Beware of Gautrain fares system

Questionable Gautrain fares system resulted in me being charged twice for the same trip.

Beware of buying a return fare on your Gautrain card if you intent using your card for another Gautrain trip before you make the return trip.

On Good Friday I travelled on the train and bought a return from the OR Tambo airport to Hatfield. My intention was to return on the same route on Sunday. Cost was R537.

On Saturday I unexpectedly had to go to Sandton so I used my card and purchased a return ticket from Hatfield to Sandton. Cost was R196.

Both trips were very pleasant and hassle free.

My problem was when I got back to OT tambo on Sunday I was not allowed trough the turnstiles as my card stated I had no funds left. Despite the ticket operator confirming that I had paid the correct amount he said that the SYSTEM had penalised me for not using my return ticket BEFORE I made another trip. Result I had to pay another R163.

This seems to me to be a questionable practice, especially for commuters who do not use the service on a regular basis.

My advice to commuters is to pay trip by trip.