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. It also operates between Pretoria and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth (Garden Route), and Pretoria and Hoedspruit in Mpumalanga/Eastern Transvaal (Valley of the Olifants/Safari land) on a less frequent basis.

Pretoria is The Blue Train's central departure station. The Pretoria-Cape Town is an overnight journey of 1 600 kilometers (994 miles) long. The Pretoria-Hoedspruit is another overnight journey stretching over 530 kilometers (329 miles). The Pretoria-Victoria Falls journey is 1596 kilometers (991 miles) long; guests get to spend two nights in the lap of luxury.

The Cape Town-Port Elizabeth journey offers two nights on board and covers a total of 1068 kilometers (663 miles). Over the next 25 years, the two Blue Trains are expected to cover approximately 12 million kilometers (7,5-million miles). The Blue Train sets can travel up to a speed of 110 kilometers per hour (68 miles per hour).

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.

Each suite has its own bathroom with either shower or bath. 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:

Choice of twin-beds suite with a shower or a double-bed suite with a three-quarter size bath.

Luxury accommodation:

Choice of twin-beds or double bed, and a full size bath with hand shower. Luxury suites are also equipped with CD players and video machines.

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.

The Blue Train's business manager Kishore Seegoolam, in consultation with his own team of chefs, has created a menu to delight the most discerning palate. Only the freshest ingredients meet Blue Train standards. Meals and snacks are prepared by six chefs in the streamlined kitchen, designed to Seegoolam and Blue Train engineers' exacting specifications. Says Seegoolam: " We have chosen to stay with the SA cuisine, and the meals are filling but light and we are confident that the menu meets the five-star standard of the world's leading hotels.

Guests are offered a choice of entrees, soup, fish, meat dishes, desserts, coffee and friandises, all beautifully presented. Typically South African fare includes Karoo lamb, kabeljou, Knysna oysters, snoek, crayfish and impala. Also offered is an abundant array of the finest South African fruit and vegetables. Vegetarian, Kosher and Halaal meals will be provided on request.

The Blue Train is a showcase for South African wines which have been selected to compliment each course on the menu after meticulous consultation with top South African wine experts.

On the Blue Train, dining never stops. Breakfast, lunch and supper are the main meals and High Tea is served each afternoon in the Lounge Car. Part of the High Tea fare will be cucumber sandwiches, dainty cakes, fresh scones and cream and other irresistible delicacies with an assortment of fine teas and coffees. Another attraction of the opulent Lounge Car is the giant-size TV screen revealing the unfolding scenery from the front-of-train camera.

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 ambiance of the Dining Car and Lounge Cars is one of warm elegance. Large windows allow for panoramic views of the passing countryside. Incandescent lighting gains added warmth from individual lamps on each table gently highlighting the beautifully detailed burled wood paneling and original South African artworks.

The Blue Train is equipped with the finest bone china in white, cut-crystal and classic silver cutlery engraved with the familiar B insignia. Dew-fresh flowers add emphasis to the attention to detail. Menu cards are royal blue with a gold cord; a colour representation of the region through which guests are traveling is included for that extra Blue Train touch.

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.

Pretoria to Cape Town Timetable

PRETORIA TO CAPE TOWN km =distance travelled m=altitude in meters D=Depart, A=Arrive			CAPE TOWN TO PRETORIA km=distance travelled m=altitude in meters D=Depart, A=Arrive
D	08:50	PRETORIA 0 km - 1 352m	D	11:00	CAPE TOWN 0 km - 3m
A D	12:45 13:05	KLERKSDORP 256 km - 1 324m	A D	12:12 12:15	WELLINGTON 72 km - 98m
A D	17:10 19:05	KIMBERLEY 565 km - 1 223m	A D	14:00 14:15	WORCESTER 175 km - 242m
			A D	16:30 17:30	MATJIESFONTEIN 314 km - 923m
A D	22:10 22:30	DE AAR 799 km - 1 243m	A D	21:05 21:25	BEAUFORT WEST 542 km - 850m
A D	02:50 03:05	BEAUFORT WEST 1 058 km - 850m	A D	01:10 01:30	DE AAR 801 km - 1 243m
A D	09:00 09:15	WORCESTER 1 425 km - 242m	A D	04:40 05:00	KIMBERLEY 1 035 km - 1 223m
A D	10:45 10:50	WELLINGTON 1 528 km - 98m	A D	08:55 09:05	KLERKSDORP 1 344 km - 1 324m
A	12:00	CAPE TOWN 1 600 km - 3m	A	13:45	PRETORIA 1 600 km - 1 352m