Gautrain and railways xxx

Johannesburg has two railway systems: 

  • The Gautrain, which is a world class urban train system connicting OR Tambo International Airport to the heart of the Sandton Central Business District, as well as to the centre of Pretoria. This makes it the obvious choice for both leisure and business travellers staying in the city's northern suburbs. Passengers can also travel directly from Johannesburg to Pretoria and back again, a more pleasant alternative than sitting in bumper to bumper traffic during the rush hour.
  • The Metro Rail, which is also an urban railway system, but which is designed to move people from densly populated areas to and from their places of work, and which is not suitable for tourists looking to visit the attractions in and around Johannesburg.
Gautrain
 
The train departs from a station inside OR Tambo International Airport, and arrives beneath the bustling CBD of Sandton approximately 15 minutes later. Pretoria is reached approximately 45 minutes after departure from the Airport, via a connection at Marlboro Station. Tickets can be bought from each station serviced by the train.
 
During peak periods (05h30 to 08h30 and 16h00 to 19h00), the trains run every 12 minutes, and off-peak (08h30 to 16h00 and 19h00 to 20h30) every 20 minutes. On weekends and public holidays, trains run every 30 minutes.
 
There is also a system of well maintained Gautrain bus services that travel between various points throughout Johannesburg and the Sandton station.
 
For more information on the bus service and the Gautrain in general, visit the Gautrain website which is very comprehensive and contains all the information you may need for planning purposes.

Metro Rail

Johannesburg's metro railway system connects central Johannesburg to Soweto, Pretoria, and most of the satellite towns along the Witwatersrand. The railways transport huge numbers of workers every day. However, the railway infrastructure was built in Johannesburg's infancy and covers only the older areas in the city's south. 

As indicated above, the Metro Rail System has been specifically designed to move large numbers of people to and from their places of work, it is not suitable for tourists looking to visit the attractions in and around Johannesburg.