Johannesburg to Cape Town by train
Cape Town lies 1,262 km (784 mi) south-west of Johannesburg, 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.
| Johannesburg | Cape Town | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | South Africa | South Africa |
| Population | 9.4 million | 4.8 million |
| Elevation | 1,767 m (5,797 ft) | 25 m (82 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+2 (Africa/Johannesburg) | UTC+2 (Africa/Johannesburg) |
| Stations on record | Johannesburg Park Station, Westgate | none listed |
| Postal codes | 2000–2198 | 7100–8160 |
Where to book trains from Johannesburg to Cape Town
We take no bookings for these providers and hold no reservation with them. The provider you choose handles payment, confirmation, changes and refunds. How that works.
Staying in Cape Town
Our booking partner lists 6,750+ places to stay in Cape Town (statistics below are from the first 1,000). Of the 810 with a star rating, the largest group is 4-star (570), and 70 are five-star. Across 640 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 9 out of 10. Guests have left 386,360 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in Cape Town
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 Cape Town from Johannesburg?
1,262 km (784 mi) in a straight line, south-west of Johannesburg; by road roughly 1,539 km (956 mi).
How long does it take to get from Johannesburg to Cape Town 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 Johannesburg and Cape Town?
No, both are on Africa/Johannesburg at the moment.
Where can I stay in Cape Town?
Our booking partner lists 6,750+ places to stay in Cape Town, 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.