EMU Cape - More about the Kayalitsha Express

[Luca Lategan]

Yesterday, 2008-01-02, we went to St James, a beach / tidal pool near Vishoek, from Brackenfell.
Also seeOur train outing, Re: Red Devil and Soweto Business Express

On our way back we rode on the new Khayelitsha Express from Cape Town to Mutaul, about 8km. What an experience, if every train on the SAS can be like this one, every body would be on the tracks.

From the moment you buy your ticket, you realise that this is not your normal suburban train-service. In the information centre you go to a window that is only for the Khayelitsha Express, thus saving the trouble of using one of the only three open ticket windows and standing in a VERY long queue.

The train leaves Cape Town every weekday at EXACTLY 17h10. Even before the train departs a stewardess comes along and gives out newspapers and takes everybody's order. You have a choice between: Cappuccino, Espresso, Mochaccino, Hot Chocolate, Black Coffee, Black Coffee with Milk (only in South Africa you would find something like this) and Hot water.

At 17h10 a gong is sounded and the doors close. The train departs from Cape Town Station with a Blue Train start. Because of the curtains you can not easily see outside, with the carpets and special seats, this creates a unique atmosphere while the train slowly makes it's way forward through the goods yards and onto the mainline towards Mutaul station.

The seats are made from a type of suede with loose headsets that are held in place with Velcro, not the type found on most commuters. Even though we were the only Europeans on the train, we felt very secure; there was also an European driver, guard and a few stewards. Not that we felt unsafe on any of the other four trains that we travelled on that day, but this one was better without a doubt.

At the one end of every coach there is a table with a few stools and power points that one can use to power a laptop, with double adapters and the lot. No wireless network / internet connection yet, apparently there are negotiations with MTN to make the train into a wireless hotspot.

A monthly on this train costs R300 while a single is R15. The normal rates are R90 and R5,50 so it is only the very upper class that will be able to make use of the service. Personally I do feel however that it is every cent worth. Taking the very over crowded third-class service on the Khayelitsha line is the last thing I would want to do every day, especially if you are the executive of a company, I understand that there is a lot of them living in Khayelitsha and that the traffic out of Khayelitsha is getting worse by the day as more and more of the residents climb the wealth ladder.

According to the Blits, Metrorail's commuter newspaper distributed by Meida24, two similar expresses are planned to start this year. They will run somewhere between Simonstown and Cape Town and Belville and Cape Town (as all trains in the Cape lead to Cape Town), will keep you posted on this.

More information taken from the Blits: "A total of 22 security guards and 16 waiters are employed on the train. Tickets are charged at R300 for monthly tickets, R99 for weekly's and R15 a ride. The train departs from Khayelitsha at 06h45 and departs from Cape Town station at 17h10. The train also stops at Mandalay, Heideveld and Old Mutual and the duration of the entire trip is 38 minutes. We aim to launch a train in Bellvillle by April 2008 and one in the Southern Suburbs by October."

[Kevin Wilson-Smith]

Hmm - interesting. Nice to see the drive from Metro here.

Plan to go on the Gauteng version soon....

Like the shots - the cab looks really nice with good visibility. The interior looks really luxurious, compared to the SBE...

[John Ashworth]

Nice pictures of yet another great initiative on South African railways.

[Craig Duckham]

The Kayalitsha Express is made up of the 10M5 and the older 10M2 that have a re-built cab etc.
Having used the service in February, it is very well supported by Kayalitsha residents, which is very positive news.There are plans to introduce similar trains in the Cape but at the moment this changes every 5 minutes due to political reasons.