Cape Town to Johannesburg by train
Johannesburg lies 1,262 km (784 mi) north-east of Cape Town, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there.
By rail the journey is about 18 h 8 min at the speeds typical of South Africa rail, over roughly 1,539 km (956 mi) of track; the operator’s timetable is the number that counts.
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| Cape Town | Johannesburg | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | South Africa | South Africa |
| Population | 4.8 million | 9.4 million |
| Elevation | 25 m (82 ft) | 1,767 m (5,797 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+2 (Africa/Johannesburg) | UTC+2 (Africa/Johannesburg) |
| Stations on record | none listed | Johannesburg Park Station, Westgate |
| Postal codes | 7100–8160 | 2000–2198 |
Where to book trains from Cape Town to Johannesburg
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Staying in Johannesburg
Our booking partner lists 1,835+ places to stay in Johannesburg (statistics below are from the first 1,000). Of the 616 with a star rating, the largest group is 4-star (364), and 29 are five-star. Across 531 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 8.4 out of 10. Guests have left 356,237 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in Johannesburg
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Johannesburg from Cape Town?
1,262 km (784 mi) in a straight line, north-east of Cape Town; by road roughly 1,539 km (956 mi).
How long does it take to get from Cape Town to Johannesburg by train?
About 18 h 8 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Cape Town and Johannesburg?
No, both are on Africa/Johannesburg at the moment.
Where can I stay in Johannesburg?
Our booking partner lists 1,835+ places to stay in Johannesburg, bookable on this site.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.