South Africa Rail Experiences

The Blue Train is unique - it is not merely a train but combines the luxury of the world's; leading hotels with the charm of train travel. Think of it as an all inclusive luxury rail cruise with an opportunity to view South Africa's spectacular landscapes and visit interesting tourist attractions along the way.

Take a journey into a timeless world of grace, elegance and romance, where spectacular scenery stirs your imagination and luxurious comfort soothes your body and soul. Sit back, de-stress and relax.

This unique luxury recreation and business experience takes you where you want to go in an endless, five-star splendour. It pauses only to pick up prestigious World Travel awards for being a cut above the rest and the Diner's Club accolade for its connoisseur selection of South African wines. The Blue Train cuisine puts sheer good taste on a plate while butler personal attention puts you on a pedestal.

It's a journey of a lifetime for those who appreciate finer things in life.

HISTORY OF THE BLUE TRAIN

The Blue Train, for decades one of the world's most renowned passenger train, owes its origins to the Union Limited and the Union Express, which - from 1923 - linked Johannesburg with the mail ships departing from Cape Town for England.

Ordinary coaches were used until 1927, when articulated saloons were imported. The two Union trains traveled the distance in 30 hours and introduced a new standard of luxury.

In July 1937 it was announced that twelve air-conditioned, all-steel sleeping coaches had been ordered from the Birmingham firm of Metro-Cammell at a cost of some R19 000 each. A later order called for all-steel lounge coaches and dining cars, kitchen-cars and a baggage van.

The coaches were delivered at the start of the Second World War, but the service was suspended in 1942 and - was only resumed in February 1946, from which year it formally bore the name "Blue Train". During this period it was used for a few State journeys.

In 1997 a new Blue Train was introduced and its traditional route between Cape Town and Pretoria was extended northwards to the Victoria Falls. In the following year, a second identical train came into service, allowing the Blue Train to add two new destinations to its schedule: Hoedspruit on the western edge of the Kruger National Park and Port Elizabeth at the eastern end of South Africa's Garden Route.

The Routes

The most frequent route for The Blue Train is between Pretoria and Cape Town, where on average it travels three times a week. The route between Pretoria and Cape Town is a 27-hour journey of 1 600 kilometers (994 miles), through some of the most diverse and spectacular scenery offered by the African sub-continent.

On the Southbound trip, the train departs from Pretoria main train station at 8:50 and arrives in Cape Town train station at 12:00 the following day. En route to Cape Town there is a stopover and excursion in Kimberley, where we take a step back in time to the days of the diamond rush.

On the Northbound journey, the train leaves Cape Town at 08:50 and arrives in Pretoria at 12:30, in time for high tea the following day. It stops at Matjiesfontein for an off-the-train excursion. On arrival at Matjiesfontein guests are invited for a glass of sherry at the bar. The Victorian buildings and original nineteenth century London lampposts impart to the traveler, the uncanny sense of entering a colonial time warp - an oasis suspended in a different age.

Guests are reminded that they must be at the station an hour before the departure time.

ROUTES:

Pretoria to Cape Town
Departs 08:50 most Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays arriving the next day at 12 midday

Cape Town to Pretoria
Departs 11:00 most Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays arriving the next afternoon at 13:45. Operating on limited services. Ask your travel agent for details.

PRICES:

Available upon request.

The Train

Each Blue Train set has two lounges: the main Lounge Car in which high tea is served each afternoon, and the Club Car, where guests can relax over a post-prandial cognac. The club car is the only public area available to smokers. Fax facilities are available in the train manager's office. Also, facilities for mailing letters are available on the train as well as stamps and The Blue Train postcards.

A camera mounted on the front of each train gives guests a driver's-eye view of the scenery ahead. The unfolding journey is shown on a giant screen in the Club Car and on one of the TV channels for private viewing in the suite. Also, each suite is equipped with a cellular communication telephone which can also be used to reach train staff. On each journey, The Blue Train is run by a team of highly qualified and specially trained hospitality staff.

Accommodations

With interiors created by a leading interior architectural design company, The Blue Train will rival many a five-star hotel in terms of elegance, grace, comfort and style. The suites have been superbly redesigned to offer discerning guests the best that modern technology and superior craftsmanship can provide.

Each Blue Train suite has a fully appointed en-suite, featuring either a bath or a shower. All suites are equipped with telephone, television monitor and individually controlled air-conditioning. A video channel allows guests to access short documentaries about the area through which the train is travelling.

Two luxury coaches with three suites per coach have bathrooms with tubs; while the other nine deluxe coaches with four suites per coach, have one suite with a bath and the other three with showers. The beds have been custom-designed for The Blue Train. A butler pulls them out ready-made from a space in the suite wall, converting the lounge into a comfortable bedroom. White cottons sheets and duvets are standard throughout.

Guests may choose between a deluxe and luxury accommodation.

Deluxe Accommodation:

There are nine deluxe coaches on the first train and eight on the train with the conference car. The deluxe coaches have four suites per coach; one suite with a bath and the others with showers. The deluxe suites feature either twin beds with a shower, or double beds with a bathtub and handheld shower.

Luxury Accommodation:

The luxury suites extend your personal domain by more than a metre, and the two twin or one double-bed suites offer deep, long baths for slow, luxuriant soaking (with hand shower). The suites extend the choice of radio and movie channels even further by including a private digital entertainment centre and an inviting selection of music CDs and big-screen movies on DVD.

Dining

The Blue Train provides fine wining and dining by carefully selecting the best South African wines to complement gourmet cuisine. The wine list recently received the sought-after Diners Club Award of Approval. In keeping with the classically romantic ambience of the 42-seater dining car, lunch is an elegantly casual affair, while dinner is more formal. A sophisticated, opulent atmosphere, gourmet menu and the finest South African wines make dining on the new Blue Train a magnificent experience.

Another lounge car called The Club Car, has a more masculine ambiance and is expected to find favour with those seeking a peaceful place for after-dining cognacs, coffees or cigars. Delicious snacks are served in compartments by the guests' personal butler. To make the dining experience even more satisfying, the cost of all meals and drinks is included in the train fare.

THE BLUE TRAIN TIMETABLES

Arrival times at destination are approximate and cannot be guaranteed. The route between Pretoria and Cape Town is a 27 hour journey through some of the most diverse and spectacular scenery the sub-continent has to offer.

Cape Town to Pretoria Depart: 08h50 day 1 Arrive: 12h30 day 3	Pretoria to Cape Town Depart: 08h50 day 1 Arrive: 12h00 day 3
2011	2011
7, 14, 21 & 28 September	5, 12, 19 & 26 September
12, 19 & 26 October	10, 17, 24 & 31 October
2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 November	7, 14, 21 & 28 November
7, 14 & 21 December	5, 12 & 19 December
2012	2012
11, 18, 25 January	9, 16, 23 & 30 January
1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 February	6, 13, 20 & 27 February
7, 14, 21 & 28 March	5, 12, 19 & 26 March
11, 18 & 25 April	9, 16 & 23 April
9, 16, 23 & 30 May	7, 14, 21 & 28 May
6, 13, 20 & 27 June	4, 11, 18 & 25 June
4, 18 & 25 July	2, 16, 23 & 30 July
1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 August	6, 13, 20 & 27 August
5, 12, 19 & 26 September	3, 10, 17 & 24 September
3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 October	1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 October
7 & 14 November	5 & 12 November