Blue Train (South Africa)

The Blue Train is a South African luxury train in the jurisdiction of the state transport company Transnet. It runs between Pretoria and Cape Town and between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. Occasional services there is also from Pretoria to Hoedspruit to Victoria Falls as well as among other things to Namibia.

Description

The Blue Train is one of the most luxurious trains in the world. The cars are shaded with gold and soundproof windows and fitted with carpets in the compartments. In the highest booking class users enjoy a suite ( bedroom, living room, bathroom) available on the top two fare classes, the bathrooms are equipped with bathtubs. From the highest booking class fit three suites in a wagon; of this type, there are two carriages, which are used in two different trains. The other wagons contain four suites; with a bathroom, three with shower. In addition, a conference / observation car is still carried. A kitchen and dining car with room for 42 guests for refreshments. The formal dinner in the evening is evidenced in two layers; each layer takes two hours. Breakfast and lunch are "casual".

There are two train sets: a larger one for 74 guests in 37 suites and a smaller one for 58 in 29 suites. The length of both trains is through the observation car the same: 336 meters ( 433 yards), as the weight of 825 tons each without locomotive.

Since its introduction in 1923, this train has become a synonym for luxury travel. 2009, the Blue Train was awarded as the most luxurious train in the world at the prestigious World Travel Awards.

One of the two lounges of the train

Logo on the car

One of the bedrooms

Bathroom suite

History

The Blue Train was first used in 1923 as Union Limited between Johannesburg and Cape Town to offer an attractive connection to the luxurious ships that took off there to England. In April 1939 the train received its present name.