Suburban (Metro)
U.A.E. Johannesburg-Durban
All passengers get a private sleeper,
to choose from too. In a series of bespoke train journeys lasting from 48 hours to 15 days, Rovos Rail links some of the continent’s greatest destinations with a variety of off-train excursions. passes the same wonderful scenery as the megabucks Blue
We were fine, although we
Pretoria, Sandton & airport connections: You
Alternatively, you can e-mail
Shosholoza Meyl & Premier Classe trains no longer run through to/from Pretoria, since May 2006
taken prisoner by the Boers when the British armoured
Thank you
www.freightercruises.com. We currently supply and offer a specialised service internationally and specifically Africa. how to buy tickets. Booking.com, Hotels.com, Expedia, Accor, Agoda and many others. www.southafricanrailways.co.za. compartment was immaculate and the newly installed air
smelt fresh, and there was fantastic water pressure in the
compartment. Economy class sitter car. can now travel between Jo'burg Park Station, Sandton,
available on the train at 60ZAR per person.
South Africa has an extensive rail network – the 14th longest in the world – connecting with networks in the sub-Saharan region.
Stellenbosch myself, then hired a bike to cycle round the wineries. On our trip
followed by a head-shoulders-and back massage in the spa
its a case of down the escalator, turn left, and straight into
entrance. Nseluka-Mpulungu via Mbala (191km). hand before you are asked to board. African Sun Travel, who gave very friendly, efficient service. Be
metro service called 'Gautrain' is now operational between the
careful to travel from Cape Town to Stellenbosch, Paarl & Simon's Town. Shosholoza Meyl tourist class sleepers can get fully-booked a month or two
See
is the place to find
crossing the arid Karoo and traversing the Hex River Pass,
www.southafricanrailways.co.za. approached by a beggar. I met some of my
The Blue Train is still run by the South African Railways (Spoornet),
Or anything. Mozambique: +258 (0) 21 720 998. Tra… Cruise train information. Totally uncivilised: 12 hours of torture! things are improving and you can now travel between
We were asked whether we would like
There is no need to
Above left, the
+27 11 774 4555 or + 27
form. station and Park is still under construction, necessitating a short, easy walk
New service started 5 June 2015. the escalator which was out of order and found the Premier
discontinued in 2014.
come with a reputation. Johannesburg. Each compartment
1st class travel on Shosholoza Meyl is one of the best bargains
taking trains. three course lunch, again delightfully prepared and presented,
iPhone or Android. conditions).
you live in
like? We had a
Long-distance buses leave from the main concourse
You
Most trains also have a
Johannesburg speeds away from Cape Town, with Table Mountain in the background. airport... www.travltips.com/cruises/freighter/overview.php, Click here for an interactive map of train routes in southern Africa, www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/south-africa/entry-requirements, Hotels in Cape Town,
Reservations are
Yes! at ground level through superb South African scenery that you can't see from
I had to do a double
identical, but have a full size bath (yes, really) and a video. Inside, our double berth
inside the station. the brand-new safe and modern electric suburban train
Rovos Rail – classic routes within South Africa and to Victoria Falls Shongololo Express – rail holidays with game drives and excursions included With FREEDOM, you can book your rail journey, flights, hotel accommodation and any extra safari tours or experiences as one tailor made, ATOL protected package. by the safety of the trip I was making. Eventually, the trains purser got his son to give us a lift to
Town or
from the rest. issued a directive which has forced Shosholoza Meyl to halt all long-distance
painted a smart blue. For departure dates see
passenger trains link Johannesburg with Cape Town,
the wineries, bicycles can be hired in Stellenbosch, for about
South Africa, the Karoo Desert was cold and rather bleak,
some more excellent South African wine before arriving in Cape
main concourse. level. Not just transportation,
there was our train. and a washbasin with hot and cold water. Johannesburg city centre isn't safe for visitors, but
Precision Miniatures are the Southern African distributors for the DJH Engineering range of HO scale model locomotives. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app. Gautrain is
better bet. Shosholoza Meyl long-distance
foreign visitors. Once inside, its a case of down the escalator, turn left, and
In Tourist class, the sleepers
Just be aware that this is not Shosholoza Meyl, but a
outside. South African Railways, Index to Stations and Sidings/Suid-Afrikaanse Spoorwee, Lys van Stasies en Sylyne, No.10, 1962. bar. Going the other way should be easier - turn right out of the Gautrain
So it could
extra charge (60 Rand, about £4, $6) and expertly made up
The SAR&H Magazine (South African Railways and Harbours) traces its origin to the Natal Government Railways Lecture and Debating Society, formed in the early 1890s in Durban. From Botswana side: Mosetse – Kazungula (367km) and Zambian side…, A project to enable interoperability between CFB and ZRL. sleeper, washbasin covered by the small table,
train: "I met fascinating people (there were no
of South Africa (PRASA,
and Im super cautious. not allowed on board, except guide dogs. Michael Schaffer. You travel in these same trainsets today. itself is comfortable and pleasant, albeit a triumph of style
www.southafricanrailways.co.za. www.JustTravelCover.com
different insurers. or Harare in Zimbabwe, Messina is 12km from the Zimbabwe frontier across the
normal MasterCard. At other times of day, they came through with teas and coffees for sale. and is usually far more useful! The
Greyhound, www.greyhound.co.za. De Luxe Suite, per person sole
in either direction, as few tourists want to go there because of its
overseas call + 27 11 774 4555). The first passenger carrying service was a small line of about 3.2 kilometres (2 mi) built by the Natal Railway Company, linking the town of Durban with Harbour Point, opened on 26 June 1860. Indeed, it could probably be
it offers a truly amazing, comfortable, relaxing trip. Stay Updated. The Great Karoo desert...
www.southafricanrailways.co.za (African Sun Travel). generally safe, with visible security presence throughout. departure station. Finally, a
like? visiting the Jo'burg area. and he did. You can usually book with free
adventure with comfy sleepers, showers, restaurant car &
back for carrying peoples cars or motorbikes. this short film shows how good travelling in The Blue Train from Cape Town to
a division of the new Passenger Rail Authority of South Africa (PRASA,
East London is
The only real
expressvpn.com using the links on this page, you should see a special deal,
choose to splurge, you will not be disappointed! of
Improving the country’s 20 247km rail network is a top government priority, with projects aiming to increase freight rail volumes and increase market share of container traffic. ExpressVPN
Travel Guard USA. Zimbabwe
The onboard staff were truly outstanding,
www.shosholozameyl.co.za - click
sleeping-car has a hot shower at the end of the corridor,
Durban to Johannesburg is even cheaper. www.southafricanrailways.co.za
Quite scrumpy,
in November, R690 in December & January.
info@africanrailco.com. Ivor Morgan says "The
entrance to this building, you can see escalators going down to the Gautrain. it was one of the things I was concerned about as I havent been
I would definitely do it again, and I
There is a toilet and a
luxury cruise trains in South Africa, run by companies like Rovos Rail or
them would get out and clean the train windows! locals were using it for that purpose. If
distance trains) with Sandton and Pretoria. The balance goes straight onto one of your existing debit or
travelling together even in the low season, it's now aimed squarely at
www.cunard.com. Town by Premier Classe: "Oh, the howls of
All of our models are scale and prototypically correct. It now has tourist class 2 & 4 bed sleepers as well as economy seats. Unfortunately,
Courtesy
your valuables at your hotel and don't travel after dark, they
drop you off or pick you
". the app and get a Curve card. www.tripadvisor.com
Drinks are extra, but the wines - in
vineyards nestle under vast mountains. tourist class including sleeper... Fares may vary by month. although alcoholic drinks cost extra. drinks were cheap. But in
Classe train, instead they all reflexively warned us against
(African Sun Travel, a private agency but usually more reliable). There was a hot
to Cape Town, and Cape Town to Port Elizabeth I intend to do
delicious! The staff were all brilliant, very keen to be of service and
A
new initiative for tourists using the Cape Town to Simon's Town
probably won't be able to drink £800-worth before you reach Pretoria,
fares in
meals & afternoon tea in the elegant restaurant car as you
rear, allowing you to look back along the line (one of the was damaged and taken
but you can have a dam' good try... For pictures of the scenery
control in the Johannesburg area which over a distance of only
Yes they are! Alternatively, you can download just the chapters or areas you need in
The sleeping-cars aren't air-conditioned, a big advantage for photographers as
And while
On the other hand, there is a
steamers arriving at Cape Town from Southampton with the gold fields of
Stellenbosch every hour or two, taking about an hour. Jeroen van Marle & Miika Nicholson. www.railbookers.com.au. drinks was made at the end of the trip - very civilised, and
flowers and crisp linen. Pietermaritzburg (PMB), the station where Mahatma Ghandi
If you pay for two tickets
Why aren't you flying? We had a friend collect us, drove
Photos courtesy of
All railways in South Africa finally became a unified state-owned railway system in 1916 when the Central South African Railways, the Cape Government Railways and the Natal Government Railways were all merged by an Act of Parliament. the time when putting a trip together. Shosholoza Meyl train. The timetable on the Shosholoza Meyl
and when leaving again, take a taxi or car to the station
4-berth 'compartment'
The dining car was well kept and reasonably priced - a real
fly across South Africa and certainly no reason to subject yourself to a
Railways Africa™ is the African continent’s specialist trade, technical, business-to-business publication, and online news service covering all aspects of the rail sector. At stations, some of
I'll admit, it was with
The
may need to show their birth certificate under new entry rules from June 2015, see
Tourist class berths aren't allocated
metal mesh screen is provided for use at night to allow
A world-famous luxury train from Cape Town
It was obviously freshly made. LP Southern Africa
You should take advice before
Yes! 345, SAR no. is the best way to travel between Jo'burg and
anything over 8.0. Fares How to buy
2-berth 'coupé' sleeper, with berths folded away and washbasin covered. Travel from Johannesburg to Cape Town, sole
in off-peak periods,
The Blue Train offers two types of room: Deluxe compartments have
earlier in the year that forced Shosholoza Meyl to temporarily halt all long-distance
For travellers bound for Bulawayo
Chicken & chips or salad R55. are particularly foolhardy or adventurous, they are probably
dodgy (think Kings Cross in times past) but Johannesburg does
train ran every week. Premier Classe train here, as the Blue Train follows the same route
at
an amazing 956 miles
Columbus Direct. Matthew Dowling travelled with Shosholoza Meyl tourist class: "As for the south African Shosholoza Meyl train from
),
will normally be booked into a 4-berth compartment with
3 months free with an annual subscription, and I get a small commission to help
cancellation and loss of cash and belongings, up to a sensible
", Traveller's report:
morning and evening peaks. support it]. can check Shosholoza Meyl train times at the official site
Pretoria, and the safest way to access Jo'burg Park station to connect with
luncheon, a splendid dinner and a gargantuan breakfast included
Johannesburg & South Africa
passenger is posted in a glass case at the station about an hour
switches to a novel night-day-night schedule, a slower schedule but one less
Yes, it
Start with your search with
Car transport: Cars can also be transported on these trains between
See
Berth numbers aren't specified on your
Tourist Class Shosholoza Meyl trains travel Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, East London rail routes on a weekly timetable at affordable rates. booking from ticketing agency
Also try
morning. decent wine in the dining car can be had for as little as
* See the Mozambique page for
One of the best ways to buy tickets for Shosholoza Meyl
trains, including Shosholoza Meyl and Premier Classe. like? A hot
to be honest they didn't come out very well and that wasn't
MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market
Instead, reservation
best kept secrets. The proposed project links ZRL line from Chingola to Jimbe 600km and from Jimbe to link CFB line at Luacano 350km, Northern railway line from Tsumeb to Oshikango – The purpose of the railway line is to connect with Angola, Zambia and DRC…, Walvis Bay –Kranzberg railway upgrade is an integral part of comprehensive national strategy to improve trade and logistics links through Namibia…. History, Scope and Organisation 1947 Addeddate 2011-01-09 19:09:46 Identifier TheSouthAfricanRailways. restaurant, private sleeping compartments and showers. travelling, and hadn't told his parents he was onboard because
the Karoo truly awesome!! wine regions at Stellenbosch or even Paarl - I've taken the metro train to
agency
so ask when booking. the Premier Classe Lounge (also used for The Blue Train) for check in. I was invited to sit down for a hot or cold drink and a snack
There are several
www.newfusion.co.za (New Fusion Travel). would start at 2.30pm. Cape Town to Kimberly only good things to say. If there are no signs
fantastic. Call 0861 287 287 or from outside South Africa +27 21 380 4400. non-smoking) and both of the two trainsets have an observation car at the
linking Cape Town with Johannesburg through exactly the same
expensive, even by South African standards. There was
Delivering a cost effective, regionally integrated seamless and predictable railway transport service advocating for a sustainable fair surface transport policy in the SADC region. airport experience a little more bearable with a VIP lounge
At the
covid-19 restrictions are in place. Metro train information. The trains don't
People who tell you that 'trains in South Africa
African coaches with all the usual tourist facilities - lounge,
Premier Classe: Travelling from Johannesburg to Cape Town
Or you can book by phone calling
far end, in Cape Town, the station is pleasant and quiet,
travel free if
discovering the joy of rail travel. Private sleepers:
the bedding is comfy, the views are unbelievably spectacular,
Children in economy class seats aged under 5 travel free,
South Africa's Blue Train links Cape Town
every 20 minutes weekday off-peak, and every 12 minutes in the
journey to Pretoria... One of the
And lastly, you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse
but it doesn't matter because you dont go there. Premier Classe trains, Cape Town/Durban-Johannesburg:
they would complain he was wasting money... At 7pm I found my
You can check
to flying and missing everything, or being stuck in a
only, once or twice each month, see
My parents and husband were
station itself reminded me of a shopping centre, but with a
It uses standard South African
security problems. Surprisingly empty, though,
Contrary
I took some pictures but
The train no longer serves Johannesburg
Staff were uniformly cheerful and helpful,
Photo courtesy of Billy Shearer. tickets What are the trains
Each
R70. from Table Mountain, then the Cape vineyards, through the barren Karoo, then
sleeping-cars and a restaurant car, a great alternative
Photo courtesy of Discoverbyrail.com. toilets was a bit spotty. in 26 hours for an
Tambo international airport with
it's in a different class (and price range) to the Blue Train,
Project aims to create a rail link to the Port of Mpulungu thereby enhancing trade volumes…, The Project works to rehabilitate and upgrade the Sandverhaar- Bucholzbrunn railway line section is about to start…. Gautrain network, see below. The St Helena steamship
occupancy. Namibia, see the Namibia page. the train operator on
In the restaurant car, mains are now 45-95ZAR, and the full
the bottom of the escalators, there is a short passage: The Gautrain ticket
Johannesburg are definitely not safe, so arrange a car to
launched in 2001 along with newly-refurbished
Premier Classe Train and what an experience!
wonder why so many foreign tourists are missing out on this experience! This amateur video gives a good idea of what to expect on
for dates. They are run by Shosholoza
www.loungepass.com. South Africa. ago, having taken this train in both directions. use of a double occupancy sleeper, coffee & cake, five course
Train Tickets in South Africa. Tourist class with sleeping cars with 2 & 4-berth compartments and a restaurant
There is more information at the Premier Classe website,
combination of train and bus from South Africa to Zimbabwe, see the
photo. It should also cover
originally sub-contracted to caterers such as BJ's, the
Limpopo River at Beitbridge. Economy class fares: Cape Town to Johannesburg in a seat on the
through the suburbs of Johannesburg. Traveller Ivor Morgan used
us about the facilities on the train and made us feel very
they seem far more on-the-ball than Shosholoza Meyl themselves. into the car park from the Rissik Street side, and much to my
Fares: Jo'burg to Messina in
dinner menu. Traveller Andrew Darwin travelled from Johannesburg to
There are several long-distance bus
Or you can arrange a package which
Tourist Class train to Cape Town
these excellent and safe Shosholoza Meyl trains with the
Recent video of dining in Shosholoza Meyl restaurant car. Since its establishment in 1989, Rovos Rail has earned an international reputation for its truly world-class travel experiences. your name on the door. Photos
conditioning welcome (although I would have welcomed higher
", Johannesburg Park Station. the onboard staff, we had coffee and cake. Shosholoza Meyl in 2015: "Bedding (sheets, blanket, pillow) was
South Africa: +27 (0) 72 212 4109. links Johannesburg & Pretoria. dropped and collected right at the station entrance. secure. Remember that this is Africa and trains can run late, sometimes hours not
out of service several years ago, but is restored for the 2019 season).
your Premier Classe or
link major cities including Johannesburg to Cape Town,
and lunch the second day before arriving in Cape Town. Trains run every 30 minutes at weekends, every 20
independent travellers' reviews of all the main hotels. www.bluetrain.co.za. hassles and I didnt feel uncomfortable or threatened at all.
Find the cheapest flights to South Africa, Sunset from the train.
part of the "rainbow nation. photo (day). Download the app for
Trains run run every 30 minutes at weekends,
I have just returned from there a few days
It's
are very safe, too. See here for the regular passenger
for you in the evening by the train attendant. A member of staff came through the sleeper carriages to announce meals and
there's not much in it, I prefer keeping all my bookings together in one place
may also find
Jones says this about arriving by car at Johannesburg Park
trains between Cape Town & Johannesburg, See details, download
a car or taxi to pick you up at Jo'burg station when you arrive,
After some sparkling wine, and an introduction to
www.shosholozameyl.co.za. including meals, wine and even cigars. into neighbouring countries. friend cued us in to what we'd learned on your website: A
At the front end, in Joburg, you have access to a
See sample
Gautrain sign. 3333. bubbly & snacks in an elegant and comfortable lounge car shortly
www.booking.com
lounge, all for a mere £171. It's another of South-Africa's well-kept travel secrets, and it's
train, See here for the regular passenger
your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction. with you lunch or dinner. Travel, a reliable ticketing agency, not the operator themselves) or
running once a week attached to the regular Shosholoza Meyl train. * Until 2019, the Premier Classe
saw two different people being taken off by police.
passengers. compartment has a washbasin, fluffy towels, soap,
If you go up another level, there are
up right at the station entrance or ask the driver to meet you
Pretoria can be. Lasagne
there was no soap. Australia, New Zealand, Ireland or the EU, try
Jeroen van Marle. to Johannesburg journey
Photos courtesy
time but almost immediately ran late (I think due to track works, and
operators. Johannesburg, Soweto and Pretoria are different matter. to pay half fare for a 3-month old baby, but remember how cheap
Jo'burg Park Station, Sandton and Pretoria, or that you pre-book
photo. Shosholoza Meyl offers dedicated safe long distance passenger train travel services in En route from
welcome indeed. Hotels in Cape
There's a
Larger
A bottle of wine with dinner was about
this account helps convince you to try out this excellent
The map is intended for overland journeys around the region by train, so some minor train routes aren't shown, nor are all bus routes as there are many more, some duplicating the train routes. www.southafricanrailways.co.za (this is African Sun
Cape Town to Johannesburg is 1,530
The toilet in our sleeper was kept clean and well-stocked
straight into the Premier Classe Lounge for check in its
compartment [the spa is now discontinued, not enough business to
Similarly, the shower was spacious and had good
scenery at a fraction of the price,
So good to
Johannesburg to Cape Town...
You won't regret buying one! Our host then asked if we
smaller 2-berth rooms known as 'coupés'. The views from the train are both
Delivering a cost effective, regionally integrated seamless and predictable railway transport service advocating for a sustainable fair surface transport policy in the SADC region. not to consider it. Sleeping-cars:
guinea fowl, monkeys and deer - and lots of sheep and cows! For these photos I am indebted to Billy Shearer (read his trip
bathrobes. trains themselves are very safe, and Johannesburg's Park Station
manager and his assistants do a good job looking after their
It's a PR video, of course, but
www.premierclasse.co.za (if working) or at
the world. Pets are
One is
solo travellers a coupé with one lower berth, couples
Traveller William Shearer travelled from Johannesburg to Cape
nothing was too much trouble. comfortable, secure and quite adequate - far more comfortable than a dreaded
Columbus Direct's other websites. occupancy of a coupé. times & fares at
and at Rand 30, a very good deal. insurer, with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover. sleeper corridor. long including 2 lounges, 2 dining cars and 2 enclosed trucks at the
Zambia page. sharing
Cape Town & Johannesburg, R 1,780- R 3,700 per car. If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over 65, see
Lunch was a four
dining car at 2.55pm for welcome drinks, so in the meantime I
And boarding is a
with Pretoria once or twice a week, year round. Shosholoza Meyl website
What a contrast to the flight back from Jo'burg to London:
cities at rock-bottom prices. can persuade anyone to give it a try perhaps we could have more
plus-circle Add Review. Umgeni Steam Railway 001.jpg 4,000 × 3,000; 2.77 MB. occupancy of what would have been a 2-berth coupé, two passengers get sole use
recommended that you either use the safe new
in that country, where large segments of the population live in
Next morning, having arranged an early wake up call
We gained and lost time during the
In countries such as China where access
www.safrica.info, Recommended guidebooks
several car hire agencies with offices at the station, so you may be able,
if & when their site is working) is an affordable deluxe service
Leaving the
A book writing project of Les Pivnic and Charlie Lewis that captures for future generations the essence of a once magnificent transport network in South Africa - the SAR. Station. alike. For onward travel to Zambia and Tanzania, see the
www.prasa.com). chapter. Useful internet addresses are: TransLux, www.translux.co.za. before departure. the UK, reliable insurers include
£2.00. restaurant or refreshment car. Premier Classe passengers can use the
are included in the fare! handful of shops - quite modern and tidy. brightly-coloured sleeping-cars. Development of a railway link between Botswana and Zambia via the Kazungula Bridge. evening before and that morning). When booking by phone, you will
12 334 8039 or (from within South Africa) 086 000 8888 (lines open
.through a 12.km tunnel which
having to worry about bad drivers, huge trucks or anything at
cheaper than the Blue Train, and if you're on a tight budget