Railway line: Olifantsfontein to PTA East

[Grondpad]

I want to do a M.T.B. ride along the railway line from Olifantsfontein (starting at the R21) and ending at Silverlakes in PTA. east.

Does anyone ride along these railway lines or are they part of the notorious hijack route in Centurion? I am a bit concerned about the safety but it the route will be ideal after a swim at Lesure lakes (Base 3).

[Grondpad]

Bump

[Mountainman44]

I haven't tried this route, but my impression from driving around the older part of the city is that there are no significant service roads next to the railway line from Pretoria station out to Hatfield area at least. So I had a quick peek on Google Earth and it looks like all rail (both MetroRail and Gautrain) and no dirt track between PTA station and Hatfield.

[G-Unit]

I commute between Waterkloof and Germsiton and I cross the railway line on the eastern side of the R21 (near the 1-stop) at least once a week, and have done so on and off for the last 3 years with no problems.

 

But I would not advise anyone to ride along the tracks on the western side of the R21. It is much closer to Tembisa, and IMO the chances of riding into opportunistic criminals is much bigger.

 

If you know a safer way to get from Base 3 to Nellmapius, there are several decent routes from there to Silverlakes.

[Grondpad]

For those that are interested:

 

I did this ride last weekend and I can recommend it if you are not set on doing a very technical ride. It is flat, fast en it seems to be safe. I think it can be a good training ride for a 70.3 or full ironman. You can do a lap or two in LL and then jump on the bike and do the 90km ride

Edited April 2, 2012 by Grondpad

[Stewratl]

We used to ride in this section regulalry, but the section from Smuts to the railway line at the Olifants off ramp became hijackers heaven for small groups. Big groups still ride to the Engen on the R21 and back.

 

The railway line runs all the way to Bapsfontein with a good service road and at Bapsfontein the railway line splits and changes direction towards Boschkop and to the East Rand. You should check out Google earth and in theory stay left.

 

The other threat we have experienced between the back of Serengeti Golf Estate and Bapsfontein is a farmer who used to bury spikes under the ground and caused many a mtb rider 2 x flat wheels. The final straw for us was when stopped a group of mates of mine and threatened them with violence if he caught us along the service road again. Never argue with a khaki clad bearded farmer with a fire arm ...

 

Unfortunately he classified us together with offroad motorbikes which raced up and down the railway line.

 

It was a great ride and you can take it all the way to Bosckop / Mamelodi.

[Weight Weenie]

If this is the same road that goes from Bosckop to Kempton Park, then I feel it's quite safe. Allot of riders riding on the route. Only issue has been a dog chase or two but that can happen anywhere really...

 

We've done some good 5 hour out and back 100k mtb rides that way, there is a nice little railway bridge towards kempton with a river and a valley below it, lekker view and turn-around point.

 

Great for base training. Singletrack shop also has some group rides that go that way

 

WW.