Gautrain turned an unexpected underground mishap into a viral moment after a borehole was drilled a little too close to its Rosebank-Park line – forcing a closure but delivering Joburg commuters a laugh in the process.
Johannesburg, South Africa (23 February 2025) – When life gives you an unexpected underground crisis, turn it into a viral laugh!
Gautrain recently faced one of the most bizarre disruptions in its history after an unauthorised borehole was drilled too close to the underground train line. This unusual incident forced the temporary suspension of the Rosebank-Park station service – an inconvenience for commuters but an absolute win for South African humour.
As of the 16th of February, Gautrain services between Rosebank and Park stations remained suspended due to illegal drilling activity on private property above the tunnel. Parts of the 80-km Gautrain network run underground, with the rest operating above ground. However, the unexpected borehole caused water and soil to seep into the tunnel, making it unsafe to operate trains between these two stations.
The drilling, which was not approved under the Gauteng Transport Infrastructure Act, led to an engineering headache – but instead of frustration, Gautrain responded with the kind of humour that makes Joburgers proud.
Rather than issuing a standard corporate announcement, the Gautrain team decided to take a more lighthearted approach, posting this gem of an update on social media:
“Oops, They Drilled a Little Too Deep…
Johannesburg, we’ve got a bit of a hole in the situation. Someone decided to audition for “Journey to the Centre of the Earth”‘, a little too close to our Rosebank-Park line. Let’s say their drilling skills have got them into a bit of hot water – not exactly what they were looking for!
So, while our team of highly skilled tunnel patchers works their magic, we’ve laid on extra buses between Rosebank and Park. Think of it as a scenic surface route, a chance to see Johannesburg for a change!
You may discover a new favourite coffee shop. Or a massive pothole.It’s Johannesburg, after all.
We know this adds a little extra “adventure” to your commute, but safety first, folks. We’d rather have a slight delay than a surprise encounter with a subterranean spring or a very confused mole.
Thanks for bearing with us. We’ll get you back underground soon. In the meantime, enjoy the fresh air! And watch out for rogue.”
Naturally, social media exploded with laughter, proving once again that this country knows how to find humour in any situation.
“Lol the humour in this 😂😂😂😂 was pothole really necessary?”
“Nandosing this incident with some hot spicy official statement.”
“I love when corporates have humour.”
Even in the middle of the chaos, Gautrain ensured that commuters were taken care of. Buses were deployed every 15 minutes between Rosebank and Park stations from 05:30 to 20:30, keeping Joburg moving while repairs were underway.
Gauteng Transport and Logistics MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela visited the site to inspect the damage, assuring passengers that safety remained the top priority. And the good news? According to The Times, the “Gautrain team worked around the clock and service between Rosebank and Park is expected to be restored by Monday“!
The Gautrain team confirmed this on Monday morning with an updated social media post.
This entire situation could have been a frustrating commuter nightmare, but instead, it became a reminder of why South Africans are some of the best people on the planet. A city that can turn an infrastructure hiccup into a comedy masterclass is a city that refuses to let challenges bring it down.
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