Photos of Southern African Metro Rail Systems! Photos should be 800x600 pixels, maximum size 130K. Very good ones will be moved to the Online Gallery, the rest may be pruned away after 14 days to conserve space.
I have been photographing metros for no apparent reason, thought some of these would be of interest to somebody
We may not have Cape Towns scenery, but we have better weather in winter :-)
The first 2 were taken in Germiston yard, the last was of a Metro heading through Hamberg station
That last one is a very interesting composition. With all the faded grey all around it almost looks as if the bright yellow Metro train is the only real thing in the picture.
This may not come over quite right, but all good intentions intended:
Does anyone of you know of any Europeans (whites/blankes) who goes by Metro in the Gauteng region? I see that there is very few MetroPlus coaches and I have just wondered because it seems as if the Metro's here is nothing like they are in the Cape...
Everytime I've been in Gauteng I've taken the Metro. I've been to Pretoria, Dube (Soweto) and Rissik (Pretoria), Germiston and Isando all from Park station. I've seen plenty of whites on the metros mostly around Kempton Park who travel to Pretoria.
I've yet to see any whites on the trains to Soweto, MetroPlus cars are not provided on these sets.
When I travel to Soweto I travel with a friend.
It must also be noted I've yet to encounter any trouble. Security on trains and stations is pretty intense.
mmm, I'll take a branded freind along. But when you travel, isn't it like backpacking and the robs just think, uhm, this looks to a crazy Australian with a weird accent, so maybe we should just stay away? I wouldn't easily go in an Shozo Economy train...
When I travel on the trains I don't carry any bags nor do I have anything showing that may be of value. There is no reason to suspect I am a foreigner.
I have also travelled on Shoz Meyl from Jozi-Durban and back, twice, without incident.
However I can recall my first time riding the metro, it was from CT-Stellenbosch. Admittedly I was very fearful, having read so many horror stories. But once we were out of the city it was quite a beautiful trip and I thoroughly enjoyed it!! And I have not looked back.
When my wife and I return to Gauteng later this year, with our newborn, we will have no hesitation in riding the trains.
Soweto is the most popular place for foreign tourists in the whole of Gauteng. With excellent museums, bars and restaurants there is plenty to see and do. However I don't understand why there are so few 'locals' visiting these places. Perhaps facing up to the sins of the past is to hard to handle for some.
When I was living in Pretoria I would always take my foreign visitors to Soweto. There's a lot to see there, including the giant mural on the cooling tower which includes a Metro train. We would always take in Regina Mundi church and the Hector Peterson Museum, and the trip wasn't complete without a meal at Wandie's Place. And for those who like shopping, I'm told the new mall is great. But, like Marc, I was always surprised that so few of my South African friends had ever been there, or indeed would even contemplate the idea of going there.
My family and I are taking Shoz Meyl to JHB (from CT) in Sept. The R430 is a lot cheaper than Prem Cl at R1950 per person. My budget does not allow me to spend 8 grand on a train trip at present. WE will travel Tourist class. I have been assured that it is safe and comfortable. The last I rode this was in 1998. It was still the good old Transkaroo.
I have two friends that went by the Transkaroo this past holiday and they enjoyed it thoroughly, even though the one time it ran almost nine hours late, they scored three free meals and the staff was very friendly, they just liked it to stay on the train for an extra night and they played cards the whole time and talked and made friends with all the other almost lilly white train occupants...
Thanx Luca. I just hope we are not nine hours late. I would not like to arrive in Jo'burg at midnight. Tourist Class supposed to arrive 15h30. I still have to pick a rented car up.Any comments on the food.
No, they didn't have to climb off, the train was stationed at jhb for the night and they received breakfast the following morning, only then did they have to leave, don't know about the food, although the stocks got a bit low at the end of the journey that had to cater for two extra meals, this was mainly typical railway stews...
