Gautrain offers free airport transportation to Springbok supporters

The 2019 Rugby World Cup champions are coming back today, 5 November. Some of the team members will land with the engraved Webb Ellis Cup, with captain Siyamthanda Kolisi and coach Rassie Erasmus being the first ones to touch South African soil as champions at OR Tambo International Airport.  

According to a statement by the Gautrain Management Agency and the Bombela Concession Company, on Tuesday, 5 November, from 1.30pm to 3.30pm and 6pm to 9.04pm, all Springbok supporters in a Springbok shirt and without luggage, may travel free of charge on the Gautrain train service, to and from OR Tambo International Airport from any Gautrain station.

Jack van der Merwe, CEO Gautrain Management Agency, said, “After the amazing Rugby World Cup victory by the Springboks, the Gautrain has decided to celebrate this glorious achievement by offering free travel to all Springbok supporters who will be welcoming the team back from Japan at OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday, heeding President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call to go and welcome them home.”

“Thank you to Rassie, Siya and the rest of the boys for making us proud and putting South Africa again firmly on the international rugby map,” van der Merwe concluded.

The statement added, “Please note – due to flight delays, the time arrangement for supporters returning from OR Tambo International Airport has been extended to 9.04pm. At this time, the last Gautrain departs from the airport and should a supporter miss this train, alternate arrangements would have to be made to get to the station where their car is parked in time for station closure.”

According to Gautrain, in order for the free ride to apply, the following conditions must be met:

• A supporter must wear a Springbok shirt (green or white)
• Drop-offs at a station are recommended
• Going to the airport, supporters can only enter a Gautrain Station for free between 1.30pm and 3.30pm
• Returning from the airport, supporters can only enter the Gautrain System for free between 6pm and 8pm (this has been extended to 9.04pm)
• Free parking is available only at Centurion, Midrand, Marlboro and Sandton stations on a first come, first serve basis
• No free parking will be available at Park, Rosebank, Pretoria, Hatfield and Rhodesfield stations
• When entering a parkade, take a paper ticket and keep it safe until your return. (Please do not use your Gautrain Gold or Swift cards to enter the parking as you will then be charged non-rail user rates for the parking)
• It is recommended that you use the drop-off zone to enter the parking area
• Returning to the station after the event, the eligible supporter must present the paper ticket at the ticket office in order to receive a free exit from the parkade
• Persons who are flying in and out of OR Tambo (with or without luggage) in a Springbok shirt will have to pay the applicable airport fare
• Returning from the airport, a person wearing a Springbok shirt with luggage will be eligible for free travel only if they can present a boarding pass from Japan
• A supporter will adhere to crowd control measures at any station in the event of too high a demand for the train service
• Eligible supporters can board both the dedicated Gautrain airport coaches as well as the general passenger coaches. All train doors will be opened at OR Tambo International Airport Station
• Free travel is only allowed if there is adequate rail service and parking capacity available
• No free travel on Gautrain buses

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