114网址导航114网址导航Train travel in South Africa | Cape Town-Johannesburg from R630/?36/$62
with sleeper
A beginner's guide to
Train travel in South Africa . . .
Cape Town to Johannesburg
by train from R690 (?33 or $50)
Africa's best-kept secret?
Jo'burg here we come! &Above, the Shosholoza Meyl train to
Johannesburg speeds away from Cape Town, with Table Mountain in the background.&
Safe, comfortable, THE way to go! Photo courtesy .
You can easily swap a meaningless
flight or an ugly bus journey for an epic overland rail
adventure with comfy sleepers, showers, restaurant car &
fabulous scenery.
Cape Town to Johannesburg,
an amazing 956 miles
in 26 hours for an
unbelievable ?33 or $50 including sleeper - yes, you
right!, .& Or for a touch of
luxury for R2,840 (?160 or $280) try
comfortable trains in South Africa...
to what you may have heard and to what many middle-class South
Africans may tell you, taking
the train is a remarkably safe, civilised & enjoyable way to travel
between cities in South Africa.& In fact, you'd be crazy
not to consider it.& There
are several completely different
train services:
Comfortable
& amazingly cheap, Shosholoza Meyl long-distance
passenger trains link Johannesburg with Cape Town,
Durban, Port Elizabeth & East London.& They're
, and one of South
Africa's best-kept secrets, highly recommended by
travellers.& The Cape Town to Johannesburg train
passes the same wonderful scenery as the megabucks Blue
Train, but costs only 690 Rand (?33 or $50) including a bed in a 2-berth or
4-berth sleeper.& Durban to Johannesburg is even cheaper.& Shosholoza Meyl's Tourist Class trains have modernised
sleeping-cars and a restaurant car, a great alternative
to flying and missing everything, or being stuck in a
bus seat for whole days & nights.&
Luxury on a
budget.& Premier Classe trains link Cape Town &
Johannesburg weekly for R3,120 (?189 or $235)
including exclusive use of a cosy private sleeper and all
meals & afternoon tea in the elegant restaurant car as you
pass the fabulous South African scenery.& There's a
spacious lounge-bar car too.& Highly recommended by travellers, who give Premier Classe
rave reviews.& There's no also a Jo'burg to Durban Premier Classe train.& .
A world-famous luxury train
from Cape Town
to Pretoria once or twice a week.&
It costs from 10,120 Rand (?895 or $1,300) one-way
including meals, wine and even cigars.& Worth it if
you have the money.& .
Gautrain is
the brand-new safe and modern electric suburban train
service around Johannesburg.& The Airport Line
links Jo'burg's O.R. Tambo international airport with
Sandton.& The North-South Line links Park Station in central Johannesburg
(used by Shosholoza Meyl and Premier Classe long
distance trains) with Sandton and Pretoria.
Suburban (Metro)
trains around Johannesburg & Pretoria are not
safe (which is why some South Africans will mistakenly
tell you that all South African trains are unsafe), but
those around Cape Town can be used if you're reasonably
careful to travel from Cape Town to Stellenbosch, Paarl & Simon's Town.&
There are several
luxury cruise trains in South Africa, run by companies like Rovos Rail or
Shongololo, aimed a tourists with western-style prices.& .
International travel to & from South Africa by train,
bus & sea...
Unfortunately,
there are now no international trains (other than
occasional tourist cruise trains) from South Africa to Namibia, Botswana
or Zimbabwe, but for information on international travel by a
combination of train and bus from South Africa to Zimbabwe, see the
. For onward travel to Zambia and Tanzania, see the
.& For travel to
Namibia, see the .&
For trains to Maputo in Mozambique, see the
travel to Botswana, see the .
Freight ships with
limited passenger places plus an occasional cruise liner link
the UK with Cape Town.& Start with your search with
and , two UK agencies which book both
cruise liners and freighters.&&Cunard have occasional sailings
from Southampton to Cape Town, see
.& The St Helena steamship also have very
occasional sailings from the UK to Cape Town, see
&Interactive map:&
a route for train times & fares...
Africa map...
For hotels,&I recommend running a price comparison at
Sponsored links...
operator in South Africa:
Shosholoza Meyl trains:
(for reservations from
overseas call + 27 11 774 4555)
Luxury Blue Train,
Cape Town-Pretoria:& .
Premier Classe trains, Cape Town/Durban-Johannesburg:
Time zone & dialling code:
GMT+2.& No daylight saving
Dialling code:
approx 16 Rand.&&& $1 = approx 13 Rand&&&
UK citizens do not need a visa to visit
South Africa.& If you are taking children under 18, you
may need to show their birth certificate under new entry rules from June 2015, see
Tourist information:
Hotels & flights:
2 January 2017
long-distance trains...
Safe, comfortable, economical long-distance trains...
The Shosholoza Meyl
long-distance passenger trains are perhaps South
Africa's best-kept travel secret and an unbelievable
bargain.& Comfortable,
cheap & , they
link major cities including Johannesburg to Cape Town,
Durban, Port Elizabeth & East London.& They're a great way to
travel as they let you see South Africa comfortably &
affordably at ground level, without spending whole days
& nights in a bus seat, or spending a fortune on
expensive tourist experiences like the
, or flying and missing
everything.& They are run by
Shosholoza
originally part of
South African Railways (Spoornet)
and now a division of the Passenger Rail Authority
of South Africa (PRASA, ).& Shosholoza Meyl means pleasant experience.& The
the Shosholoza Meyl name was
launched in 2001 along with newly-refurbished
brightly-coloured sleeping-cars.&
In 2006, Shosholoza Meyl split its trains into two distinct classes:&
Tourist class with sleeping cars with 2 & 4-berth compartments and a restaurant
car serving full meals, snacks, beer and wine, and Economy class with&sitter
class seats and sometimes a restaurant car.& In Tourist class, the sleepers
even have hot showers at the end of the corridor!
Pictured right:& Sunset from the train.&
Photo courtesy of Billy Shearer
& routes...
Shosholoza Meyl information...
check Shosholoza Meyl train times at the official site
, but travel agency site
is kept better updated
and is usually far more useful!
&Cape Town ► Johannesburg& - showing the
full choice of
Days of running:
Wed, Thurs, Friday, Sunday
Every Tuesday
3 or 4 per month
Type of train::
Shosholoza Meyl
Tourist & Economy
sleepers, restaurant &
economy seats.
(On Saturdays tourist sleepers
only, no economy seats)
Affordable deluxe
train with
&sleepers, restaurant,
meals included, .
Luxury train with
suites, restaurant &
lounges, .
In sleepers it's cheap,
comfortable, a
great experience.
A more luxurious journey,
but still affordable.
World class luxury
experience, if you
can afford it...
&09:05& Tues
Wellington
Matjiesfontein
Beaufort West
&18:45& Tues
22:35 Tues
&03:00& Wed
Klerksdorp
Johannesburg
&11:03& Wed
Pretoria arrive
* Pretoria:&
Shosholoza Meyl & Premier Classe trains no longer run through to/from Pretoria,
since May 2006
they start/finish their journey at Johannesburg.& Remember that
Johannesburg city centre isn't safe for visitors, but
Johannesburg Park Station itself
has security
and is well-patrolled & secure.& Be
very careful if you walk outside the station.& It's
recommended that you either use the safe new
to travel between
Jo'burg Park Station, Sandton and Pretoria, or that you pre-book
a car or taxi to pick you up at Jo'burg station when you arrive,
and when leaving again, take a taxi or car to the station
entrance.& Pretoria is a safer city to use as a base when
visiting the Jo'burg area.
&& && && && Cape Town to Johannesburg is 1,530
Km or 956 miles.
&Johannesburg
► Cape Town& - showing the full choice of trains
Days of running:
Tue, Wed, Friday,
Every Thursday
3 or 4 per month
Type of train:
Shosholoza
Tourist & Economy
sleepers, restaurant &
economy seats.
(On Tuesdays tourist sleepers
only, no economy seats)
Affordable deluxe
train with
&sleepers, restaurant,
meals included, .
Luxury train with
suites, restaurant &
In sleepers it's cheap,
comfortable, a
great experience.
A more luxurious journey,
but still affordable.
World class luxury
experience, if you
can afford it...
&Pretoria depart
&08:30& day 1
&Johannesburg depart
&12:30& day 1
&15:00**& Thurs
&Klerksdorp
&Kimberley
&21:20& day 1
&23:03& Thurs
&01:35& day 2
02:45& Fri
&Beaufort West
&07:20& Fri
&Matjiesfontein
&Worcester
&Wellington
&Bellville
&Cape Town arrive
&15:30& day 2
&16:16& Fri
&12:00& day 2
** = Premier Classes train is
retimed to 10:30 departure from Jo'burg as from 7 July 2016.
&& && && &&
&Johannesburg ► Durban
Days of running:
Wednesday,
Friday, Sunday
Wednesday,
Friday, Sunday
Type of train:
Shosholoza
Tourist & Economy
sleepers, restaurant &
economy seats.
Affordable deluxe
train with
&sleepers, restaurant,
meals included, .
Distance (Km)
In sleepers it's cheap,
safe, comfortable,
civilised.
More luxurious journey,
but still affordable.
Johannesburg
18:40& day 1
18:40& day 1
19:18& day 1
19:18& day 1
02:35& day 2
02:35& day 2
Pietermaritzburg
Johannesburg-Durban
trains pass the spot near Estcourt where
in 1899 young war correspondent Winston Churchill was
taken prisoner by the Boers when the British armoured
train he was
with was derailed.& They call at
Pietermaritzburg (PMB), the station where Mahatma Ghandi
was thrown off a train in 1893.& Not just transportation,
but a bit of history!
&& && && &&
Johannesburg to Durban is 722 Km or 451 miles.
&Durban ► Johannesburg
Days of running:
Wednesday,
Friday, Sunday
Wednesday,
Friday, Sunday
Type of train:
Shosholoza
class train
sleepers, restaurant &
Affordable deluxe
train with
&sleepers, restaurant,
meals included, .
In sleepers it's cheap,
comfortable,
civilised.
More luxurious journey,
but still affordable.
&Durban depart
19:15& day 1
19:15& day 1
&Pietermaritzburg
21:53 day 1
21:53 day 1
&Ladysmith
01:45& day 2
01:45& day 2
&Germiston
09:07& day 2
09:07& day 2
&Johannesburg
09:35& day 2
09:35& day 2
& Johannesburg
► Port Elizabeth
&Port Elizabeth ► Johannesburg
Days of running:
Days of running:
Type of train:
Shosholoza Meyl
Tourist & Economy
class train
sleepers, restaurant &
economy seats.
Shosholoza Meyl
class train
economy seats.
Type of train:
Shosholoza
class train
sleepers, restaurant &
Shosholoza Meyl
class train
economy seats.
Distance (Km)
In sleepers it's cheap,
safe, comfortable,
civilised.
Perfectly safe for a
daytime journey
In sleepers it's cheap,
comfortable,
civilised.
Safe enough, but
no sleepers
Johannesburg depart
13:15& day 1
&Port Elizabeth depart
17:25& day 1
Bloemfontein
20:30& day 1
&Bloemfontein
02:35& day 2
&Kroonstad
Port Elizabeth arrive
09:15& day 2
&Johannesburg arrive
&& && && && Johannesburg to Pt Elizabeth is
1,112 Km or 695 miles.
&Johannesburg
► East London
&East London ► Johannesburg&
&Days of running:
Wednesday,
Friday, Sunday
&Days of running:
Wednesday,
Friday, Sunday
&Type of train:
Shosholoza Meyl
class train
sleepers, restaurant &
economy seats
&Type of train:
Shosholoza Meyl
class train
sleepers, restaurant &
economy seats
&Johannesburg
&East London
&Kroonstad
&Bloemfontein
&Bloemfontein
&Kroonstad
&East London
&Johannesburg
&& && && && Johannesburg to
East London is
1,023 Km or 639 miles.
&Shosholoza Meyl tourist class fares
tourist class including sleeper...
&Johannesburg to Cape Town
(?33 or $50)
&Johannesburg to Durban
(?16 or $24)
&Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth&&&&&&&&
R500 (?24 or $36)
&Johannesburg to East London
(?23 or $35)
&Johannesburg to Kimberley
(?12 or $17)
&Cape Town to Johannesburg
(?33 or $50)
&Cape Town to
(?22 or $33)
&Durban to Johannesburg
(?16 or $24)
Fares may vary by month.& For example, Cape
Town to Jo'burg might be R650 in August, R670 in Sept-Oct, R680
in November, R690 in December & January.& The fare
includes a sleeper berth in a 2 or 4 berth sleeper
compartment.& Couples can request berths in a 2-berth
compartment, though this can't be guaranteed.& Bookings
open 90 days in advance.
Bedding (sheets, blankets, pillow, made up for you by the train
attendant) is an extra 60 rand (?4, $6) or so per person, paid on the train.
Children in tourist class sleepers aged from 0 to 9 pay
half fare, 10 and over pay the adult fare.& This
arrangement was introduced in 2009.& It seems harsh to have
to pay half fare for a 3-month old baby, but remember how cheap
the fares are to start with.&
Children in economy class seats aged under 5 travel free,
children aged 5 to 9 inclusive travel at half fare, children aged 10 and over
pay full fare.
Return fares are twice the one-way fare.&
There may be further reductions for students & seniors
in off-peak periods,
so ask when booking.
Luggage:& You can take up to 25Kg of luggage into your sleeper compartment
with you.& Excess can be sent in the baggage car for R4 per item.
Cars can be transported, for prices & booking contact
or (probably better) reliable
.& Pets are
not allowed on board, except guide dogs.
Economy class fares:& Cape Town to Johannesburg in a seat on the
daily Economy class train costs 170 Rand (?12).
Shosholoza Meyl Tourist Class trains ?
Sleeping-cars:&&
The sleeping-cars have 4-berth rooms called 'compartments' and
smaller 2-berth rooms known as 'coupés'.& The berths
convert to seating for daytime use.& Each compartment
has basic leatherette bench seats which convert to bunks at night,
and a washbasin with hot and cold water.& Bedding is provided for a small
extra charge (60 Rand, about
?4, $6) and expertly made up
for you in the evening by the train attendant.& Each
sleeping-car has a hot shower at the end of the corridor,
with lockable shower cubicle & changing area - bring your
own soap & towel.& The
coaches are not air-conditioned, so the
windows open for a superb view of the countryside.& A
metal mesh screen is provided for use at night to allow
cool air.&&Berth numbers aren't specified on your
ticket or allocated when you book.& Instead, reservation
lists are posted at the departure station telling you your car
car and berth number.& As far as is possible, two passengers travelling together will
be booked into a 2-berth coupé, a solo traveller
will normally be booked into a 4-berth compartment with
passengers of the same sex.& The price is the same.& If you pay for two tickets
(quite affordable, given the fare) you can have sole
occupancy of a coupé.& The whole train is all
non-smoking.
<img border="0" src="images/SA-shosholoza-meyl-ext.jpg" class="sha
2-berth 'coupé' sleeper,
with berths folded away and washbasin covered...
The Shosholoza Meyl
Tourist Class train to Cape Town
about to leave Johannesburg...& All the scenery of
the famous Blue train at a tenth of the price!& Photos courtesy
4-berth 'compartment'
sleeper, washbasin covered by the small table,
one upper berth folded away.
There is a toilet and a
shower with plenty of hot water at the end of the
sleeper corridor.
Restaurant car exterior,
at Johannesburg station...
A cooked breakfast...
Dinner in the diner...
Restaurant car:&
There's a restaurant car serving snacks, drinks and
affordable complete meals.& A full English
breakfast hits the spot in the morning, and
beer and a wine list is available for something to go
with you lunch or dinner.& The food is not
expensive, even by South African standards.&
Restaurant car staff also come down the train to sell
tea and coffee to you at your seat.& Catering was
originally sub-contracted to caterers such as BJ's, the
South African equivalent of Wimpy, though is now back
in-house.&
Photos courtesy of
Example restaurant car prices:& Full English breakfast R 55, porridge R35.&
Sirloin steak & chips R95.& Chicken & chips or salad R55.& Lasagne
R70.& Macaroni cheese R65.& Castle beer R17 for 440ml.& Wine
prices not known.
Shosholoza Meyl Economy Class Trains like?
Sitter class seating
on an economy class train...
Sitter class
seating: Economy trains have
basic seating, which does not convert to berths.& Fine
for daytime journeys, and safe with travelling security staff on board, but not
recommended for visitors on overnight trips unless you can't get a sleeper and are
prepared to rough it.&
Most trains also have a
restaurant or refreshment car.
Bookings open 90 days before
departure.&
Shosholoza Meyl tourist class sleepers can get fully-booked a month or two
ahead, especially on the popular Cape Town to Johannesburg route, so book as far
ahead as you can.&
Remember that this is Africa and trains can run late, sometimes hours not
minutes, so don't book any tight onward connections - ideally allow
an overnight stop before any connecting international flight.&
Option 1, buy tickets online at
Online booking is now possible
again on the official
Shosholoza Meyl website
Book now at top right.& .
Option 2, buy tickets in person or by phone on 086 000 8888...
If you live in South
Africa, simply call Shosholoza
Meyl's freephone number 086 000 8888.
From outside
South Africa, call + 27 11
- but you have to collect & pay at a
Shosholoza Meyl station within 2 days.& As this may be impractical, I suggest booking
online as above or using African Sun Travel as shown below.
Reservations are
computerised, so any reservation office can book any
journey in South Africa.& When booking by phone, you will
be given a booking reference number, and you must collect and pay for your tickets
at a station within 2 days.& Your
ticket will not show your coach or berth number, but
a passenger list showing which berth is allocated to which
passenger is posted in a glass case at the station about an hour
before departure.
Option 3, buy from train ticketing agency African Sun Travel,
One of the best ways to buy tickets for Shosholoza Meyl
trains from outside South Africa is to order online from travel
agency African Sun Travel via their website
.& Their website is kept better updated with Shosholoza timetable
sand days of running than the official one, and
they seem far more on-the-ball than Shosholoza Meyl themselves.&
Just be aware that this is not Shosholoza Meyl, but a
privately-run travel agency.& They charge
a R90 (?8, $14) fee on top of the official price for Cape Town
to Jo'burg tickets, R60 (?6 or $9) for Jo'burg to Durban.
Shosholoza Meyl trains:& Not a problem!
Shosholoza Meyl
tourist class trains are perfectly safe to travel on, and can
even be recommended for families and women travelling alone.&
Sleeping compartments have both a normal lock and a security
lock which cannot be opened from the outside, and the train
manager and his assistants do a good job looking after their
passengers.&&People who tell you that 'trains in South Africa
are unsafe' have probably never been on one, and are confusing
these excellent and safe Shosholoza Meyl trains with the
suburban Metro trains around the big cities which they see
adversely reported on South African TV.& It goes without
saying that the high-end Premier Classe and Blue Train services
are very safe, too.
Safety & security at
Johannesburg's Park Station...
The long-distance
trains themselves are very safe, and Johannesburg's Park Station
itself is well-patrolled with security guards & CCTV.&
However, the streets surrounding Park Station in downtown
Johannesburg are definitely not safe, so arrange a car to
drop you off or pick you
up right at the station entrance or ask the driver to meet you
inside the station.&& You should take advice before
walking around in Johannesburg city centre.& However,
things are improving and you can now travel between
Johannesburg Park Station and Pretoria via the suburb of
Sandton, using the safe new .
Traveller's report:& Trish
Jones says this about arriving by car at Johannesburg Park
station to catch the Premier Classe train to Cape Town:
&With regards to Johannesburg's Park Station, it was one of the
things I was concerned about as I haven’t been there for ages,
and I’m super cautious.& We had a friend collect us, drove
into the car park from the Rissik Street side, and much to my
amazement it was spotless and well organized.& Once inside,
it’s a case of down the escalator, turn left, and straight into
the Premier Classe Lounge (also used for The Blue Train) for check in.&
It’s totally separate
and is available only to Premier Classe [and Blue Train] passengers.& No
hassles and I didn’t feel uncomfortable or threatened at all.&
The rest of the station isn't great, but it doesn't matter
because you don’t go there.&
Traveller's report:&
Steven Wasiura says &Park Station in Johannesburg was very busy and felt
generally safe, with visible security presence throughout. &The Gautrain is an
excellent way to reach the station [from Pretoria, airport, or suburbs], though the direct link between the Gautrain
station and Park is still under construction, necessitating a short, easy walk
outside. &There are also several car hire agencies with offices at the station,
so you may be able, as I was, to return your rental car there and go straight to
your train.&
Traveller's report:&
Ivor Morgan says &The
key point is that it's possible to transfer between Shosholoza Meyl & Premier
Classe trains,
long-distance buses and the Gautrain, without leaving the reasonably secure
perimeter of Jo'burg Park Station.& Shosholoza Meyl & Premier Classe trains arrive on the lowest level, on a
platform which is somewhat separate from the Metrorail suburban platforms.& Leaving the
platform (where your ticket will be collected, so have it handy) an escalator
takes you up to the main concourse.& Long-distance buses leave from the main concourse
level.& The bus companies have their offices on one side, and there are waiting
areas and departure gates on the other.& If you go up another level, there are
some shops and a food court and this upper level is also the way to the Gautrain.& The signage is not great, so look for the Wolmarans St exit if there is no
Gautrain sign.& When you reach the exit from the building at this level, you will
see a short (~15m) covered walkway leading to another building. Inside the
entrance to this building, you can see escalators going down to the Gautrain.& At
the bottom of the escalators, there is a short passage:& The Gautrain ticket
counter and ticket machines are straight ahead, and the ticket barriers are on
the left.& Going the other way should be easier - turn right out of the Gautrain
ticket barriers (left takes you to the Gautrain car park), up the escalators, and
follow the covered walkway to the main station building.& If there are no signs
specifically for Shosholoza Meyl, follow the signs for Metrorail until
Shosholoza Meyl signs appear.&
Travelling
Johannesburg Park Station.& Above left, the
main concourse.& Above right, the Shosholoza Meyl
ticket office and waiting room.& the streets
outside Park Station aren't safe, so make sure you are
dropped and collected right at the station entrance.&
However, the station itself is well patrolled, has CCTV
and is a fairly safe and pleasant place to be.& Photos courtesy
The reservation
list...& Tourist class berths aren't allocated
when booking, reservation lists are posted at the
departure station.&Courtesy of Johannes Wittlinger.
En route from
Johannesburg to Cape Town...&
26 amazing hours by train, right across South Africa.&
Travellers who fly really do miss out...& Courtesy
The next day, after
crossing the arid Karoo and traversing the Hex River Pass,
the train reaches the Cape wine region, where
vineyards nestle under vast mountains.& The
carriage windows open half way, great for
reflection-free photography and allowing a cool breeze
into your sleeper...& Photos courtesy
Approaching Cape Town itself, you'll pass shanty towns,
then Table Mountain itself will come into view.&
courtesy of Johannes Wittlinger.
Town station. You arrive right in the heart of Cape
Town itself...
Photos courtesy
Travellers'
Traveller Ivor Morgan used
Shosholoza Meyl in 2015:& &Bedding (sheets, blanket, pillow) was
available on the train at 60ZAR per person.& They made up the beds
shortly after departure, but then folded the mattress up, so the compartment
was in daytime mode, and could be converted just by pulling the mattress
down.& In the restaurant car, mains are now 45-95ZAR, and the full
cooked breakfast options are 45-55ZAR.& Soft drinks and beer are
15-20ZAR.& The food was good (and cooked on board - not microwaved!)
but by the evening they were starting to run out of some meal options.&
A member of staff came through the sleeper carriages to announce meals and
take orders, but you could also just go to the restaurant car yourself.&
At other times of day, they came through with teas and coffees for sale. The
restaurant car doesn't accept credit/debit cards, so it's important to carry
enough cash.& The toilet in our sleeper was kept clean and well-stocked
with toilet paper and running water throughout the journey.& However,
there was no soap.& Similarly, the shower was spacious and had good
pressure - but the bedding package doesn't include towels.& So good to
bring your own soap and towel.& The timetable on the Shosholoza Meyl
website only shows about 4 intermediate stops between Cape Town and Jo'burg,
but in fact the train seemed to stop at every significant settlement en
route, outside of the Cape Town and Jo'burg Metrorail areas. So it could
also be used for journeys between such locations and indeed it seemed many
locals were using it for that purpose.& The train left Cape Town on
time but almost immediately ran late (I think due to track works, and
possibly signalling faults - Metrorail had also been quite disrupted the
evening before and that morning). We gained and lost time during the
journey, and eventually reached Jo'burg about 1h45 late.& Overall we
had a very pleasant and relaxing journey. Indeed, it could probably be
argued that this trip is one of Africa's best value travel experiences - and
best kept secrets.& $60 for 26 hours, with constantly changing scenery
from Table Mountain, then the Cape vineyards, through the barren Karoo, then
waking in the morning to rolling veld, transitioning into farmland nearer
Johannesburg.& Plus occasional wildlife - we saw flamingos, ostriches,
guinea fowl, monkeys and deer - and lots of sheep and cows!& And while
it may not be luxury on the scale of Rovos or the Blue Train, it is
comfortable, secure and quite adequate - far more comfortable than a dreaded
&luxury& bus, and cheaper than a &budget& flight.& Interestingly,
although the train seemed to be quite busy in both economy (seats) and
tourist (sleeper) classes, judging by the accents we (and perhaps one other
couple) were the only non-South Africans onboard.& Which does make me
wonder why so many foreign tourists are missing out on this experience!
Traveller Steven Wasiura
took Shosholoza Meyl from Jo'burg to Cape Town in 2013:& &In South Africa we took the Shosholoza Meyl tourist
class train from Johannesburg to Cape Town, with a 2-berth sleeper booked
through , who gave very friendly, efficient service. &There
isn't much to say beyond that it was great. &Park Station in Johannesburg
was very busy and felt generally safe, with visible security presence
throughout. &The Gautrain is an excellent way to reach the station, though
the direct link between the Gautrain station and Park is still under
construction, necessitating a short, easy walk outside. &There are also
several car hire agencies with offices at the station, so you may be able,
as I was, to return your rental car there and go straight to your train.&
We had considered taking the Premier Classe but it didn't fit our schedule,
but anyway I'm very glad we ended up on the Tourist Class. &The train was
full and as far as I could tell we were the only non-South Africans onboard.
&Our fellow passengers were very open and friendly and represented every
part of the &rainbow nation. &Travelling at the beginning of winter it did
get cold overnight, but the bedding [60 Rand] included three heavy blankets
and the hot shower at the end of the corridor worked great in the morning.
&Dinner for two in the dining car, with dessert and a full bottle of
excellent South African wine, came to $21, and they also served breakfast
and lunch the second day before arriving in Cape Town. &There is no need to
fly across South Africa and certainly no reason to subject yourself to a
Matthew Dowling travelled with Shosholoza Meyl tourist class:& &As for the south African Shosholoza Meyl train from
Cape Town to Kimberly – only good things to say.& Excellent
service, comfortable and efficient. &Surprisingly empty, though,
which allowed us a six sleeper compartment all to ourselves.&
The dining car was well kept and reasonably priced - a real
pleasure sliding through the Karoo desert sunset and having a
lasagne and a glass of wine.&
Traveller Maranda
reports from a trip on Shosholoza Meyl's Johannesburg-Cape Town
train:& &I met fascinating people (there were no
non-South Africans visible on the trains I was on) and saw the
country in a spectacular way.& My parents and husband were
happy because it was clearly safe. And I even stayed within my
budget. I was greatly blessed to meet wonderful people and to
see a slice of South African life that's not on the tourist
maps.& On the Trans-Karoo, the food I had at dinner in the
restaurant car was really good.& I had fried fish and
yellow rice with some onion/tomato topping.& Quite scrumpy,
and at Rand 30, a very good deal. It was obviously freshly made.&
You still need to take a bar of soap, as soap provision in
toilets was a bit spotty.& Overall, have to say that the
1st class travel on Shosholoza Meyl is one of the best bargains
I've ever encountered. As you said, the train staff are lovely,
the bedding is comfy, the views are unbelievably spectacular,
and the whole experience is great.& Plus you just get a
window onto so many different aspects of South African life,
just in terms of whom you meet. &
Premier Classe:& Travelling from Johannesburg to Cape Town
in comfort & safety, aboard the Premier Classe train...& Photo courtesy of
Michael Schaffer.
Deluxe train travel on a budget...
Cape Town -& Johannesburg&(once a week)
The Premier Classe train (,
if & when their site is working) is an affordable deluxe service
aimed at both budget-conscious tourists and South Africans themselves.&
It's another of South-Africa's well-kept travel secrets, and it's
already getting great reports from travellers who try it.& If you can't
afford the famous Blue Train, but still want safe, civilised deluxe train travel
at ground level through superb South African scenery that you can't see from
35,000 feet, take a Premier Classe train.& Premier Classe started out in
1998 as an affordable deluxe service from Cape Town to Johannesburg, originally
running once a week attached to the regular Shosholoza Meyl train.& But in
May 2006 it was made into a completely separate train.& In October 2008 they introduced a Jo'burg-Durban train and in 2013
they added a Jo'burg to Port Elizabeth train.& Sadly both of these were
discontinued in December 2014, but a Jo'burg-Durban train is back as of April
Premier Classe train is a hotels on rails.& It uses standard South African
Railways sleeping-cars (in fact, the same s type used by Shosholoza
Meyl) which have been refurbished to deluxe standards, and passengers are given
twice the normal amount of space per passenger:& Solo passengers get sole
occupancy of what would have been a 2-berth coupé, two passengers get sole use
of what would have been a 4-berth compartment and so get two lower berths.&
The sleeping-cars aren't air-conditioned, a big advantage for photographers as
the windows open.& There's a deluxe Premier Classe restaurant car serving
3-5 course meals and a Premier Classe lounge car with armchairs, sofas and a
bar.& The fare includes all your meals and complimentary tea/coffee,
although alcoholic drinks cost extra.& Premier Classe passengers can use the
luxury Blue Train VIP lounges at
Cape Town and Johannesburg stations.& Premier Classe is now
a division of the new Passenger Rail Authority of South Africa (PRASA,
gives a good idea of what to expect on
board the Premier Classe train and in terms of scenery, and you
may also find
helps convince you to try out this excellent
train service!
Pretoria, Sandton & airport connections:& You
can now travel between Jo'burg Park Station, Sandton,
Pretoria & Jo'burg international airport on the safe new
, see below.
Car transport:& Cars can also be transported on these trains between
Cape Town & Johannesburg, R 1,780- R 3,700 per car.
Premier Classe train timetable...&&
You can check
times & fares at
(if working) or at
(African Sun Travel, a private agency but usually more reliable).
&Cape Town &#9658;
Johannesburg
&Johannesburg &#9658; Cape Town
&Premier Classe:& Deluxe sleepers, restaurant car,
&Premier Classe:& Deluxe sleepers, restaurant car,
&Cape Town
<font color="#:05&
&Johannesburg
<font color="#:00*
&Beaufort West
<font color="#:45&
&Kimberley
<font color="#:03&
<font color="#:35&
<font color="#:05&
&Kimberley
<font color="#:00&
&Beaufort West
<font color="#:20&
&Johannesburg
<font color="#:03&
&Cape Town
<font color="#:15&
** = Premier Classes train is
retimed to 10:30 departure from Jo'burg as from 7 July 2016.
&Durban &#9658;
Johannesburg
&Johannesburg &#9658; Durban
&Premier Classe:& Deluxe sleepers, restaurant car,
&Premier Classe:& Deluxe sleepers, restaurant car,
<font color="#:30& Sundays
&Johannesburg
<font color="#:20&
&Pietermaritzburg
<font color="#:08& Sundays
&Germiston
<font color="#:51&
&Ladysmith
<font color="#:28& Sundays
&Ladysmith
<font color="#:20&
&Germiston
<font color="#:04& Monday
&Pietermaritzburg
<font color="#:40&
&Johannesburg
<font color="#:25& Monday
<font color="#:30&
How much does Premier Classe
Cape Town to Johannesburg&costs around R 3,120 (?189 or $235)
each way per person including all meals and private sleeper.
Durban to Johannesburg&costs around R 1,230
each way per person including all meals and private sleeper.
Slightly higher fares apply at peak times such as December-January, Easter &
school holidays.
Children under 3
travel free if
with their parents, children under 10 pay 80% of the adult fare, children 10 &
over pay the adult fare.
You can check
(if working, it may well still not
(African Sun Travel) or
(New Fusion Travel)
How to buy tickets...
or call +27 11 774 4555
12 334 8039 or (in South Africa) 086 000 8888
Booking for Premier Classe opens 12 months ahead.&
You can request a Premier Classe booking online at
(this is& African Sun
Travel, a reliable ticketing agency, not the operator themselves) or
(New Fusion Travel).& Or you can book by phone calling
the train operator on
+27 11 774 4555 or + 27
12 334 8039 or (from within South Africa) 086 000 8888 (lines open
Monday-Friday 09:00-16:30, GMT+2).& Alternatively, you can e-mail
request to the train operator at
There is more information at the
Premier Classe website,
if it's working, at
, with an online booking request
form.& However, reports suggest you'll get more responsive
booking from ticketing agency
(African Sun Travel).
A journey from
For these photos I am indebted to Billy Shearer, you can
Boarding the Premier Classe train.&
All photos
in this panel courtesy of Billy Shearer.
Premier Classe departure
lounge.& The same lounge is used for the Blue
Dinner in the diner:&
Meals in the elegant restaurant car are included in the
Private sleepers:&
All Premier Classe passengers get a private sleeper,
solo travellers a coupé with one lower berth, couples
get a compartment with two lower berths.& Each
compartment has a washbasin, fluffy towels, soap,
shampoo, shower gel, mineral water, slippers &
bathrobes.& There's a toilet and shower just along
the corridor.
Shanty towns on the outskirts of Cape Town, a
reminder of South Africa's less well-off...
Cape Town's Table Mountain&,
seen from the train...
The Cape vineyards:&
The train heads past Paarl and the Cape wine country.
You can sample some of their produce on board the train!
More beautiful scenery...
The lounge car, a place to relax and meet people.
Night falls over South Africa, the train races on...
Sunrise next morning...
Traveller Deon Irish travelled from Cape Town to Johannesburg
by Premier Classe:& &The train itself was
immaculately turned out with - for once - a pair of matching
Shosholoza purple diesels instead of orange freight locomotives
to pull us out of Cape Town.& Inside, our double berth
compartment was immaculate and the newly installed air
conditioning welcome (although I would have welcomed higher
temperatures overnight in the extremely cold winter highveld
conditions).& Staff were uniformly cheerful and helpful,
which more than made up for the occasional lack of
sophistication. The dining car was a real surprise, with a fine
luncheon, a splendid dinner and a gargantuan breakfast included
in the ticket price. Drinks are extra, but the wines - in
particular - are sold with minimal mark ups.& The only real
criticism of the entire journey was the appalling traffic
control in the Johannesburg area which over a distance of only
90 odd kms, turned what had been a uniformly on-schedule journey
of some 1400 kms into an almost 90 minute late arrival,
especially considering it was a Sunday morning.&
Traveller William Shearer travelled from Johannesburg to Cape
Town by Premier Classe:& &Oh, the howls of
disbelief from my South African friends when they heard I was
taking a train. &It's too dangerous! Why aren't you flying? Are
you sure?&&
Thanks to the information on Seat 61 I was more than reassured
by the safety of the trip I was making. I'll admit, it was with
a certain trepidation that I approached Johannesburg station.
The area around train stations in any country can sometimes be
dodgy (think Kings Cross in times past) but Johannesburg does
come with a reputation.& Lugging my two suitcases from my
friends car, I was obviously a tourist, and indeed we were
approached by a beggar. My friend told him to go away, politely,
and he did. That was the extent of any 'hassle' experienced. The
station itself reminded me of a shopping centre, but with a
handful of shops - quite modern and tidy.& I walked down
the escalator which was out of order and found the Premier
Classe lounge and 'check-in'. My two suitcases were labelled and
I was invited to sit down for a hot or cold drink and a snack
while waiting for boarding. The lounge was more like a waiting
room, but away from the main station so much more private.
The train manager introduced himself and announced that boarding
would start at 2.30pm. A short walk down to the platform and
there was our train.& I was invited to join everyone in the
dining car at 2.55pm for welcome drinks, so in the meantime I
went to my sleeper.& The showers and loo were at the end of
the corridor, and they were spotless.& The toilet always
smelt fresh, and there was fantastic water pressure in the
shower.& After some sparkling wine, and an introduction to
the onboard staff, we had coffee and cake. I met some of my
fellow travellers and enjoyed a drink as the train lazily snaked
through the suburbs of Johannesburg. Our host then asked if we
were happy to dine in our groups, which was fine. My fellow
traveller was a young man who worked in a goldmine, loved
travelling, and hadn't told his parents he was onboard because
they would complain he was wasting money... At 7pm I found my
table, and my new friend, and sat down for dinner. We had a
table for four, made up for two, so very spacious. Kingklip is
delicious! As a rule, I don't go for fish, but I was on holiday
and my goodness I am glad I tried it! The other courses were
very tasty too - served with a smile! I took some pictures but
to be honest they didn't come out very well and that wasn't
because my dining partner wouldn't share the bottle of wine I
ordered. Or anything.
I then went to the bar where I discovered that payment for
drinks was made at the end of the trip - very civilised, and
drinks were cheap.& A bottle of wine with dinner was about
?5.00, a good South African wine too.& I had to do a double
take at the prices, as well as watch my drinking!& I went
back to my sleeper to discover that it had been made up for turn
down.& Next morning, having arranged an early wake up call
the night before, I watched the scenery go by. This part of
South Africa, the Karoo Desert was cold and rather bleak,
however the sunshine took the edge of both at this time of the
morning. Soon, it was breakfast time, and a fully cooked
breakfast was offered - as well as pastries, cereals, yogurts,
the lot!& The scenery improved as we got closer to Cape
Town, as vineyards and orchards came into view. Lunch was a four
course affair, and as usual, the tables were set up with fresh
flowers and crisp linen. Before long, Table Mountain came into
view, and we were approaching journeys end. Some of my fellow
passengers commented that they had been on Rovos Rail and The
Blue Train, but preferred the informal atmosphere on the Premier
Classe service.& I would definitely do it again, and I
think incorporate it into my next trip to South Africa.
And the cost?& Travel from Johannesburg to Cape Town, sole
use of a double occupancy sleeper, coffee & cake, five course
dinner, full breakfast, four course lunch, welcome drinks in the
lounge, all for a mere ?171. I think its the best value travel I
have ever experienced.
Traveller Trish Jones travelled from Johannesburg to Cape
Town by Premier Classe:& My husband and I
have just travelled from Johannesburg to Cape Town on the
Premier Classe Train – and what an experience!& Although
it's in a different class (and price range) to the Blue Train,
it offers a truly amazing, comfortable, relaxing trip.& Why
on earth have I been driving or flying to Cape Town for all
these years?& With regards to Johannesburg's Park Station,
it was one of the things I was concerned about as I haven’t been
there for ages, and I’m super cautious.& We had a friend
collect us, drove into the car park from the Rissik Street side,
and much to my amazement it was spotless and well organized.&
Once inside, it’s a case of down the escalator, turn left, and
straight into the Premier Classe Lounge for check in – it’s
totally separate and is available only to Premier Classe
passengers.& No hassle and I didn’t feel uncomfortable or
threatened at all.& The rest of the station isn't great,
but it doesn't matter because you don’t go there.& One is
checked in, your baggage taken for loading into your
compartment, and there’s free tea, coffee and soft drinks on
hand before you are asked to board.& And boarding is a
breeze too – the platform the train was on was somewhat removed
from the rest.& The onboard staff were truly outstanding,
nothing was too much trouble.& We were served complimentary
bubbly & snacks in an elegant and comfortable lounge car shortly
after leaving in Johannesburg at 3.00pm, and we were introduced
to the various members of staff who explained their roles, told
us about the facilities on the train and made us feel very
welcome indeed.& We had books and magazines to read en
route but only looked at them when we were tucked up comfortably
in crisp white sheets and duvets for the night.& There was
no time to read, we were too busy gazing at the scenery, without
having to worry about bad drivers, huge trucks or anything at
all to do with road travel – sheer bliss!!& Dinner was a 5
course meal of excellent standard, and there’s a good wine list
to choose from too.& We were asked whether we would like
tea or coffee delivered to our compartment in the morning.&
We chose tea for a 6.30am ‘wake-up’ up call, opened the curtains
and blinds in our compartment and watched the sun come up across
the Karoo – truly awesome!!& A hearty breakfast at 7.00am
followed by a head-shoulders-and back massage in the spa
compartment [the spa is now discontinued, not enough business to
support it].& A hot
shower in an exceptionally clean bathroom then back to the
compartment for more sightseeing.….through a 12.km tunnel which
brings you to the beginning of the Hex River Valley.& Some
snow on the mountain peaks completed the perfect picture!!&
three course lunch, again delightfully prepared and presented,
some more excellent South African wine before arriving in Cape
Town at 4.00pm.& I was almost sorry to have arrived.&
Train travel in South Africa is horribly under-utilised and if I
can persuade anyone to give it a try perhaps we could have more
trains operating, more people off the roads, and more people
discovering the joy of rail travel.& The routes offered are
Johannesburg to Hoedspruit, Johannesburg to Durban, Johannesburg
to Cape Town, and Cape Town to Port Elizabeth – I intend to do
the latter as soon as I possibly can – it just has to be
fantastic.
Traveller Ros Shaw travelled from Johannesburg to Hoedspruit (Kruger Park) by
Premier Classe:&
I had a fabulous trip on the Premier Classe to Hoedspruit.&
The service on the train was first class - 5 course dinner,
friendly service, comfy cabins, tea/coffee wakeup service in
your cabin. I even managed to do some game spotting from the
train as it passed along the edge of Kruger Park for an hour or
so - 1 rhino, 2 giraffe, buffalo, kudu, hippo, impala.& We
picked up a hire car at Hoedspruit which was delivered to the
station at no extra cost.& The only downside was getting to
Joburg station for the start of the trip.& There was a
garbage strike on in the Joburg CBD so it was pretty disgusting,
even the amount of rubbish along the tracks for the first little
bit was pretty gross.& Once at the parking lot of the
station it wasn't too bad at all.& I was surprised how
modern and clean the station was.& There were a few
passengers who joined the train in Pretoria too.& The train
was practically empty (less than 25 passenger) and all the
guests were locals.& I guess its a bit too early to get
many foreign bookings yet.& We spoke to the Marketing
Manager who said that they have lots of forward booking from
overseas and are already sold out for the World Cup next year.&
Overall - highly recommended.
Traveller Andrew Darwin travelled from Johannesburg to
Cape Town by Premier Classe:&
I discovered the existence of
the ‘Premier Classe’ train from Johannesburg to Cape Town
through seat61.& I have just returned from there a few days
ago, having taken this train in both directions.&
What a treat!& It was probably
the longest and most enjoyable railway journey I’ve ever made, immensely
enjoyable.& The train is modern and well designed.& 18 carriages
long including 2 lounges, 2 dining cars and 2 enclosed trucks at the
back for carrying people’s cars or motorbikes.&
On our trip
there were 4 Harley Davidsons in one of these trucks, while the
burly middle-aged bikers (and their molls) enjoyed the comfort
of the Premier Classe to Cape Town before going back by road.&
The staff were all brilliant, very keen to be of service and
clearly with great pride in their job.& At stations, some of
them would get out and clean the train windows!& There was a hot
shower in each coach, which meant that one arrived the other end
fresh and clean, as well as rested and fed and watered.& The
drinks on board are refreshingly cheap – a bottle of perfectly
decent wine in the dining car can be had for as little as
?2.00.& The return ticket cost about ?250, including all meals.&
What a contrast to the flight back from Jo'burg to London:
squashed into a cramped seat, nowhere to go and nothing to see,
plastic food, limited drink, no chance of rest, no shower.&
Totally uncivilised: 12 hours of torture!
Traveller Michael Schaffer travelled from Johannesburg to Cape Town by
Premier Classe:& &Oddly, few
of the local travel agents in Pretoria knew about the Premier
Classe train, instead they all reflexively warned us against
taking trains.& I suspect this is part of the odd feeling
in that country, where large segments of the population live in
fear and also assume anything &public& will be bad. Finally, a
friend cued us in to what we'd learned on your website:& A
weekly [now twice-weekly], first-class-only train designed as kind of a
middle-class approximation of the Blue Train.& The train
itself is comfortable and pleasant, albeit a triumph of style
over substance.& They have attractively printed menus and
solicitous dining-car service, but the food is so-so, although
still great for a knockabout traveller.& The 4-bed sleepers
have been converted to accommodate just a couple, and they put
your name on the door.& The views from the train are both
astonishing (the Karoo, and table mountain from the rear) and
telling (the often invisible shantytowns of South Africa’s
poor).& At the front end, in Jo’burg, you have access to a
first-class lounge where they take your bag &and offer you tea
and coffee, etc., but you still have to get there by walking
through the public portions of a station that has about the
worst reputation in the country.& We were fine, although we
saw two different people being taken off by police.& At the
far end, in Cape Town, the station is pleasant and quiet,
although for us this meant there were no taxis to hail.&
Eventually, the train’s purser got his son to give us a lift to
our hotel!
Still need convincing to try Premier Classe?&
The legendary
Blue Train from Cape Town to Pretoria, one of the world's
most luxurious trains...
Cape Town to Pretoria on one of the world's most luxurious trains...
It's the most famous train in South Africa, and one of the most famous trains in
the world.& South Africa's Blue Train links Cape Town
with Pretoria once or twice a week, year round.& With a one-way
fare of about R13,015 (?750 or $1,300) per person for two people
travelling together even in the low season, it's now aimed squarely at
foreign visitors.& Single passengers cannot opt to share, so should
reckon on paying R19,520 (?1,150 or $1,900) one-way for sole use of a
2-berth compartment.& However, The Blue Train is definitely the
most luxurious way to travel between these two cities, and if you do
choose to splurge, you will not be disappointed!
The Blue Train
timetable...
&Cape Town &#9658; Pretoria
&Pretoria &#9658; Cape Town
Blue Train
times a month
Blue Train
&Cape Town depart:
08:30& day 1
&Pretoria depart:
08:30& day 1
&Pretoria arrive:
12:50& day 2
&Cape Town arrive:
12:00& day 2
For departure dates see .&&
The northbound journey includes a one-hour stop at the 19th century
health resort of Matjiesfontein in the heart of the Karoo.& The
Southbound trip includes a stop at Kimberley for a tour of the Kimberley
'big hole' mining museum.& The train no longer serves Johannesburg
in either direction, as few tourists want to go there because of its
security problems.& The Blue Train rolling stock is also used to
run irregular rail cruises on a couple of other scenic routes within South Africa.
How much does a trip on the Blue Train cost?
Cape Town to Pretoria
or vice versa.
Meals & drinks included.
Low season
(1 Jan to 31 Aug &
16 Nov to 31 Dec)
High season
(1 September
&to 15 November)
Luxury suite, per person sharing
Luxury suite, per person sole occupancy
De Luxe suite, per person sharing
De Luxe Suite, per person sole
How to buy tickets:
or call Railbookers.
For more information about
travelling on the Blue Train, to check specific departure dates and to
make reservations by e-mail, see
You can also arrange tickets
by phone through Railbookers from various countries:
UK call 020 ,
US call free 1-888-829-4775,
& Canada call free 1-855-882-2910,
Australia call toll-free ,
New Zealand call toll-free
What's it like on board the Blue Train?
The Blue Train offers two types of room:& 'Deluxe' compartments
have either a double bed or two single beds and en suite shower or small
bath.& 'Luxury' compartments cost a bit more and are almost
identical, but have a full size bath (yes, really) and a video.&
The train has a dining car and two lounge cars (one smoking, one
non-smoking) and one of the two trainsets has an observation car at the
rear, allowing you to look back along the line.& Meals and drinks
(and even Montecristo Havana cigars!) are included in the fare, and
there is an extensive list of South African wines available.& You
probably won't be able to drink ?800-worth before you reach Pretoria,
but you can have a dam' good try...& For pictures of the scenery
between Cape Town and Pretoria, see the scenery shots from the Cape Town
to Johannesburg journey
, as the Blue Train follows the same route
as far as Jo'burg.
Boarding South Africa's
Blue Train at Cape Town's central station for an epic 27-hour
journey to Pretoria...
One of the
two bar-lounge cars on the Blue Train.& Even Montecristo cigars
are included in the fare!
Meals in the elegant restaurant car are
included in the fare, complete with a choice of South African wines...
Train stopped at Matjiesfontein, with two electric locomotives
specially kept in the famous blue colour...
really is a full-size bath (in deluxe suites only)! The Blue
Train is one of the few trains in the world to feature a real
en suite bath, not just a shower...
twin-bed suite on the Blue Train, showing one bed folded out, the second bed remaining folded
away to reveal the seat...
See the video - South Africa's Blue Train...
It's a PR video, of course, but this short film shows
how good travelling in The Blue Train from Cape Town to
Pretoria can be.
A bit of history...
A fast train called the Union Express northbound and the Union
Limited southbound was introduced in 1923, to link the Union Castle
steamers arriving at Cape Town from Southampton with the gold fields of
Jo'burg and the Transvaal capital at Pretoria.& The original wooden
coaches were replaced in 1937 with steel coaches built in Birmingham and
painted a smart blue.& Before long, the train became known
colloquially as 'that blue train', and its name was changed officially
to 'The Blue Train' in 1946.& Two new sets of coaches were built
for the Blue Train in 1972, and both of these were beautifully
refurbished in 1997.& You travel in these same trainsets today.&
The Blue Train is still run by the South African Railways (Spoornet),
but it is now a separate business unit, due for privatisation...
Inclusive holidays using the
Blue Train:& Great Rail Journeys ()
If you'd rather travel on
the Blue Train as part of an organised tour with other travellers, try
, who offer escorted tours to South Africa which
include the Blue Train.
If you can't afford the
Blue Train...
...check out the other two trains
linking Cape Town with Johannesburg through exactly the same
scenery at a fraction of the price, , a deluxe rail experience that's far
cheaper than the Blue Train, and if you're on a tight budget
the amazingly cheap but still excellent
Johannesburg-Pretoria & airport
Airport Line:& Sandton &#9658; Johannesburg
International Airport:& See
Phase 1 of the modern standard-gauge
metro service called 'Gautrain' is now operational between the
Jo'burg suburb of Sandton and Jo'burg's OR Tambo international
airport.& Using brand-new standard-gauge electric trains,
it has all the necessary CCTV and security equipment to be a
safe and comfortable means of transport for locals and tourists
alike.& Trains run every 30 minutes at weekends, every 20
minutes weekday off-peak, and every 12 minutes in the weekday
morning and evening peaks.& See
for fares, times and more information.
North-South Line:& Johannesburg (Park Station) &#9658;
Sandton &#9658;
Pretoria& Gautrain now open, see
Phase 2 is now
open, with safe modern
Gautrain service linking Johannesburg Park Station in
downtown Johannesburg (the station used by
long-distance trains) with the suburb of Sandton and the administrative capital Pretoria.& Gautrain
is the best way to travel between Jo'burg and
Pretoria, and the safest way to access Jo'burg Park station to connect with
long-distance
train.& Trains run run every 30 minutes at weekends,
every 20 minutes weekday off-peak, and every 12 minutes in the
weekday morning and evening peaks.& See
for details.
links Johannesburg & Pretoria.& Gautrain exterior
& interior.& Photos courtesy of Jeroen van Marle.
Metro trains
Metro trains around Johannesburg & Pretoria...
Although long-distance Shosholoza Meyl
trains and Gautrain are perfectly safe, 'Metro Rail' suburban trains around
Johannesburg, Soweto and Pretoria are different matter.& Unless you
are particularly foolhardy or adventurous, they are probably
best avoided completely.
Metro trains from Cape Town to
Stellenbosch, Simon's Town & Paarl...
Metro Rail suburban trains around Cape
Town are less of a problem and as long as you take care, leave
your valuables at your hotel and don't travel after dark, they
can be a good way to get from central Cape Town to the seaside
town of Simon's Town (a scenic run along the coast), or to the
wine regions at Stellenbosch or Paarl.& Indeed, there is a
new initiative for tourists using the Cape Town to Simon's Town
train service to tour the coast.& Two classes are
available, 1st ('Metro Plus') and 3rd.&&Metro Plus
means longitudinal cloth seats on newer trains, grey plastic
seats on the older ones, 3rd class means plastic bench seats.& Outside the
rush hours, trains are not crowded and there's a train from Cape Town to Simon's
Stellenbosch every hour or two, taking about an hour.& Make
sure you sit in a carriage with other travellers.& To reach
the wineries, bicycles can be hired in Stellenbosch, for about
Metro trains
at Cape Town
Arriving at
Stellenbosch...
Metro trains on the Cape Town to Simon's Town route.&
Photos courtesy of Adam Edwards
Several companies run
all-inclusive tours around Southern Africa using special deluxe cruise trains.&
Rovos Rail
runs a 5-star cruise train to
a regular schedule from Cape Town to Pretoria and on to Victoria
Falls.& The train consists of beautifully restored South
African coaches with all the usual tourist facilities - lounge,
restaurant, private sleeping compartments and showers.&
Meals are included in the tour price.& For
times, dates of running and prices see
Shongololo Express ()
also operates a 3-star cruise train on various routes in Southern Africa and
into neighbouring countries.
To enquire and buy tickets
for Rovos Rail or Shongololo cruise trains in the
UK, Ireland or elsewhere in Europe, call
International Rail, call
3.& From outside the UK +44 844 248 248 3.& Lines open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday.
To arrange a Rovos Rail trip,
contact train travel specialists Railbookers:
UK call 020 ,
US call free 1-888-829-4775,
& Canada call free 1-855-882-2910,
Australia call toll-free ,
New Zealand call toll-free
in South Africa
The trains don't
go everywhere in South Africa, and there are times when you might need to
take a bus.& There are several long-distance bus
operators.& Useful internet addresses are:
TransLux, .&
Call 011 774 3333 or from outside South Africa +27 (011) 774
Greyhound, .&
Call 083 915 9000.
InterCape, .&
or from outside South Africa +27 21 380 4400.
strongly recommend buying a good guidebook - and I think the Lonely Planets and Rough
Guides are easily the best out there for the independent traveller.&
You won't regret buying one!
Click the images to buy online at Amazon.co.uk...
LP Southern Africa
is less detailed than LP South Africa, but it covers
other countries
as well as SA.&&&
Alternatively, you can download just the chapters or areas you need in
.PDF format
, from around ?2.99 or US$4.95 a
in South Africa
in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban or anywhere in
South Africa...
Personal recommendations:&
in Cape Town is inexpensive and central, a good budget choice,
from 440 Rand (?33 or $65) per night.& Pretoria is a better place to stay
than Johannesburg itself.
&#9668;&#9668;
Hotel search & price comparison.
checks all the main hotel booking sites at once to find the widest choice of
hotels & the cheapest seller.& It was named as the World's Leading Hotel
Comparison Site at the World Travel Awards 2013 and I highly recommend it, both
to find hotels in even the smallest places and to check that another retailer
isn't selling your hotel for less!
is my favourite booking site.& It's really clear and you can usually book with free
cancellation and so confirm your accommodation at no risk months before train
booking opens.
Other hotel sites
worth trying...
is the place to find
independent travellers' reviews of all the main hotels.
is my own preferred hotel booking system
(Hotels Combined being a search/comparison system).& It
has a simple interface, a good selection in most countries
worldwide, useful online customer reviews of each hotel, and
decent prices, usually shown inclusive of unavoidable extras
such as taxes (a pet hate of mine is systems that show one
price, then charge you another!).
Backpacker hostels...
:& If you're on a tight budget,
don't forget about
backpacker hostels.& Hostelworld
offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in
backpacker hostels in most
cities at rock-bottom prices.
Check flight prices at Opodo,
Use Skyscanner to compare flight prices & routes
worldwide across 600 airlines...
Lounge passes...
airport experience a little more bearable with a VIP lounge
pass, it's not as expensive as you think!& See
Take out decent travel insurance, it's essential...
Never travel overseas without travel insurance from a reliable
insurer, with at least ?1m or preferably ?5m medical cover.& It should also cover
cancellation and loss of cash and belongings, up to a sensible
multi-trip policy is usually cheaper than several single-trip
policies even for just 2 or 3 trips
a year, I have an annual policy myself.& Here are some suggested insurers.&
Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these
the UK, try
to compare prices & policies from many
different insurers.
If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over 65, see
- 10% discount with code seat61.
you live in
Australia, New Zealand, Ireland or the EU, try
If you live in the USA try
Get a spare credit card, designed for travel with no currency
exchange loading & low or no ATM fees...
It costs nothing to take out an extra credit card.&
If you keep it in a different part of your luggage so you're
not left stranded if
your wallet gets stolen, this is a form of extra travel insurance in itself.& In addition,
some credit cards are significantly better for
overseas travel than others.& Martin Lewis's
explains which UK credit cards have the lowest currency
exchange commission loadings when you buy something
overseas, and the lowest cash withdrawal fees when you use
an ATM abroad.& Taking this advice can save you quite a
lot on each trip compared to using your normal high-street
bank credit card!
&Johannesburg
& Pretoria &#9658;
&Messina &#9658; Pretoria & Johannesburg
Days of running:.
Days of running:.
Type of train:
Type of train:
Johannesburg
Discontinued Dec 2014
Messina (Musina)
Discontinued Dec 2014
Discontinued Dec 2014
Louis Trichardt (Makhado)
Discontinued Dec 2014
Louis Trichardt (Makhado)
Discontinued Dec 2014
Discontinued Dec 2014
Messina (Musina)
Discontinued Dec 2014
Johannesburg
Discontinued Dec 2014
&The Bosvelder&.& This train
had Economy class seats
only (it used to have sleepers).&
travellers bound for Bulawayo or Harare in Zimbabwe, Messina
12km from the Zimbabwe&frontier
across the Limpopo River at Beitbridge.& Economy
fare Jo'burg to Messina was R110.
&Johannesburg
& Pretoria &#9658;
&Maputo &#9658; Pretoria & Johannesburg&
Days of running:.
Wednesday & Friday
Days of running:.
Thursday & Sunday
Type of train:
Tourist sleepers
Type of train:
Economy seats
Tourist sleepers
Johannesburg
18:10 day 1
Maputo (Mozambique)
19:40 day 1
Ressano Garcia
(Mozambique)
Nelspruit (for Kruger
04:15 day 2
Komatipoort (across
18:00 day 1
Kaapmuiden
05:15 day 2
Kaapmuiden
19:36 day 1
Komatipoort
06:38 day 2
Nelspruit (for Kruger
20:40 day 1
Ressano Garcia
(across border)
04:50 day 2
Maputo (Mozambique)
Johannesburg
06:20 day 2
The Jo'burg - Komatipoort train
was discontinued in December 2014, but resumes operation as from late March
2015. It now has tourist class 2 & 4 bed sleepers as well as economy seats.
full details about travel between Johannesburg & Maputo by train.
&Kimberley &#9658;
&Bloemfontein &#9658; Kimberley
Days of running:.
Discontinued
Days of running:.
Discontinued
Type of train:
Type of train:
Discontinued
Bloemfontein
Discontinued
Bloemfontein
Discontinued
Discontinued
&Cape Town &#9658;
&East London &#9658; Cape Town
Days of running:.
Days of running:.
Type of train:
Tourist sleepers
Tourist sleepers
Type of train:
Tourist sleepers
Tourist sleepers
10:25 Sunday
10:25 Thurs
East London
&&&&& 10:00 Tuesday
Beaufort West
19:40 Sunday
19:40 Thurs
Queenstown
&&&&& 14:45
&&& 14:45 Friday
23:45 Sunday
23:45 Thurs
Queenstown
10:02 Monday
10:02 Friday
Beaufort West
East London
14:25 Monday
Johannesburg
Fare from Cape Town to East London
approx R 650 in Tourist sleeper class.
&Johannesburg &#9658;
&Mafikeng &#9658; Johannesburg
Days of running:.
Days of running:.
Type of train:
seats& only
Type of train:
07:00 Sundays
15:50 Sundays
22:20 Sundays
05:15 Mondays
Fares:& Jo'burg to Mafikeng
R100, Mafikeng to Kimberley R130.& New service starting 5 June 2015!