The Official MyBB Gautrain Thread!

Garyvdh said:
Names man, we want names! :p
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Corner of Park and Festival streets (behind the old Aurecon Building in Burnett Street and across the road from Tukkies). iirc the Hatfield Plaza is across the road (next to the Protea Manor Hotel, Hatfield).


/this from a PE boy's memory!
 
No.

It was announced (check gautrain website) that it is not opening 1 July, more than likely the end of July (for your Pretoria route to Sandton).
 
He was probably refering to me.

Sandton to Centurion is 1 July, not to Pta

Johannesburg - Final details and tests on the Gautrain route from Johannesburg to Pretoria are under way and the final operating permit could be issued in July, the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) said on Friday.

"We are in the final phase of assessing all the last outstanding details, and provided that the current system stability tests are successful, we should be in a position to consider the issuing of the final operating permit in the course of July," the regulator said in a statement.

The route from Johannesburg to Pretoria, via Rosebank, Sandton, Midrand and Centurion, was due to open on July 1.

"The Gautrain's Bombela Operating Company (BOC) will have to satisfy the Railway Safety Regulator that rigorous safety testing and trial runs have been successfully completed and that all the required safety measures are in place before a safety permit is granted for the Johannesburg to Pretoria route."

The RSR had worked closely with BOC since 2007 on the safe completion of the Gautrain.

"All these efforts are aimed at ensuring the rapid rail project operates safely once introduced for commercial operation."

The RSR said since the BOC took charge of the system in March to conduct tests there had been some snags.

"The RSR observes that, as expected with a new system of this magnitude, a number of snags emerged during this 'settling in' period, which have been systematically addressed by BOC and its partners."

The RSR said the operator had cooperated fully during this phase.
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http://m.news24.com/fin24/Economy/Gautrain-on-track-for-new-route-permit-20110624
 
Having recently returned from Switzerland where they have a very efficient and user friendly public transport system, all I can say is that the Gautrain guys have got a lot to learn especially in terms of the bus feeders and pricing. I still don't understand why they insist on charging R105 for the ORTIA leg from Sandton when Rhodesfield is R25, that means I'm paying R80 to travel probably less than a kilometre.

R210 return plus parking doesn't make it viable for me and often I travel with colleagues to the airport so going by car is still way cheaper, also their operating times suck, I usually catch 06:00 flights and return sometimes at 20:00 or later, no trains running at times that can accommodate these flights.

I think someone should operate a shuttle service from just outside the Rhodesfield station to airport departures for R20, I'd use it if I was travelling during normal hours :)
 
OMB said:
I think someone should operate a shuttle service from just outside the Rhodesfield station to airport departures for R20, I'd use it if I was travelling during normal hours :)
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Sounds like a business opportunity!
 
I am sure there will be something like this soon.

The business people will still take the R105/R125 option as it will save them time
 
MickeyD said:
Corner of Park and Festival streets (behind the old Aurecon Building in Burnett Street and across the road from Tukkies). iirc the Hatfield Plaza is across the road (next to the Protea Manor Hotel, Hatfield).
/this from a PE boy's memory!
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Thanks! :) Was this from your study days?
 
MickeyD said:
No... from the 18 months I spent in Pretoria (very) recently! Had to go past it every morning...
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Ah, yes... you did mention that! Thanks, it will be nice to take the train and do some shopping at the other end.
 
Does anybody know how long a trip between Sandton and Hatfield will take?
 
Paul_S said:
http://www.gautrain.co.za/contents/Gautrain-BusRoute.pdf
http://gautrain.co.za/
The Gautrain site has been updated and all the stations, fees and bus routes have been published.
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Thanks. Wow, the Menlyn Gaubus passes like 2km from my home and then there is one going right past work in Midrand so its actually feasible to use from home if I had to. Taking the car is about 40min to do the 35km. I don't think the bus>train>bus will be faster, but have to see the costs before making a choice.
 
Today I took the Gautrain from Sandton to Hatfield and then back to Sandton again.

The trip is about thirty minutes in each direction. Each trip cost R 43. The card cost R 10 and the parking was R 10.

It was really nice.

As the train pulled away at Sandton I was pushed into my seat by the awesome power of its acceleration.

There was a young woman who was chewing gum on the train. The security guard made her throw away the gum. You are not allowed to eat, drink, or chew gum on the train.

From the moment I left my house up until the moment I reached my place of work took one hour and thirty minutes. This is a bit disappointing because outside of peak hour traffic it only takes fifty minutes by car and during peak hour traffic it takes about one hour and ten minutes. However I think it took mlonger today than it normally would because I first had to orientate myself and buy a card. Also there was construction work in Republic Road on the way to the Sandton station which contributed to the delay.

The parking at Sandton station is a bit confusing but B3 is the level where the entrance to the platform is located. Level B1 is where you would park if you wanted to go outside into the street.

The escalators at the Sandton station are very high, about three stories per escalator. I don't touch the escalator railings because escalator railings tend to be unhygienic so it was a bit scary looking down.
 
Got my gautrain card at the midrand station today, will test it out monday morning. Less than 10 minutes in and out.

Till my colleague (who is off on monday) that drives with me finds another job, it will be better to take the car. Will have to see how I feel aboit the 3km walk to and from the bus stop in PTA east...
 
supersunbird said:
Will have to see how I feel aboit the 3km walk to and from the bus stop in PTA east...
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3km is not bad - it's doable.
I'd have to walk about 7km (with a laptop) to the Menlyn bus or 10km to the Centurion station.

I must say that the R21 and N1 have been flowing very nicely for the last 6 weeks since most of the lane restrictions have been removed.
So all those reports on 702 about the Gautrain relieving the traffic on the N1 is nonsense. I haven't seen any impact thus far.
It takes 30 to 35 minutes to drive from PTA East to Midrand. Using the Gautrain train and buses would take at least double that amount of time.
Until there is a decent bus feeder route system (all suburbs covered) for people living 5 to 15km from stations I don't see the Gautrain system being a long term success.
 
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