Editing Cape Town (section)

=== Transport ===
==== Air ====
[[File:2013.01.03 Ciudad del Cabo, ZA (28).JPG|thumb|left|[[Cape Town International Airport]]]]
[[Cape Town International Airport]] serves both domestic and international flights.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Flights to Cape Town |url=https://flytoct.com |access-date=10 December 2023 |website=capetownetc.com}}</ref> It is the second-largest airport in South Africa and serves as a major gateway for travellers to the Cape region. Cape Town has regularly scheduled services to [[Southern Africa]], [[East Africa]], [[Mauritius]], [[Middle East]], [[Far East]], [[Europe]], [[Brazil]] and the [[United States]] as well as eleven domestic destinations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cape Town International Airport |url=http://www.southafrica.info/plan_trip/travel_tips/arriving/ctairport.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060625211424/http://www.southafrica.info/plan_trip/travel_tips/arriving/ctairport.htm |archive-date=25 June 2006 |publisher=SouthAfrica.info}}</ref>

As tourism numbers increased in the lead-up to the tournament of the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]], Cape Town International Airport opened a brand new central terminal building that was developed to handle an expected increase in air traffic.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jordan |first=Bobby |date=17 May 1998 |title=R150-million upgrade kicks off one of the biggest developments in Cape Town's history |url=http://www.suntimes.co.za/1998/05/17/news/cape/nct01.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051204030148/http://www.suntimes.co.za/1998/05/17/news/cape/nct01.htm |archive-date=4 December 2005 |access-date=13 June 2006 |work=Sunday Times |location=UK}}</ref>

Other renovations include several large new parking garages, a revamped domestic departure terminal, a new Bus Rapid Transit system station and a new double-decker road system. The airport's cargo facilities are also being expanded and several large empty plots are being developed into [[office|office space]] and hotels.

Cape Town is one of five internationally recognised [[Antarctic gateway cities]] with transportation connections. Since 2021, commercial flights have operated from Cape Town to [[Wolfs Fang Runway|Wolf's Fang Runway]], Antarctica.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 November 2021 |title=White Desert introduces direct flights from Cape Town to Antarctica |url=https://www.capetownetc.com/news/white-desert-introduces-direct-flights-from-cape-town-to-antarctica/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221202948/https://www.capetownetc.com/news/white-desert-introduces-direct-flights-from-cape-town-to-antarctica/ |archive-date=21 February 2022 |access-date=23 February 2022 |website=capetownetc.com}}</ref> The Cape Town International Airport was among the winners of the World Travel Awards for being Africa's leading airport.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cape Town International Airport |url=http://www.ctru.co.za/C3/CapeTownInternationalAirportamongtheWorld.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140922094206/http://www.ctru.co.za/C3/CapeTownInternationalAirportamongtheWorld.pdf |archive-date=22 September 2014 |publisher=Cape Town Routes Unlimited}}</ref> Cape Town International Airport is located 18{{spaces}}km from the [[Central Business District]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Distance Calculator |url=http://www.distancecalculator.co.za/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724001841/http://www.distancecalculator.co.za/ |archive-date=24 July 2019 |access-date=24 July 2019 |website=distancecalculator.co.za}}</ref>

==== Sea ====
[[File:2011-02-06 14-34-03 South Africa - Foreshore.jpg|thumb|The [[Port of Cape Town]] is a major transport node in southern Africa. In addition to moving freight it also serves as a major repair site for ships and oil rigs.]]
Cape Town has a long tradition as a port city, and its role as a re-provisioning stop at the midpoint of the [[Cape Route]] gained it the nicknames "Tavern of the Seas" and "Tavern of the Indian Ocean".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ward |first=Kerry |title=Seascapes |date=31 December 2017 |publisher=University of Hawaii Press |isbn=978-0-8248-6424-8 |pages=137–152 |chapter=8. "Tavern of the Seas"? The Cape of Good Hope as an Oceanic Crossroads during the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries |doi=10.1515/9780824864248-011}}</ref> The [[Port of Cape Town]], the city's main port, is in Table Bay directly to the north of the CBD.

The port is a hub for ships in the southern Atlantic: it is located along one of the busiest shipping corridors in the world, and acts as a stopover point for goods en route to or from Latin America and Asia. It is also an entry point into the South African market.<ref name="EU Handbook 2020">{{Cite book |url=https://ec.europa.eu/chafea/agri/sites/default/files/south-africa-handbook-2020_en.pdf |title=The Food and Beverage Market Entry Handbook: South Africa |publisher=European Union |year=2020 |isbn=978-92-9478-535-0 |location=European Union |pages=178 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210808145237/https://ec.europa.eu/chafea/agri/sites/default/files/south-africa-handbook-2020_en.pdf |archive-date=8 August 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> It is the second-busiest container port in South Africa after [[Durban]]. In 2004, it handled 3,161 ships and 9.2{{spaces}}million tonnes of cargo.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Introducing SAPO |url=http://www.ports.co.za/port-operations.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110801011548/http://ports.co.za/port-operations.php |archive-date=1 August 2011 |publisher=South African Port Operations}}</ref>

[[Simon's Town]] Harbour on the False Bay coast of the Cape Peninsula is the main operational base of the [[South African Navy]].<!-- The SAN headquarters is in Pretoria, not Simon's Town. But Simon's Town is, as stated, a major operational base for the South African Navy -->

Until the 1970s the city was served by the [[Union Castle Line]] with service to the United Kingdom and St Helena.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The last boat to St Helena |url=https://www.theoldie.co.uk/article/the-last-boat-to-st-helena |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727071810/https://www.theoldie.co.uk/article/the-last-boat-to-st-helena |archive-date=27 July 2020 |access-date=6 January 2020 |website=The Oldie}}</ref> The [[RMS St Helena (1989)|RMS ''St Helena'']] provided passenger and cargo service between Cape Town and [[St Helena]] until the opening of [[St Helena Airport]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hollins, Jonathan |date=19 February 2018 |title=What it was like to sail aboard the RMS St Helena's final voyage |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/rms-st-helena-royal-mail-ship-final-journey-cape-town-a8217436.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426204147/https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/rms-st-helena-royal-mail-ship-final-journey-cape-town-a8217436.html |archive-date=26 April 2021 |access-date=6 January 2020 |website=[[The Independent]]}}</ref>

The cargo vessel M/V ''Helena'', under AW Shipping Management, takes a limited number of passengers,<ref name="Cargoships">{{Cite web |last=Trend |first=Nick |title=10 fascinating voyages on cargo ships |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/lists/cabins-on-cargo-ships/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114022803/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/lists/cabins-on-cargo-ships/ |archive-date=14 January 2020 |access-date=6 January 2020 |website=The Telegraph}}</ref> between Cape Town and St Helena and [[Ascension Island]] on its voyages.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Passengers |url=https://sthelenashipping.com/passengers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231144231/http://sthelenashipping.com/passengers/ |archive-date=31 December 2019 |access-date=6 January 2020 |website=St Helena Shipping |publisher=AW Shipping Management}} – see [http://www.sthelenashipping.com/passengers/routes-prices/ Routes and Prices] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228173202/http://www.sthelenashipping.com/passengers/routes-prices/ |date=28 December 2019 }} which confirms its destinations</ref> Multiple vessels also take passengers to and from [[Tristan da Cunha]], inaccessible by aircraft, to and from Cape Town.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cape Town – Tristan da Cunha Shipping Schedule |url=https://www.tristandc.com/shipping.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611235109/https://www.tristandc.com/shipping.php |archive-date=11 June 2020 |access-date=6 January 2020 |publisher=Tristan da Cunha Government & Tristan da Cunha Association}}</ref> In addition, NSB Niederelbe Schiffahrtsgesellschaft takes passengers on its cargo service to the [[Canary Islands]] and [[Hamburg]], [[Germany]].<ref name=Cargoships/>

==== Rail ====
[[File:X'trapolis Mega on Kalk Bay bridge Dec 2023.jpg|thumb|[[Metrorail (Western Cape)|Metrorail]] train near [[Kalk Bay]] station.]]
The [[Shosholoza Meyl]] is the passenger rail operations of [[Spoornet]] and operates one long-distance passenger rail service from Cape Town as of 2024: a weekly service to and from [[Johannesburg]] via [[Kimberley, South Africa|Kimberley]]. These trains terminate at [[Cape Town railway station]] and make a stop at [[Bellville railway station|Bellville]]. Cape Town also terminates 2 luxury tourist train routes as of 2024 operated by the [[Ceres Rail Company]], traveling from the [[V&A Waterfront|Waterfront]] to [[Simon's Town]] and [[Grabouw]] respectively.

[[Metrorail (Western Cape)|Metrorail]] operates a [[commuter rail]] service in Cape Town and the surrounding area. The Metrorail network consists of 96 stations throughout the suburbs and outskirts of Cape Town.

==== Road ====
Cape Town is the origin of three [[National Roads in South Africa|national roads]]. The [[N1 (South Africa)|N1]] and [[N2 (South Africa)|N2]] begin in the foreshore area near the City Centre and the [[N7 (South Africa)|N7]], which runs North toward [[Namibia]]. The N1 runs East-North-East from Cape Town through the towns of [[Goodwood, Western Cape|Goodwood]], [[Parow, South Africa|Parow]], [[Bellville, Cape Town|Bellville]], [[Brackenfell, Cape Town|Brackenfell]] and [[Kraaifontein]] before continuing towards [[Paarl]]. It connects Cape Town to major cities further inland, namely [[Bloemfontein]], [[Johannesburg]], and [[Pretoria]] An older at-grade road, the [[R101 road (South Africa)|R101]], runs parallel to the N1 from Bellville.

The N2 runs East-South-East through [[Rondebosch]], [[Guguletu]], [[Khayelitsha]], [[Macassar, Western Cape|Macassar]] to [[Somerset West]]. It becomes a multiple-carriageway, at-grade road from the intersection with the [[R44 road (South Africa)|R44]] onward. The N2 continues east along the coast, linking Cape Town with Somerset West and the coastal cities of [[Mossel Bay]], [[George, South Africa|George]], [[Port Elizabeth]], [[East London, South Africa|East London]] and [[Durban]]. An older at-grade road, the [[R102 (South Africa)|R102]], runs parallel to the N1 initially, before veering south at Bellville, to join the N2 at Somerset West via the towns of [[Kuils River|Kuilsrivier]] and [[Eerste River, Western Cape|Eersterivier]]. The N7 originates from the N1 at Wingfield Interchange near Edgemead. It begins, initially as a highway, but becoming an at-grade road from the intersection with the M5 onward.
[[File:Cape Town N2.jpg|thumb|left|The [[N2 (South Africa)|N2]] as it enters the city centre.]]

There are also a number of [[Provincial route (South Africa)|regional routes]] linking Cape Town with surrounding areas. The [[R27 road (South Africa)|R27]] originates from the N1 near the Foreshore and runs north parallel to the N7, but nearer to the coast. It passes through the suburbs of [[Milnerton, Cape Town|Milnerton]], [[Table View, Cape Town|Table View]] and [[Bloubergstrand, Cape Town|Bloubergstrand]] and links the city to the West Coast, ending at the town of [[Velddrif]].

The [[R44 road (South Africa)|R44]] enters the east of the metro from the north, from [[Stellenbosch]]. It connects Stellenbosch to Somerset West, then crosses the N2 to [[Strand, Western Cape|Strand]] and [[Gordon's Bay]]. It exits the metro heading south hugging the coast, leading to the towns of [[Betty's Bay]] and [[Kleinmond]].

Of the three-digit routes, the [[R300 road (South Africa)|R300]] is an expressway linking the N1 at [[Brackenfell]] to the N2 near [[Mitchells Plain]] and the [[Cape Town International Airport]]. The [[R302 road (South Africa)|R302]] runs from the R102 in Bellville, heading north across the N1 through [[Durbanville]] leaving the metro to [[Malmesbury, Western Cape|Malmesbury]]. The [[R304 road (South Africa)|R304]] enters the northern limits of the metro from Stellenbosch, running NNW before veering west to cross the N7 at [[Philadelphia, Western Cape|Philadelphia]] to end at [[Atlantis, Western Cape|Atlantis]] at a junction with the [[R307 road (South Africa)|R307]]. This R307 starts north of [[Koeberg]] from the R27 and, after meeting the R304, continues north to [[Darling, Western Cape|Darling]]. The [[R310 road (South Africa)|R310]] originates from [[Muizenberg]] and runs along the coast, to the south of Mitchell's Plain and Khayelitsha, before veering north-east, crossing the N2 west of Macassar, and exiting the metro heading to Stellenbosch.

Cape Town, like most South African cities, uses [[Metropolitan Routes in Cape Town|Metropolitan]] or "M" routes for important intra-city routes, a layer below National (N) roads and Regional (R) routes. Each city's M roads are independently numbered. Most are at-grade roads. The [[M3 (Cape Town)|M3]] splits from the N2 and runs to the south along the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, connecting the City Bowl with [[Muizenberg]].

Except for a section between Rondebosch and Newlands that has at-grade intersections, this route is a highway. The [[M5 (Cape Town)|M5]] splits from the N1 further east than the M3, and links the Cape Flats to the CBD. It is a highway as far as the interchange with the M68 at Ottery, before continuing as an at-grade road. Cape Town has the worst traffic congestion in [[South Africa]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=TomTom Traffic Index |url=http://www.tomtom.com/en_gb/trafficindex/#/list |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151201021928/https://www.tomtom.com/en_gb/trafficindex/#/list |archive-date=1 December 2015 |access-date=29 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=R750 million to fight traffic in SA's most congested city |url=http://businesstech.co.za/news/general/103039/r750-million-to-fight-traffic-in-sas-most-congested-city/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208104036/http://businesstech.co.za/news/general/103039/r750-million-to-fight-traffic-in-sas-most-congested-city/ |archive-date=8 December 2015 |access-date=29 November 2015}}</ref>

==== Buses ====
[[Golden Arrow Bus Services]] operates scheduled bus services in the Cape Town metropolitan area. Several companies run long-distance bus services from Cape Town to the other cities in South Africa.

===== MyCiTi =====
{{main|MyCiTi}}
[[File:MyCiti BRT Adderley station (21812360016).jpg|thumb|[[MyCiTi]] station and bus]]
Cape Town has a public transport system in about 10% of the city, running north to south along the west coastline of the city, comprising Phase 1 of the IRT system. This is known as the MyCiTi service.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MyCiTi |url=https://myciti.org.za/en/home/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151225063521/http://myciti.org.za/en/home/ |archive-date=25 December 2015 |access-date=29 December 2015}}</ref>

MyCiTi Phase 1 includes services linking the Airport to the Cape Town inner city, as well as the following areas: [[Bloubergstrand|Blouberg]] / [[Table View]], [[Dunoon, Cape Town|Dunoon]], [[Atlantis, Western Cape|Atlantis]] and [[Melkbosstrand]], [[Milnerton, Cape Town|Milnerton]], Paarden Eiland, [[Century City, Cape Town|Century City]], [[Salt River, Cape Town|Salt River]] and [[Walmer Estate, Cape Town|Walmer Estate]], and all suburbs of the [[City Bowl]] and [[#Atlantic Seaboard|Atlantic Seaboard]] all the way to [[Llandudno, Cape Town|Llandudno]] and [[Hout Bay, Cape Town|Hout Bay]].{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

The MyCiTi N2 Express service consists of four routes each linking the Cape Town inner city and [[Khayelitsha]] and [[Mitchells Plain]] on the [[Cape Flats]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=MyCiTi {{!}} N2 Express services to restart on 19 February 2022 |url=https://www.myciti.org.za/en/routes-stops/n2-express/ |access-date=3 March 2024 |website=www.myciti.org.za |language=en-US}}</ref>

The service use high floor articulated and standard size buses in dedicated busways, low floor articulated and standard size buses on the N2 Express service, and smaller {{cvt|9|m|adj=on|abbr=off}} [[Optare]] buses in suburban and inner city areas. It offers [[Accessibility#Transportation|universal access]] through level boarding and numerous other measures, and requires cashless fare payment using the [[EMV]] compliant smart card system, called myconnect. Headway of services (i.e. the time between buses on the same route) range from three to twenty minutes in peak times to an hour in off-peak times.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

==== Taxis ====
[[File:Cape Town Taxicab in Campsbay.jpg|thumb|left|A fleet of privately owned taxis in [[Camps Bay]]]]
Cape Town has various kinds of taxis available, including those obtained through ride-hailing services such as [[Bolt (company)|Bolt]] and [[Uber]].

Taxis are either [[taxicab|metered taxis]] or [[minibus taxi]]s. Metered taxis can be found at transport hubs as well as other tourist establishments, while minibus taxis can be found at taxi ranks, and, commonly, travelling along main streets.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Public transport {{!}} Transport and Public Works |url=https://www.westerncape.gov.za/tpw/public-transport |access-date=29 May 2023 |website=www.westerncape.gov.za}}</ref> Minibus taxis can be hailed from the road.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The best ways to get around Cape Town: cycling, walking and safety |url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/getting-around-cape-town |access-date=29 May 2023 |website=Lonely Planet |language=en}}</ref>

Cape Town metered taxi cabs mostly operate in the city bowl, suburbs and Cape Town International Airport areas. Large companies that operate fleets of cabs can be reached by phone and are cheaper than the single operators that apply for hire from taxi ranks and [[Victoria and Alfred Waterfront]].

There are about 1,000 meter taxis in Cape Town. Their rates vary from R8 per kilometre to about R15 per kilometre. The larger taxi companies in Cape Town are Excite Taxis, Cabnet and Intercab and single operators are reachable by cellular phone. The seven seated Toyota Avanza are the most popular with larger Taxi companies. Meter cabs are mostly used by tourists and are safer to use than minibus taxis.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

Minibus taxis are the standard form of transport for the majority of the population who cannot afford private vehicles.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Transport |url=http://www.cape-town.org/directory.asp?McatId=8 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111128184051/http://www.cape-town.org/directory.asp?McatId=8 |archive-date=28 November 2011 |publisher=CapeTown.org}}</ref> Although essential, these taxis are often poorly maintained and are frequently not road-worthy. These taxis make frequent unscheduled stops to pick up passengers, which can cause accidents.<ref>{{Cite news |title=South Africa's minibus wars: uncontrollable law-defying minibuses oust buses and trains from transit |url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_go1566/is_200209/ai_n7215423 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070203204842/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_go1566/is_200209/ai_n7215423 |archive-date=3 February 2007 |publisher=LookSmart}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Transportation in Developing Countries: Greenhouse Gas Scenarios for South Africa |url=http://www.c2es.org/global-warming-in-depth/all_reports/transportation_in_south_africa/trans_sa_execsumm.cfm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223234303/http://www.c2es.org/global-warming-in-depth/all_reports/transportation_in_south_africa/trans_sa_execsumm.cfm |archive-date=23 February 2012 |access-date=8 February 2016 |publisher=Center for Climate and Energy Solutions}}</ref> With the high demand for transport by the working class of South Africa, minibus taxis are often filled over their legal passenger allowance. Minibuses are generally owned and operated in fleets.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Taxing Alternatives: Poverty Alleviation and the South African Taxi/Minibus Industry |url=http://www.enterpriseafrica.org/repository/docLib/20060427_MC_GPI_EATaxi_060323.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080625232203/http://www.enterpriseafrica.org/repository/docLib/20060427_MC_GPI_EATaxi_060323.pdf |archive-date=25 June 2008 |publisher=Enterprise Africa! Research Publications}}</ref>