We all know what it feels like to be the one waiting. Lately, the wait for a train seems to be completely unpredictable. In a situation like this, we tend to think that we are alone. The reality is that we already have a community of people who travel by train who need the correct platform.
We believe that by empowering the community, we can help bring back a sense of predictability to the trains. We have created this guide to help Cape Town commuters find a means to improve their train experiences.
1. Be prepared for anything
Always make sure you have your phone or smartphone and some spare cash with you. You can never have enough warning when the next train might be cancelled or if your line is affected by delays. Sometimes these delays can vary from 5 - 60+ minutes. Having your phone available can help you arrange a lift from a friend. If you are having trouble catching a lift, you can always try catching a bus or a taxi. Yes, it might be more effort to try use other means of transport but it beats having to stand around waiting for a train which may never arrive.
2. Get the Wizzherd app
So if you like to get the best train experience, we would suggest you download and use the Wizzherd app for your Android phone. The app has many features which aims to improve the commuter experience. Commuters can see scheduled and cancelled trains. When a commuter selects the train which they will be boarding they will be able track their train journey. Tracking your journey essentially helps other commuters to see the progress of the train you are travelling on. This is what we like to call Smart Trains. You can download the beta version of the Wizzherd app from the Google Play Store.
3. Plan your journey
Always try plan your trip in advance, especially if it is your first time. The Wizzherd app is great at showing you upcoming train stations on a line. You can preview which stations each train will be passing on the line. You can also preview reports from other users from trains. While the beta version of the Wizzherd app only caters for the Southern Line, we are planning to expand to other train lines in the near future.
4. Be vigilant, travel safe and enjoy the ride.
Before boarding the train always make sure you have your valuables stashed away safely. While travelling on the train you might want to catch up on your daily reading or internet surfing. As long as you have data reception, the Wizzherd app will be able to let you know which station you are at. This is especially helpful on the cold winter mornings or nights when visibility is poor. The app will also notify you when you are close to reaching your destination. But if you don’t like distractions, then you can disable it in the app settings.
5. Start the movement with your fellow commuters
Wizzherd encourages commuters to work together to help provide insight to the movement of trains. We believe that commuters can offer each other a helping hand with their actions. So when a commuter uses the app to ‘Start their journey’, it can cause a ripple effect to fellow commuters. While a commuter is tracking their train, they also have the ability to add reports. So if a carriage is crowded or unsafe then they can inform other users. This is how we can all work together to make our trains smarter. Lastly, we are looking to grow the herd so please share Wizzherd on your social platforms and help to start the movement.