The Gautrain project
Gauteng is South Africa’s economic hub, with the major cities being Johannesburg, Pretoria and Centurion. The N1 is the (highly congested) highway that connects these cities to one another.
The country has spent millions on highway upgrades over the past few years. Many new off ramps have been built and corporate sponsors, like Outsurance, have even invested in employing traffic guards to ease the traffic jams in and around these cities. While Government has come up with many different solutions to help with the traffic – such as dedicating specific lanes to buses and taxis – one key ingredient was always missing: public transport.
After a lot of brainstorming and tender agreements, the idea of the Gautrain – a high speed train link that would offer motorists a new alternative to the N1 highway. Initial construction started in 2006 and in August 2011 the Gautrain opened its doors to the public.
What makes the Gautrain such a great alternative to driving is the fact that it travels at 160 km per hour. It takes just under 40 minutes to travel between Pretoria and Johannesburg with the Gautrain (if you were driving yourself – it would take about an hour on a good day).
Gautrain stations
Gautrain stations have been built in Hatfield, Centurion, Midrand and Rosebank – effectively accommodating a large portion or commuters who often need to travel between somewhere in Pretoria and somewhere in Johannesburg. The train runs at 12-minute intervals during peak times, at 20-minute intervals during off-peak times and every half hour on weekends.
While the tickets may seem a bit pricey (R46 for a single trip), there are other weekly and monthly passes for people who need to use the Gautrain on a daily basis. Increasing petrol prices, coupled with looming electronic toll gates on the N1, however, make the Gautrain prices a cost-effective option.
Minuteman Press is a printing company with branches across the country. Their Hatfield branch is conveniently located near the Gautrain station. If you need brochures, flyers or posters printed – visit Minuteman Press Hatfield.
Contact Minuteman Press Hatfield for all your printing needs.