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@brucebosch9362

8 ай бұрын

During the 70s and 80s I travelled by train a lot and I'm glad I got to experience that. It's sad that we had to say farewell to such a much needed industry.

@charlesmuyaya8534

8 ай бұрын

Thank you for the reminder on responsible commenting but my comments aren't meant to hurt anyone. It's a mere reminder that we can only overcome our problems as a continent when we know where we have gone wrong. No offence to any government or city/municipal authority anywhere on the continent. My apologies if I was misunderstood.

Corruption in SA isn't a crime. It's culture.

@chrisjpndala7576

8 ай бұрын

But corruption gas nothing to do with this... the station was left in the 90s by the then white government

@arlenespencer5850

8 ай бұрын

🎯

@akoamoseetave3091

8 ай бұрын

Like in the whole continent. Corruption is part of the black man's DNA

@Omnist-

8 ай бұрын

The corruption that was introduced by the apartheid government. Yes

@w0tnessZA

8 ай бұрын

Well said. If you vote for ANC, you're a terrorist and you condone theft and corruption.

I thank Carte Blanche for bringing the decay of our rich heritage to the eyes of millions. Praying that those in power can restore the railway towns and revive the economy in these towns

@mtkoslowski

8 ай бұрын

Your sentiments are honest and wholesome. However, the cynic in me thinks that the restoration of the rail network is unlikely to happen. Best wishes from the USA 🇺🇸

@arlenespencer5850

8 ай бұрын

That will never happen they are not capable of such.

@roshneeshunmagum1945

8 ай бұрын

Rich indeed but look now what happened while the country accepted the decay and did nothing about it while they protest in thousands on what's happening in other countries!!! What a shame

@GossiphiveEnt

8 ай бұрын

Our country is Gone 😢 it’s rotten and it’s never coming back.

@eisbeinGermany

8 ай бұрын

then some black people want to tell me its better in the new South Africa

Remember a time when there was competition between the Railwaystations for the best well kept station😢

@eisbeinGermany

8 ай бұрын

and the delicious pie and gravy at the station cafes was best pies ever, Germiston station had the best pie and gravy

@user-qi7id4me3l

4 ай бұрын

My Dad worked on Steam Locos as a Driver. Very Proud Job. And Yes i do Remember the Competition for Best kept Station. Neil Viljoen.

I have been saying this for years. I remember going on the Transkaroo to Cape Town from Johannesburg, going on the steam train from Johannesburg to Salisbury, and stopping off in Francistown, Botswana, what a life. I still travel by car to Middleburg in the Eastern Cape and it rattles my nerves every time with the trucks. Privatize the Railway infrastructure and get the freight back on the railways. Save our roads and stop truck hijacking not to mention the loss of lives. Remember calling the railway police Stasie Blompotte

@stblad3

8 ай бұрын

I use to ride the Transkaroo on my way to do my military service.

@gladiators-den

8 ай бұрын

1980's really, my father was working for the then "spoornet" and it was fully functional up until he went on pension in year 2000. You can now put it together ....

I really like this journalist . Quality gentleman

I come from a railway town in midwest Namibia, Omaruru. This report had me nostalgic. My grandfather worked there under then Spoorweg (now Transnet), and my uncle later became Station Master there. Yester year's stations were so pristine, with immaculate lawns and landscaping. Taking the train, or even dropping off a relative at the station was a big event. I heard the cliche about seting the time based on German or Japanese trains, well our trains were right on time too. Its all gone now, delapidtaed, and neglected. Los maar ales.

@ronnyjansevanrensburg4605

8 ай бұрын

Our trains and train stations were always kept clean and maintained and in working order I used to ride train from Windhoek to Cape town and to king Williams town it was always safe and on time. It all changed after 1994 no maintenance done just left to run into the ground. Maybe it was thought that all buildings trains roads and railway lines maintained themselves and cattle ate the grass along the tracks to keep it short

I’m watching this from a town planning perspective, just to see how we can sort this out. SA needs a complete public transport system and everyone is just dragging their feet.

@Rob-Bless_Jr

8 ай бұрын

Thing is that also means completely replacing the taxi industry and they become violent whenever they see some form of rival/viable alternative to them

@cptgrljax

7 ай бұрын

I don’t think the taxi industry will be replaced completely as different people prefer different means of transportation, however it will threaten their very lucrative monopoly on the market. Train services can be reintroduced it will be a gradual process but it can and will be done. And with people like those who have remained in those towns they will make it possible to build up their communities again

@AapVanDieKaap

7 ай бұрын

We had that. But now it's gone and it's never coming back.

@kamohelonkosi3715

4 ай бұрын

@@Rob-Bless_Jryeah but they don’t respect passengers anyways. They shouldn’t be entitled to what customers want with their money.

This left me with great sadness, not only for the decaying rail network, but also for the decay of the rest of our country's infrastructure and also the people's moral values.

This is why South African railaw chainged their name to Spoornet because there are no trains just track, "daar is net spoor".

So sad. In 10 years time this episode will be repeated but at a power station near you.

@ditebogo3671

8 ай бұрын

Very sad

@arlenespencer5850

8 ай бұрын

So much has bn destroyed in such a short space in time it actually blows the mind😢

@matomemf

8 ай бұрын

Please don’t say that😭😭😭

@jermainedaniels6623

8 ай бұрын

My dad used to work in that power station Athlone 😢😢😢 cape town

@Powerup-mw6tv

8 ай бұрын

Eish😢

Klipplaat..that is my home..in a few weeks time i'll be home again. not a pretty sight anymore but still home...why am i chopping onions?

Its really sad seeing all this beautiful towns looking like ghost town like this. We need to stand all together to rebuild this country for the betterment of all. Peace & Love.

@eisbeinGermany

8 ай бұрын

not while the ANC runs the country, the cadres are only interested in KFC and Holiday houses

@bukswillemsoosthuizen3745

8 ай бұрын

Why did we become silent😢...are we afraid ...?😢.......

These dreams will never come true under anc... Their motto is "one step forward, 5 steps back".

Thanks to all of you for keeping us enlightened with the best, and open minded journalism.

This was a brilliant programme with equally brilliant presenters although the story it told was very sad !

14:01 haha love the look of surprise on Govan's face - he's a great presenter and wears his heart on his sleeve 😘

Thanks for an excellent report. What has been excluded is the sanctions on South Africa. SA felt the pinch in the 19 80's .The railways had to survive on the best artisans that manufactured and built trains and maintained the assets. I would also like to mention the superb administration of passengers and goods. There was no expertise to take over because there was a willingness to train the newbys. However there was a certain element that couldn't wait to steal, loot and get their fingers in the till. A sad forgotten heritage. I still take my hat off to those proud railway men, no matter what they did

I have so many fond memories of Touwsrivier, family friends owned a farm right outside the town & I remember falling asleep every night with the sounds of the trucks coming past non-stop. It's so sad seeing how this town & it's people have been neglected & forgotten.

@user-tw2sb4dc9f

8 ай бұрын

Klipplaat has been one of the major joining points according my late grandmother Elizabeth Nettie Wannies. And all that she had told us about our hometown is to proud of. But , yet looking at our place now is saddening. Just hoping for a miracle to happen. Klipplaat has been a beautiful town and people who cares for each other Klipplaat will always be home regardless what it looks like. Just hope transnet can invest and employ the right candidate and not based on nepotism. Our current ruling party has done nothing since they have been appointed. We are voting for people who always make empty promises!

I used to travel by train from Johannesburg to Potchefstroom when I was a boarder at the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Potchefstroom. Then travelled from Johannesburg to Cape Town. What fond memories it brings when I think back on those days.

Heartbreak i am from the Karoo Town Victoria Wes i miss so those days on the trains bring it back

Sad to see how short-sightedness and plundering of Transnet has decimated small towns- and now SA's overall economy.

@eisbeinGermany

8 ай бұрын

but who is too blame for it ??????

Superb doccy.. lots I didn’t know. Reminds me of the Joni Mitchel song that went “Don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone” Thanks 🌹

@rupertmcnaughtdavis3649

8 ай бұрын

" Paved Paradise and put up a parking lot".

So sad, but also so much potential.

Goes beyond sad ..the destruction is heartbreaking as children every year we climbed on the train to Joburg and back to Cape Town that was our annual holiday ..todays children will not get to experience that train ride ....😢😊

Every entrepreneur now just wants to buy a fleet of trucks now. Our government has failed us immensley. ANC, step aside please.

Speechless ... truly heartbreaking 😢

Elgin station is a thing of beauty

I remember growing up every Sunday we would go and see the Blue Train at the Gweru train station in Zimbabwe. Such fond memories.

Can we please get more documentaries and interviews from people who lived to see trains?

Government needs to restore our railway network. Everyday on our roads truck accidents are causing havoc.

awesome history and traveling by train was amazing....too dangerous now to travel ..sad!

Thank you. This was a brilliant presentation. Subscribed. ❤❤

I took a train from Johannesburg station to Worcester it took 3 days, I loved the scenery such a sad relisation

I had the privilege to travel by train from Windhoek to Cape Town and back in 1985.What an experience it was!!!It made an indelible mark on my life and outlook on the SA platteland.I can recall stations like Threesisters, De Aar , Leeu Gamka.Everybody should have at least one trip by train in his life. The people that made a living from the railways were the salt of the earth.I hope we will one day have governments both in SA and Namibia that will have the vision,courage and wisdom to bring back this mode of transport which was safe and reliable.

So so SAD we got to this!!!

Travelling to Upington from Paternoster used to be one of the most exciting trips since childhood. Nowadays its almost impossible to enjoy the trip as the road (especially from vanrhynsdorp to upington) is full of 2mx2m potholes and manganese trucks.

Ja well thats what happens when people who think they are clever and undo the progress clever people created. The clever people are full of doubt while the idiots are full of confidence.

i grew up in Welkom, right next to the railway line, i loved it when in winter they would let the wheels spin, and the huff and puff when train was heavy,

@rupertmcnaughtdavis3649

8 ай бұрын

Lovely sound of slipping, shunting steam locomotives! Was part of the sounds of our lives.

I remember when we had a train station in the "city" Where I lived and where we could climb aboard a train and head to Johannesburg or Cape Town. Today everything is busses and trucks and damaged roads because these roads were never designed to cope with the weight of the increased heavy traffic.

Would love it if there is a speed train from JHB to CPT to compete with the airlines.

@davebox588

7 ай бұрын

As a non-South African who visited, only to fall in love with the country. What would constitute a 'speed train'? I was amazed at how narrow 'narrow guage' was. It surely can't support high speed can it? We traveled on the Gautrain and that was an amazing, modern, high speed, stable system. If a private Gauteng to Cape service were to be established, in your opinion would expansion of this be the most sensible choice? I'm not from SA so have no skin in the old vs new government contention, just trying to learn more about how you guys reestablish such an optimistic country. Everybody on our visit maintained such hope for the future.

@AapVanDieKaap

7 ай бұрын

@@davebox588 There's very little left of the rail network. There certainly won't be any speed trains haha. I think it's very unlikely there will be trains left in southern Africa in 20 years.

Enjoyed this episode!

So sad and hopefully something will come up and revive the railways. This will reduce the caranage on the roads as well as damage to the surface.

Transnet should allow private companies to run some rail networks in this country

Steam enthusiasts would pay big money and other tourists would enjoy a sight seeing trip without long days of driving. What a lot of missed opportunities

😢 a once thriving country.

As a country traveller in the 1980's I remember the trains pulling people and freight. Calvinia just up the road from me is another example, a biggish railway terminal with grain silos all still there but cut off from the mainline when the bridge collapsed in Hutchinson. Another odd thing is how quickly the "Broeder" trucking companies sprung up. Smells fishy.

@zamotana9292

8 ай бұрын

great point about these logistics companies springing up everywhere...

My grandparents owned a station café and restaurant. On Sundays my mom would take me for a milkshake and I could watch the trains. Now everything is blocked off, you can't even get close to the platform.

We used to walk in the nearby garden when the Trans-Karoo stopped on its way to Cape Town. So much we enjoyed that walk that we missed the departure whistle and had to run a few metres to get back on the already slow departing train. Wonderful times with my family, made possible by my late Father's "vrypas".

Wow, imagine if trains came back, the tourism, holiday plans, and businesses that could start. And awesome boost to our economy!!

A very sad,but great piece. Will definitively try to find my way to Matjiesfontein soon.

I remember going on holiday to Salisbury and the Victoria falls twice by train.It was wonderful.IIwill never forget those days.Why do we mess everything up that works?t was safe

The demise of the railways didn't happen in the 80's, it started halfway through the 90's.🤔

@mzansitrash

8 ай бұрын

😂😂😂😂

@sds9781

7 ай бұрын

Carteblanch rewriting history again.

Here in Western Australia, private operators are using the lines to transport grain back to the silos. It is sad to see roads suffering under heavy trucks while costly rail infrastructure decays.

In the early 1980s, I recall going back to my hotel for dinner after visiting the loco sheds in De Aar and being firmly but politely told to first go back to my room to put on a tie & jacket! There were standards that clearly had to be adhered to, even out in the Karoo. The day before, I'd stayed at the station hotel in Kraankuil with steam engines roaring past my open window during the night. Wonderful.

I was on KZN South Coast in July 2023. I love to fish on the coast there and saw for kms upon kms where the railway electrical copper cables have been stolen. There are houses all the way and it is impossible to steal the cables without being seen.. When I was there in 2020 the trains were still operating, almost every hour you could see a train. In three years there are trains no more. The rest of the world are moving to high speed trains, we all we have is the square box taxi, traveling packed like sardines in a can. Disgraceful really.

Sometimes we need to except the fact that privatization is the way our of all our problems... mainly because those in power are too focused on lining their own pockets and not maintaining existing services

@paulrowe9604

8 ай бұрын

accept not except

@Muhle007

8 ай бұрын

@@paulrowe9604 hau Mara meneer

This is a reminds me of our station in Makhanda(Grahamstown). It has gone to the dogs and community forums have tried reviving it but Transnet was not interested.

Did an episode on Potchefstroom station a while ago. In the 1980's and early 1990's the station (Slurry) was still operating successfully, we took the train on holidays. My dad was forced to go on pension in 1997, the closed the station (Slurry) afterwards.

@gladiators-den

8 ай бұрын

That's why I wanted to say, my father was also forced to go on pension between 1995-2000 and had been with SA Railways for 45 years everything was fully functional, everything went downhill when it became Spoornet, part of the newly designed dysfunctional SA we are all part of at the moment. So Cart Blanche get your facts straight it was not in the early 1980s you claim it to be.

Klipplaat my home town was a junction that connected Cape Town, Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) and Johannesburg railway lines. This was the heartbeat and the pride of our town, the termination of the railway saw the demise of our beautiful town.

Our train station won the prize for best kept station many times many years ago!! Bothaville in the Free state!

ANC : A better life for all ! ( That ride the gravy train - stuff the rest ).

@Jay-rd3hn

8 ай бұрын

This started during National Party, during apartheid they started destroying South Africa 🇿🇦 so that ANC should struggle to build the country as they are still doing today. If South Africa 🇿🇦 build nuclear power stations as alternative energy source we would be able to stop the power cut that is happening today.

@esk2k5

8 ай бұрын

@@Jay-rd3hn really???? Please explain the 2.4 trillion rand stolen by the ANC government over the last 30 years, failing water supply, failing power grid, cholera outbreaks.... Unemployment in 1994 was 15%, It is currently over 50% with 65% youth unemployment... This ANC government cannot create, build or maintain, they can only steal, destroy and lie

There is still so much possibility. We just need an eager (definitely not the ANC) government with the willpower. Imagine an economic revival of these stations, including accommodation, local manufactured craft shop, Food stalls, Coffee shop, a Littlefreelibrary, Museum, even maybe a pool, sundowner bar, etc. Rotating Tourist trains (suiting every budget) travelling and stopping at everyone of these stations.

@Jay-rd3hn

8 ай бұрын

Everything started in 1948, if apartheid never happened we would be where we are today. Apartheid started corruption, injustice, inequality and crime against humanity. Apartheid taught South Africans not to become one and in 1994 Nelson Mandela tried to bring us together by making F.W de Klerk his deputy president and in 1995 Springbok also tried. 1996 Bafana Bafana won African nation cup still people of South Africa 🇿🇦 came together just for that moment, apartheid has crippled our nation the fear of apartheid leaders has crushed our country and we still suffer from it today and only few people are trying to build it but it’s hard because some people are benefiting from our division as country and countries.

@Omnist-

8 ай бұрын

@@Jay-rd3hn exactly. They want to be deaf when facts are presented. Their apartheid government introduced corruption

@lordwickphophi6998

8 ай бұрын

Only if we had a highly competent and forward thinking government. For now ANC cadres are only interested in making money for themselves and their families.

@paulrowe9604

8 ай бұрын

@@Jay-rd3hn ABSOLUTE GARBAGE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This country was beautiful when the A.N.C. took over in 1994 !!!! How can you blame something that was THIRTY YEARS ago ??? Germany was destroyed in 1945 !!! Every building and factory destroyed ! But the housewives started piling up bricks and chipping of cement and in only three or four years they were back in business ! Volkswagen was destroyed but a British army Major Engineer got it going ! IN FOUR YEARS GERMANY WAS BACK IN BUSINESS !!! IT IS THIRTY YEARS SINCE APARTHEID !!!! Stop making excuses !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They made the same mistake British railways made with their line closures, they looked at each line/service individually to determine its profitability. In reality the small lines that were "uneconomical" fed traffic to/from the main routes where the money was made. It was a system with all parts dependent on each other,as soon as they started removing parts of it the rest would fall apart soon after. Hopefully the trains will run again soon.

I can remember the years when we students travelled by train from Stellenbosch to Pretoria and back every winter -and summer holidays!! That was part of life then!!❤❤❤❤❤🚂🚃😂

Heart breaking.

So sad to watch the demise of SA and most other African countries.x

It is painful that these towns are no longer in service. The National Party and the ANC government neglected them. I need to revisit these towns for tourism and history vlog so these people can get back on feet and turn these towns economically hubs

South Africa could have been so much better. Look at how all the State Owned Entities turned out.

Really sad. My father was train conductor staintioned in Touwsrivier. Then it was still pretty and a town many wanted to stay in.

@ettiennelochner6346

8 ай бұрын

My pa ook Andre Lochner😊

Ons is in 2006 weg van Klipplaat. My man het slaghuis gehad en geboer. Toe het dit nie so sleg gelyk nie. Maar van 1995 af het dit begin met vandalisme. Geen wet. Net gemaak soos hul wil. Dit sē baie nē?

Cape Town to Kimberly by rail. Epic and sentimental to me❤

Sad story indeed but it echoes the cries of millions of people in similar situations across Africa. The railways will always be the main catalyst of industrialisation but it seems we have missed it in Africa. About two truckloads of bulk cargo equal one railway wagon and this saves lots of money maintaining the roads. Moreover, more bulk cargo will be moved more efficiently on a well maintained railway network than it would be on the roads.

We always visit Klipplaat and Mount Stewardt, so much opportunities if the state will just allow it

Sad that the whole country is crumbling. Its as if all the foundations of childhood memories have to be deleted before we get old.

This is very sad😢. I miss the journey by train to Kimberly every winter and summer holidays. Let's rebuild our SA ❤

@waltherziemerink

8 ай бұрын

Yes, get rid of the ANC.

@Omnist-

8 ай бұрын

@@waltherziemerink you can fly off first

@waltherziemerink

8 ай бұрын

@@Omnist- then do not complaining about the mediocrity.

I was fortunate to be pulled through the Karoo by steam, in 1986 (trade test), 1987 (call-up) and again in 1990 (camp).

Prime example of what happens when the government runs things. This is not only a SA problem

I doubt it started falling apart in the 1980's

When ANC take over or touch it falls apart 😢

Excellent documentary.

So sad.

Rooting for this town

Yes the SAR. Did close down some uneconomical routes . Not wise in the bigger picture. But Now Transnet has closed down high traffic, busy economical lines, Due to neglect.

My family came in 1703. In 2023 I left. I am so happy where I have 100% equality.

Anyone know the definition of Kakistocracy?

Did you see what happened with the historical train station in Potchefstroom....? So sad!!

this is so heartbreaking

I have always loved trains. This is really sad.But let's have hope.The trains are coming back.

"The people can't make money if the railways are transporting the goods" - The ANC.

@Jay-rd3hn

8 ай бұрын

What about national party?

@Phobos77777

8 ай бұрын

​@Jay-rd3hn they were the ones that built most of the infrastructure!

@nolaspeaker5656

8 ай бұрын

@@Jay-rd3hn When the Nats came to power in '48, they promised the voters jobs... and the Nats delivered jobs... through technician training programs that resulted in the expansion of the railway network. The railways is a Nat legacy that worked, you know, like Eskom, when the ANC came to power ...

@nolaspeaker5656

8 ай бұрын

@morganglen80 "Built" meaning, funded, supported, expanded and maintained.

I rode steam locomotives from Cape Town to Pretoria during the 1970’s and on occasion while taking road trips would stay at Matjiesfontein. Those were the days eh?

Even the passenger trains from Durban to Pinetown and down to Margate no longer run. The death and destruction on our roads and the cost , we could have built updated rail. Imagine high speed rail from cpt to JHB in a few hours.

Heartbreaking!! 😢😢

Thanks to ANc

@bukswillemsoosthuizen3745

8 ай бұрын

Well said...😢😢

Excellent Documentary.

To have any chance of reviving any of the competitive routes will require stable electricity and serious protection of railway infrastructure. Remember the days of the railway police too!

Interesting..Thank you

missing Derick from London , lived in Pretoria some years ago in the 2000;s

It's sad to see our country dying a fast death

Knowledge is power. I always think and blame the anc for single handedly destroying the most powerful rail networks, but now I have information. I'm still as sad 😔.