Metrorail Western Cape - Commuting Guide

Commuting Guide

Travelling on Cape Town’s suburban railway system provides a relatively safe, affordable and easy way of getting around. Millions of people travel on the system every day without harm and only very isolated incidents take place. Except for private security, Metrorail also has the Railway Police and SAPS doing duties to ensure the safety of their passengers. Just remember the four Golden Rules: Stay in a group where possible, don't advertise any valuable items, keep on the lookout for suspicious people and remember good people are in the majority!

Tourists are advised to buy a first class or MetroPlus ticket, this entitles them to better security and more comfortable seating. Tickets can, and should only, be bought at station ticket offices or from uniformed mobile ticket vendors with yellow ticketing machines. Staff at ticket offices and mobile ticket vendors will also assist with train information regarding schedules, platforms facilities etcetera.

Prospective travellers are urged to first consult the Call Centre or website to determine a route and suitable timetable. It should be noted that frequencies can vary vastly from weekday peak to weekend off peaks. Services to Simon’s Town, Bellville via Century City, Strand, Muldersvlei (via Stellenbosch) and Wellington are less frequent over weekends with a train about every hour on Saturdays and every two hours on a Sunday. In contrast, weekday frequencies on some lines offer three minute headways.

Every train displays a four digit digital or analogue train number. The route and destination of a specific train can be determined by just looking at the train number. Up trains travel towards Cape Town and carry even train numbers. Down trains travel away from Cape Town and carry odd train numbers. Destinations can be derived from the following table :