The newly built Gautrain is featured on one of 10 new South African stamps to commemorate 150 years of railways in the country.

The Gautrain is however a break with South African tradition as it is standard gauge (about 1.4 metres) compared to the majority of the country’s railways which are 3ft 6ins gauge (about 1 metre).

The South African government wants to change the rail network to standard gauge in the long term but rail operator Transnet says such a change is unrealistic and not cost-effective because there is 14,000 miles of “Cape gauge” track which also exists in Zimbabwe, Namibia, Swaziland and Mozambique.

The new Gautrain service is worked by Derby-built four-car Electrostar multiple-unit trains supplied by Bombardier.

The stamps feature the 1954-built steam class 25 Condensor locomotives and five other steam locos, including the Red Devil.


For more information: SA150