Gautrain offers new weekend bus service
ROSEBANK - Those hoping to visit the Johannesburg Zoo on a weekend will be delighted to know that the Gautrain is offering a weekend tourist bus loop service from Rosebank Station to Parktown North and the Zoo Lake Precinct.
Ward councillor Tim Truluck commented, “I have always believed that Gautrain was missing a trick in not offering a service such as this one.”
The service officially began operating in December.
The bus service runs from Rosebank Station from 9.15am to 6.15pm every Saturday and Sunday, and the last bus will leave the Johannesburg Zoo at 6.35pm.
There will be a bus every 30 minutes.
“You will need a Goldcard to use the bus and the usual bus charges will apply,” said Truluck.
He explained that the bus service would open up the facilities and suburban nodes to the west of Rosebank to all Gautrain users. It would also allow visitors from outside the area to “explore the full range of activities in this area”.
“It is very exciting and is representative of the next phase of public transport use in Joburg,” he said.
“Hopefully, the tuk-tuk operators will also take full advantage by offering linkages to other nearby commercial precincts like Mellville, Greenside, Parkhurst and Craighall Park, as well as recreational facilities like the Mellville Koppies, Delta Park and Emmarentia,” said Truluck.
Truluck added that he hoped the service would also take some of the parking pressure off the area.
A sister Gautrain weekend bus service will also travel to the Pretoria Zoo and the museum precinct from the Pretoria Station.
The routes the busses will take are as follows:
Stop 1: 3rd and 7th Avenues, Parktown North.
Stop 2: Cardigan Drive and Lower Park Drive, Parkwood. Northern Zoo Lake, Swimming Pool, ZL Sports Club, Moyo Restaurant, Friends in Sport 5-a-side Soccer, ZL Archery Club.
Stops 3 and 4: Lower Park Drive at Ennis and Westmeath Roads, Parkview. Zoo Lake, basketball courts and 5-a-side soccer, Lower Park Drive picnic area, Zoo Lake Bowls Club, Alliance Francaise, Tyrone Avenue shopping precinct, and the churches along Lower Park Drive.
Stop 5: Joburg Zoo entrance in Upper Park Drive, Forest Town. Joburg Zoo, Holocaust Museum (not open yet).
Stop 6: Ditsong Military History Museum, corners Beechwold and Eastwood Avenues, Saxonwold.
