The Official MyBB Gautrain Thread!

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feo

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OK guys, seeing as the Gautrain is about a week or so away and that many of us, myself included, have been waiting with bated breathe for it to launch, I think an official thread is in order.

Basically use this thread to discuss how you'll be using the train and how often, whether you'll be driving and parking there, walking there, using a Gaubus to get there or however else you plan to use the system.

Me personally, I see myself buying a monthly pass from the Centurion station to Sandton station and paying the R10 daily parking fee to park at Centurion. To get around Sandton I'll be using the Gaubus, to get to work I think our company will have shuttles to and from the Sandton station to my place of work. If I need to go anywhere else, I'll just use my friend's cars if they allow me. :D A while back I did a costing and it'll basically cost the same, if not slightly cheaper than my current monthly petrol cost. (1 full tank a week)

I will try to update this post with up to date links to the relevant pdfs on the gautrain site regarding the various train and bus routes and pricing.

I'm not associated with Gautrain in any way, just an excited commuter. :)

Important Links:

Where to Get Info - http://youtu.be/egzZzO-Aiaw
Using the Gautrain - http://youtu.be/ov4BJHpBG8I
Gautrain Gold Card - http://youtu.be/xDMJeadbHyQ
Tickets and Fares - http://youtu.be/6mM1nZFPLc8
Using the Buses - http://youtu.be/YQWUXsMRIFE
Times and Timetables - http://youtu.be/njC0ARHcD6I
Ordering a Registered Gautrain Gold Card - http://www.gautraincard.co.za/
 
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i thought about using it daily.. Then realised that it'l be too expensive. Then I thought, what the hell, use it to go watch the odd rugby game at loftus. But busses don't work on weekends. Then I thought, I'll use it to chill in hatfiel every now and then.. But, the train only runs until 20:30.. So now.. I'll just use my car like usual..
 
I'll be using it once or twice a month for random trips to joburg. Maybe I'll catch the train home on weekends from varsity (hatfield ->centurion) but I doubt that will happen.
 
Are there any malls or shopping venues close to the hatfield, pretoria end of the line?
 
I was part of the emergency exercises a couple of weeks ago. Pretty solid. I don't think it'll be ready in a weeks time though...judging from what I saw I'd say another 3 weeks for final polishing.

It was surprising how much copper there is in the pta stations :erm: ...the underground ones seem to use lots of aluminum rails at the top. I heard about a mil of copper was already stolen, so not sure why they went that route.:erm: The consortium that built it has some seriously clever engineers though, so I'm sure there is some logic behind it.

The station in (I think) sunnyside has a strange layout. Sorta like the letter "h" i.e. you leave for hatfield in the same direction you arrived at from sandton direction. Makes sense though if they've got multiple trains running simultaneously.

I don't see myself using it though...since I won't be in the office a lot.

KeezA said:
Another white elephant
Click to expand...
Unlikely. The combination of slit-wrist rush hour traffic + toll gates makes it a very promising alternative.
 
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For 2 of us driving from Pta East to Randburg (Bryanston + Ferndale) every day, it seems like the train won't save us much. Transport to the Hatfield station + tickets + transport from the station to work will cost as much as driving, including wear+tear costs, even with R60 tolls per day.
 
am considering using the train to get to work, but still not sure how the costs are going to look... will have to whip the calc out and see how it works out... planning of driving to Montecasino (from Lonehill - 2 minutes), hoping on the bus to Sandton, and then get on the train to Park Station. Now just to figure out how to get from Park station to the bank...
 
DigitalSoldier said:
Centurion Mall is close by.


People from Centurion can also use the train to get to Sandton City.
Click to expand...

How now? Centurion Mall is 25Km from Hatfield Station. Hatfield Plaza and the revamped Hatfield Galleries are within walking distance of the station
 
flarkit said:
For 2 of us driving from Pta East to Randburg (Bryanston + Ferndale) every day, it seems like the train won't save us much. Transport to the Hatfield station + tickets + transport from the station to work will cost as much as driving, including wear+tear costs, even with R60 tolls per day.
Click to expand...

Thing is, if it costs as much as driving, I'd still use the train, in that travel time I can sit and do something else, not have to worry about traffic and get frustrated. I think people should look at each alternative as a whole, and not just from a pure cost perspective.

I've ridden the Gautrain twice already Rhodesfield ->Sandton and it was amazing! Fast, punctual, clean safe. Given the choice between driving and using the train I'd use the train(provided it would cost about the same.)
 
hawker said:
Thing is, if it costs as much as driving, I'd still use the train, in that travel time I can sit and do something else, not have to worry about traffic and get frustrated. I think people should look at each alternative as a whole, and not just from a pure cost perspective.

I've ridden the Gautrain twice already Rhodesfield ->Sandton and it was amazing! Fast, punctual, clean safe. Given the choice between driving and using the train I'd use the train(provided it would cost about the same.)
Click to expand...

That's true hawker. I commuted to UCT via train for 3 years and it definitely does save on the driving frustration (unless there's a problem and the trains were delayed). But one can't just ignore a few hundred bucks extra per month.
 
My wife catches the Gautrain from Rhodesfield to Sandton daily, from when they first started the service.
 
The feeder system for the Gautrain is pathetic especially for Pretoria East.
The closest bus feeder is to Menlyn which goes to the Hatfield station.
To get to work in Midrand I have three options:

1.
- Drive to Centurion station 15km away and pay R10 for parking for the day ((R10 for parking + R20 for fuel) * 22 working days = R440)
- Take train to Midrand using 35 day pass (R857)
- Use bus to get from Midrand station to work (R6 * 22 = R132)
Total cost: R1429

2.
- Drive to Menlyn and leave car at friend (R10 for fuel/day * 22 = R220)
- Use train from Hatfield to Midrand using 35 day pass (R1326)
- Use bus to get from Midrand station to work (R6 * 22 = R132)
Total cost: R1678

3.
- Drive to work everyday using car on backroads.
Total cost: R1300

I don't see any benefit for using the train over a car other than lower stress levels.
 
HavocXphere said:
I was part of the emergency exercises a couple of weeks ago. Pretty solid. I don't think it'll be ready in a weeks time though...judging from what I saw I'd say another 3 weeks for final polishing.

It was surprising how much copper there is in the pta stations :erm: ...the underground ones seem to use lots of aluminum rails at the top. I heard about a mil of copper was already stolen, so not sure why they went that route.:erm: The consortium that built it has some seriously clever engineers though, so I'm sure there is some logic behind it.

The station in (I think) sunnyside has a strange layout. Sorta like the letter "h" i.e. you leave for hatfield in the same direction you arrived at from sandton direction. Makes sense though if they've got multiple trains running simultaneously.

I don't see myself using it though...since I won't be in the office a lot.


Unlikely. The combination of slit-wrist rush hour traffic + toll gates makes it a very promising alternative.
Click to expand...

AFAIK only the Centurion - Sandton link is opening in a week. People in central Pta still have a wait on there hands.
 
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