The Blue Train is an ultra-luxury train operating scheduled trips between Cape Town and Pretoria (27 hours, 1600km), and Pretoria & Durban. It derives its name from the colour of the locomotives, railway cars and leather seats in the original train set.
September 2013 Blue Train magazine
July 2013 Blue Train magazine
The trip to Cape Town leaves Pretoria at 0850, has a stopover and excursion in Kimberley, and arrives in Cape Town at 1200 the next day. The trip to Pretoria leaves Cape Town at 0850, has a stopover in Matjiesfontein, and arrives in Pretoria at 1230 the next day.
Once you are on board the Blue Train, the only time you need to use your wallet is if you visit the boutique, or want to switch from SA's best bubbly to imported French Champagne and caviar. WiFi is free & available throughout the train.
Jackets and ties are compulsory for the men, and ladies are encouraged to dress in elegant eveningwear.
Check in one hour prior to departure at the Blue Train departure lounge at Pretoria or Cape Town Railway Station. Enjoy a cup of coffee, pastries or bubbly and canapes. Before boarding you are introduced to your butler and escorted by him onto the train.
There are 4 suites per coach in the De Luxe coaches, 3 with showers and 1 with a bath. Each De Luxe suite features either double beds with a bathtub and handheld shower, or twin beds with a shower.
The Luxury Suites are a metre larger, and the twin or double beds suites offer a full sized bath. There's a selection of DVDs and CDs to choose from.
White cotton sheets and down duvets are standard. Irish Linen is used in the train (Linen may only be branded "Irish Linen" if the crafsmanship, skills and technology that go into spinning the yard are Irish and take place in Ireland).
Only a limited amount of baggage can be stored in your suite, so it's advisable to pack an overnight bag.
Two wood-panelled cars link the private suites of the Blue Train, namely the club and lounge cars. The lounges are positioned for after-dinner conversation over cognac, Cuban cigars and coffee. Afternoon snacks and tea are served in the Lounge Car.
Vegeterians, Halaal, Kosher and other special dietary requirements (if specified before you make a booking) are catered for. Meals may be enjoyed in your suite or at the dinnertime settings (there are 2 sittings, each wit a maximum of 42 people). You can select your sitting once you board. All meals, except caviar, are included in the rate.
On the Cape Town - Pretoria route, see the mountains in the Cape, the wide open Karoo, the farmland of the North Westand the goldfields near Johannesburg. On the Pretoria to Cape Town journey you stop at Kimberley where you can view the Diamond Museum and the Big Hole. On the Cape Town to Pretoria journey you can visit Matjiesfontein, where the first cricket match between SA and England took place, and see the old Car Museum and the Lord Milner Hotel.
The Pretoria - Durban journey is a 2 night return trip, with accommodation at Fairmont Zimbali Lodge, golf at Zimbali Golf Estate or use of the Camelot Spa at Zimbali.
The Pretoria - Pilanesberg journey offers accommodation on the Blue Train from Pretoria to Sun City and 2 nights accommodation at Ivory Tree Game Lodge, 2 game drives, a spa voucher for Amani Spa and a transfer from/to Sun City Station.
Pretoria to Cape Town |
Cape Town to Pretoria |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Pretoria |
|
|
D |
08:50 |
|
0km |
|
1352m |
|
Cape Town |
|
|
D |
08:50 |
|
0km |
|
3m |
||||
Klerksdorp |
|
A |
12:32 |
|
D |
12:45 |
|
256km |
|
1324m |
|
Wellington |
|
A |
10:15 |
|
D |
10:18 |
|
72km |
|
98m |
Kimberley |
|
A |
16:48 |
|
D |
19:05 |
|
565km |
|
1223m |
|
Worcester |
|
A |
12:00 |
|
D |
12:20 |
|
175km |
|
242m |
|
Matjiesfontein |
|
A |
14:35 |
|
D |
15:20 |
|
314km |
|
923m |
|||||||||||
De Aar |
|
A |
22:15 |
|
D |
22:30 |
|
799km |
|
1243m |
|
Beaufort West |
A |
18:55 |
|
D |
19:25 |
|
542km |
|
850m |
|
Beaufort West |
A |
02:25 |
|
D |
02:55 |
|
1058km |
|
850m |
|
De Aar |
|
A |
23:05 |
|
D |
23:15 |
|
801km |
|
1243m |
|
Worcester |
|
A |
08:45 |
|
D |
09:00 |
|
1425km |
|
242m |
|
Kimberley |
|
A |
02:55 |
|
D |
04:25 |
|
1035km |
|
1223m |
Wellington |
|
A |
10:45 |
|
D |
10:50 |
|
1528km |
|
98m |
|
Klerksdorp |
|
A |
08:23 |
|
D |
08:38 |
|
1344km |
|
1324m |
Cape Town |
|
A |
12:00 |
|
|
1600km |
|
3m |
|
Pretoria |
|
A |
12:30 |
|
|
1600km |
|
1352m |
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There are 2 Blue Train sets:
Trainset 1 has 37 suites accommodating 74 guests
Trainset 2 has 29 suites accommodating 58 guests, and features a Conference/Observation Car at the back of the train.
The costs for external calls are not included in the rate.
An internal temperature of 20 to 21 degrees celsius is maintained, but each suite can control temperatures from 18 to 24 degrees.
Online reservations |
Cape Town reservations |
Pretoria reservations |
Blue Train website |
021-449-2672 (ph) |
012-334-8459 (ph) |
UK reservations |
Central Europe reservations |
US reservations |
Ethos Marketing |
African Sunset |
Trumarketing |
email the Blue Train |
key accounts |
reservations officer |
083-286-0884 (ph) |
083-461-7239 (ph) |