus]

Substitute "those who can use it..."

Are sadly a minority of Gautengers they've still not extended the lines in the 12 years they've been around. I mean it only took 6 years to build it originally now it's been 12 years since its opened.

 

[Jehosefat]

Are sadly a minority of Gautengers they've still not extended the lines in the 12 years they've been around. I mean it only took 6 years to build it originally now it's been 12 years since its opened.

They were never planning on extending it immediately though. The plans were, as far as I'm aware, to start the expansion in the early to mid 2020s (which may now have been delayed a bit due to COVID).