High Speed on SA Transport Services & World Record on test

This is a short video originally shot on S8 movie film of the world record test run of 240kmh on 3ft6in gauge! and the first high speed daily train service between Pretoria and Johannesburg known as the Metroblitz operated during 1984. Test run: 31 October 1978.

[@basimanemodise]

How I used to enjoy train trips between Oakmoor/Tembisa - Johannesburg, it's now a thing of the past. Trains were always on time and plenty for any destination in metro areas, no accidents and affordable!

[@lespivnic]

Yes, Basimane - sadly no more on time if they run at all!

[@Isochest]

The Railway Police need to be reinstated

[@Khado819]

Hi Les Love the video. Quite interesting to know there was a "high-speed"rail before gautrain was introduced. Before Covid, Metrorail operated non stop express trains from PTA to JHB . However, I feel like they should stop at Rhodesfield to make a connection on the Gautrain. But that requires a efficient integrated transport system where prices are almost the same.

[@lespivnic]

Hi Makhado, Glad you enjoyed my video and yes, Gautrain was not the first hi-speed service between JHB and Pretoria. It also made use of the existing main line via Germiston. The Metroblitz was itself an experimantal service - further development was planned but due to political changes, the whole development program was suspended. Regards, Les.

[@BobyourUncle]

What makes me shake my head is that they pitched the idea of building Gautrain using European standard gauge track instead of the Cape Gauge used on the rest of our network on the idea that Cape Gauge couldn't handle high speed trains! This has completely prevented the expansion of the service onto existing track! If its possible to run at 160km/h on Cape Gauge why on earth did we build gautrain on standard gauge? smh

[@larryvockerodt239]

Hi Les, Thanks very much for sharing this video. Well I remember standing on Birchleigh station while she swooshed by. I was also part of the test from Johannesburg to Bloemfontein in 3hrs and 45 min.

[@lespivnic]

Thanks Larry - those were encouraging times - sadly no more!

[@Isochest]

South Africa needs passenger rail like this. Sadly those with power have no wisdom as we see throughout the world :-(

[@nixops]

Fantastic! what a unique glimpse into rail transport in SA. I remember one criticism was that most of the passengers that used it were spories using PTO's. I also remember them cutting the platforms at some of the stations, and I recall her staged in the shed in Braamfontein next to our appie school.

[@lespivnic]

Hi Larry, Glad that you enjoyed the video. My thanks to ALL those who have commented on the Metroblitz video. I had hoped to upload more videos but the upload time via my server is far too long - so the Metroblitz will be the one and only from my film library. Cheers Les

[@firefishy]

Hi Les, Can I help in any way? I can help transfer or upload anything you need? I am happy to post external hard disks or similar. Email me: grant AT firefishy DOT com

[@terryhutson3691]

Thanks for the memories. Great that you have the video to share with us.

[@lespivnic]

Thanks Terry!

[@Got2Travel_SA]

Good morning Uncle Les. Thank you for sharing this video. It was great to see the footage of the test. I do recall my father talking about it when i was younger. Thank you.

[@lespivnic]

You are most welcome Derick!

[@robertmaidment-wilson564]

Thank you, Les. I really enjoyed that, especially as it was all before my time in SA.

[@lespivnic]

Glad you enjoyed the video, Robert!

[@robertmaidment-wilson564]

@@lespivnic Always, Les.

[@tshepomotsie3319]

Truly appreciate the history shared here, it's our responsibility to preserve this great story and elevate Prasa and Transnet to such heights and greater

[@lespivnic]

Hi Tshepo, glad that you value my hi-speed clip on KZbin - sadly, the further development program was cancelled due to political changes that were coming and effected in 1994. Les.

[@Isochest]

@@lespivnic Sadly the individuals in charge were not the selfless altruistic folk who all peoples need to govern any nation.

[@transnamibnel]

Thanks for sharing. One of the best I have seen.

[@lespivnic]

Thanks Martin!

[@aheat3036]

Unfortunately, all these types of developments and progress ended after 1994.

[@HloniT03]

The Gautrain?

[@ikemthethomvandaba5425]

Thank you for the footage though, it's part of development and early pioneers

[@meshacklouw2272]

Used to be a train driver...memories...

[@davey1121]

Such an amazing piece of history captured

[@lespivnic]

Thanks David!

[@WayneSA85]

Brilliant footage Les!

[@lespivnic]

Thanks Wayne!

[@lespivnic]

Hello Martin and Hennie, You are most welcome! Glad that you enjoyed my first uploading to KZbin.

[@willemkotze2611]

I was fortunate enough to climb into the cabin of a class 12E loco when I was a kid. The locomotive and it's partner wasn't hauling the Metroblitz, but a far more illustrious blue colored train that visited Durban for some unknown reason I can't remember, but it was a great surprise to see her coming over.

[@ralphralefeta1179]

what happened to the famous Jacaranda express?I still remeber that journey from Park Station to Bosman,It only took 15 minutes plus,it has to come back

[@lespivnic]

Hi Willem, the blue coloured train that visited Durban was the famous "Blue Train" - in times past, one of the world's top luxury trains.

[@willemkotze2611]

@@lespivnic Yes I know, I didn't want to give the name away in describing the train but obviously everyone knew it was the Bluetrain

[@heymanshb]

Thanks for sharing!

[@lespivnic]

You are welcome, Hennie!

[@basilschumann6185]

This shows how fast we can reverse too!! Down to no infrastructure or tracks or railway service.

[@RAILFANinSOUTHAFRICA]

Absolutely awesome !!!

[@lespivnic]

Yes indeed, it was awesome for the Cape gauge!

[@georgekoen7414]

I remember riding this train from Pretoria to Jo'burg. Quite the experience. Just a pity SAR did not pursue this venture.

[@lespivnic]

Hi George, further development for Metroblitz was planned but the political changes that came in 1994 resulted in further development being abandoned. Les.

[@zugzug9969]

I still have my SAR HO MetroBlitz trainset... on display in my home

[@Isochest]

I may have sounded too critical. I salute the South African Engineers who developed this for the Cape Gauge. Has Japan Australia and New Zealand learnt from this? Moving forward I hope Gautrain will extend to become a High Speed network through South Africa and beyond.

[@lespivnic]

Sadly, political changes put a stop to further development that was already being planned.

[@HBC101TVStudios]

Japan already has a high speed cape gauge line, with Shinkanzen trains using dual gauge wheels in order for it to operate on the main railway line which uses cape gauge / 1067 mm.

[@Isochest]

Lovely to see heavy D.C. catenary wobble: I have seen this in the Netherlands too!

[@user-dm5uc4sy7p]

Wow, this is very strange like RedDevil ! by the way,,, Why opening's BGM is “a midsummer night's dream”? lol

[@DeanosRides]

Those were good days in South Africa!

[@homerjsimpson2398]

I just love South Africa

[@lespivnic]

Hello Homer - thanks for your comment. Hello to all the other people that commented on my video of the hi-speed tests on the SA Transport Services. Unfortunately, I didn't know that any comments were published and I only saw them today - for the first time on the 1st of Jan 2018! Happy New Year to All!

[@Isochest]

I wonder if those small children at the end of the video ended up working for Spoornet/Transnet? Who knows? I would hope so!

[@Isochest]

I never knew South Africa did anything like this on cape gauge. I had the privilege of travelling between Johannesburg and Pretoria on the regular trains back in 1994 and was happy with the speeds

[@lespivnic]

The Metroblitz was just the first stage of planned further hi-speed development. Political changes put an end to the planned development.

[@Isochest]

@@lespivnicPolitics after all is the Business of stealing from the Citizens sadly. Direct Democracy like the Swiss would help all peoples of the world along with no income nor sales tax just a tax on land and unearned income. End of Rant and off Soapbox!

[@Isochest]

Metroblitz was unfortunately a capacity killer on the Johannesburg to Pretoria main line. I enjoyed travelling this route in 1994 nowhere near as fast stopping everywhere with 3x3kv dc EMUs coupled together

[@lespivnic]

Yes, Metroblitz didn't enjoy a dedicated track like Gautrain. It had to share the existing main line with ordinary slower trains.

[@Isochest]

​@@lespivnic You have summed up the problem. Hopefully a pan African standard gauge network can be realised. But I still admire the South African engineers' resilience in creating High Speed on Cape Gauge!

[@DaveyJonesLockerwithJazzy]

What motors were they using on these units to upgrade from the 5/6E class units ?

[@lespivnic]

Hi Jas, the gearing on the class 12Es for Metroblitz duty provided for 160kmph but the 6E1 used on the experimental hi-speed test had her gearing altered to allow for ultra hi-speed running - hence the world record fot the 3ft 6in gauge. Les.

[@amanurrahman8360]

It is really unbelievable that a narrow gauge trins speed is so many in the past early 1978.। cannot understand that why india cannot ride their broad gauge train more than 165 or 170 km/h per hour.And it is sad matter that there is no recherch about narrow gauge trains speed. Though there are some country(Malaysia,Japan & Australia) ride Their meter gauge and cape gauge train more than 160/h per hour.It seems to me that if there is enough recherch on this mater present time the narrow gauge railways train can ride more than 200 km/h easily.Only need for that high quality narrow gauge railtrack and recherch.

[@AsherPardey]

Hi Les, awesome video, I'm so glad you were able to capture it! I wanted to ask, would it be possible for me to use snippets of your video for a KZbin video that I'm making? I would obviously credit you. :) The video is about the MetroBlitz.

[@lespivnic]

Yes Asher, with credit to me for the snippets, go ahead.

[@lespivnic]

I would also appreciate a link to the KZbin when it is finished.

[@AsherPardey]

@@lespivnic Hi Les, awesome thank you, I will definitely send a link!

[@AsherPardey]

@@lespivnic Here's a link to the video, I credited you for the footage, and linked your channel in the description. Many thanks! kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYu2iHt3rJaeha8

[@marcharljankowitz167]

Has the Metroblitz perhaps paved the way for the Gautrain in some way?

[@lespivnic]

No, the Gautrains are British-designed trains whereas the hi-speed tests for Metroblitz were just the beginning - further development was planned but fell through due to political changes that occurred later.

[@goodbarbenie5477]

Die goeie gesonde oue dae...?

[@26hannes47]

Super

[@lespivnic]

Thanks Hannes!

[@heinmadsen-leipoldt2341]

What happened to this train?

[@Dani_Valykrie]

240kmph, on Cape Gauge. I can't imagine that'll be a comfortable ride lmao

[@juniorvandermerwe4483]

This train takes 45 minutes from Pretoria to Johannesburg with traffic on a shared line with other trains... Gautrain does it in the same time with no traffic on its own line

[@zolanipenxa3520]

But they said this one doesn't stop the Gautrain does make a couple of stops in between. They both 160 km per hour. Hope I was there to experience this train.

[@lespivnic]

I agree with you Junior! Les.

[@Maria63756]

❤❤❤

[@nyoni_tour6677]

So there use to be a metrobliz before the gautrain. Thosedays people preferd to use cars but now if you see how packd the gautarin is. Lets hope thesedays are not to far away: the days began 2010.

[@jamesa3278]

A refreshing memory. 😂

[@nazirjones3608]

When is South Africa gonna have High speed Trains?

[@lespivnic]

Nazir, the railways in South Africa have been almost totally wrecked over the last 30 odd years - never mind a high speed train!

[@Antloo2009]

@@lespivnic since 1994 it’s all been a mess. It really was better back then

[@Isochest]

I love the absence of diesels. Steam and Electric. True harmony🙂

[@Steven_Rowe]

So apart from the test train was was the normal top speed in every day operation.. The commentator sounds like he is doing a cricket test match. Sad. In so e ways that SA used narrow gauge when standard or perhaps even broad gauge would be better.

[@lespivnic]

Hi Steven, the normal top speed on the SAR's Cape gauge was 55mph and on the Jhb - Pretoria section 60mph. Metroblitz was stage 1 of further development that didn't happen due to political changes.

[@TheAbderaman]

the fastest train in africa was actually the ZMC ONCF units in 1983 in north africa , south africa is rich and more developped why they didn't use standard gauge like algeria and morocco ?

[@lespivnic]

The high-speed tests safely achieved 245km/hour on 3ft6in gauge which is a world record. So we had no need to adopt the standard gauge used in North Africa.

[@TheAbderaman]

@@lespivnicso the narrow gauge doesen't represents a danger of derailment on curves ? is it safe as the standard gauge ?

[@lespivnic]

The Gautrain runs on standard gauge and the Metroblitz was the first stage of development on Cape gauge. If development had continued, it would have travelled as fast as the Algerian trains. The test train on Cape gauge reached 245kmph!

[@lespivnic]

The planned further development would have included a dedicated track with suitable curves for hi-speed - just as safe as your Algerian trains.@@TheAbderaman

[@TheAbderaman]

@@lespivnicyes but it was in morocco not algeria , after all the largest rail network of africa remains south african even if it is in narrow gauge

[@phatmeow7764]

wait i heard narrow gauge could not get faster than 160 kph guess i heard wrong!

[@lespivnic]

Phat Meow: You certainly heard wrong - I filmed the test trip when the test train rushed past my camera doing 245km/hour! The speed attained on test was confirmed by an engineer on board the test train. These tests resulted in a brief but regular passenger 160km/hour service between Pretoria and Johannesburg via Germiston. The service was brief because political changes were coming and that put paid to any further development of the high-speed tests.

[@Isochest]

This railway looks a lot like the Amsterdam to Den Haag railway

[@lespivnic]

Sadly, this railway doesn't exist anymore!

[@Isochest]

@@lespivnic Has it been looted?

[@lespivnic]

@@Isochest No, it has been destroyed like most of the railways in South Africa - nothing to joke about!

[@Isochest]

@@lespivnic Sorry. I didn't mean it as a joke. South Africa seems to be being destroyed from within by criminals at all levels. We have heard here (UK) about André de Ruyter former Eskom CEO who criminals tried to murder. It sounds like a total disaster in every way!

[@Isochest]

@@lespivnic Sorry. I don't want to ridicule anything about South Africa it's people or railways. I visited in 1994 and admired South Africa as a country that had an excellent railway system. It reflected the values of the European settlers building the country up. I have every respect for the Indigenous Black and Mixed Race people too whom I met and hoped their country would become a High Income country for all. They all valued education. South Africa has this potential. As usual Politicians let us down.

[@leonvanderlinde5580]

Les, your comment on the South African public is not public transport orientated. The same problem as with the Gautrain. There is no support services like busses and safe taxis. The Gautrain has only limited bus service, Although Jack van der Merwe promised a full bus service in a 10 km radius from the stations, and I live 6km from a station, I have no bus service. The same happened with the Metroblitz. You got to the station, and you were stuck.

[@henniederuyter6848]

In 1984 a huge number of people worked in the Johannesburg CBD. It was vibrant and with wonderful shops. The flight to Sandton was still in the future. Also, parking at Metrorail stations was mostly safe, plentiful and free. So for many the train worked without needing additional busses. I used this Metroblitz numerous times. It was amazing.

[@lespivnic]

Hi Leon, sorry that my statement disappointed you but I'm only concerned with railway developmet and not what the public requires - that is left to parliamentarians to sort out.

[@tackywhale5664]

I find it unfortunate that this occurred during the apartheid era, as praising this will likely be seen as downplaying how bad apartheid was, although I still praise it-and not the apartheid aspect-nonetheless.

[@lespivnic]

the answer is simple TackyWhale - don't mix brilliant railway engineering and politics.

[@andrekalonji3254]

Fv