Shosholoza Meyl Train Reservation

The Shosholoza Meyl train is run by the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa and used to offer a range of routes within South Africa, but has been beset with issues. It is currently only offering the occasional once-off trip; with Johannesburg to East London on the 13th and 20th Dec2024 being the only train trips on offer at the time of writing.

 

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Train bookings:

WhatsApp bookings

Phone bookings:

• 011-013-1836
• 011-013-0507
• 012-748-7362
• 015-299-6205

Call Centre:

• 011-0130231
• 011-0130232
• 011-0130233

Bloemfontein:

• 051-4082262

Durban:

• 031-3618227
• 031-3617019

Johannesburg:

• 011-7733139

Kroonstad:

• 056-2682058

PRASA's call center number from 1 Aug 2024 is 087-743-2120 (standard call rates apply); covering metrorail, Shosholoza Meyl, City to City, Translux and Premier Classe.

Johannesburg - Durban 26 to 29 Sep 2024 train trip

Shosholoza Meyl are offering a once-off train trip from Johannesburg to Durban on the 26th Sep 2024; returning from Durban to Johannesburg on the 29th Sep 2024. The cost is R2500 per person for return tickets; included in the package are:

• breakfast
• lunch
• bedding
• accommodation

Alternatively, book sitter seats from Sitter R340 return.

The train is scheduled to depart from Johannesburg on Thursday, 26 September 2024 at 18h30 to arrive in Durban on Friday the 27th September at 20h21.

You can you sleep on the train while in Durban.
The train is scheduled to depart from Durban on Sunday, 29 September 2024 at 19h15 to arrive in Johannesburg on Monday, the 30th September 2024 at 19h44

Johannesburg - Cape Town train service Cancelled

Johannesburg and Cape Town train service was due to restart on the 24th July 2024; but could not due to rail damage; and the route's opening is cancelled until further notice. The route was from Johannesburg's Park Station to Cape Town (via Kimberly) and returning from Cape Town via Kimberly to Johannesburg. Initial prices would have been:

• R690 per person Tourist class, 1-way
• R430 per person economy class, 1-way
• Pensioners over the age of 55 years and older have a 25% discount off the adult rate
• Childrens' Rates:
  • 0-2 years old is free,
  • 3-9 years old get 20% off the full price
  • 10 years old and older, full price.
• Groups of 10 or more adults booking together get a ten percent discount off the full fare

There is a chef on the train as well as a dining car. There is a protection official on board to help with safety. Unfortunately, there isn't a car railing service currently.  The booking system opens up 90 days before the date of departure; let's check in September for December If you are a wheelchair passenger or on crutches; a ramp is available upon request..

The train has scheduled departures from Johannesburg on Wednesdays; and scheduled arriving in Cape Town on Fridays; then leaving Cape Town on Sundays and arriving in Johannesburg on Tuesdays. There are scheduled stops at the following stations:

• Potchefstroom
• Klerksdorp
• Bloemhof
• Christiana
• Warrenton
• Kimberley
• De Aaar
• Beaufort West
• Worcester
• Wellington
• Bellville

The scheduled departure and arrival times at each station from Johannesburg to Cape Town are as follows (in practice they struggle to stick to the scheduled times and can be quite a bit out - take down the contact phone numbers so that you can check on the day whether the train is on schedule):

Johannesburg - Musina train service

On 30 August 2024 Shosholoza Meyl is commencing with a train service from Johannesburg via Polokwane to Musina and returning from Musina via Polokwane to Johannesburg. The initial train leaves Johannesburg's Park Station on the 30th August and is scheduled to arrive in Masina on 1 Sep 2024. Initial train fares at the time of writing (will change) were:

• R310 per person Tourist class (1-way)
• R190 per person economy class (1-way)
• Pensioners over the age of 55 years and older pay 25% off the adult rate.
• Childrens' Rates:
  • 0 to 2 years old is free
  • 3 to 9 years old get 20% off the adult rate
  • from 10 years old and older, it is full price.

Tourist class (sleepers) are available on this route.

TOURIST CLASS (JOHANNESBURG - MUSINA) 1-way fares
	JHB	GMR	PRY	PYD	HKR	WSR	NBR	PTR	PTG	SMC	LTT	MPI	MES
GMR	110
PRY	130	130
PYD	140	140	120
HKR	150	140	130	120
WSR	170	160	140	140	130
NBR	190	180	170	160	150	130
PTR	210	200	180	180	170	150	130
PTG	230	220	200	200	190	170	150	130
SMC	260	250	230	220	220	200	180	160	140
LTT	280	270	250	250	240	220	200	180	160	130
MPI	300	290	270	270	260	240	220	200	180	150	130
MES	310	310	290	280	270	250	230	210	190	160	140	120

 

ECONOMY CLASS  - (JOHANNESBURG - MUSINA) 1-way fares
	JHB	GMR	PRY	PYD	HKR	WSR	NBR	PTR	PTG	SMC	LTT	MRM	MPI	MES
GMR	60
PRY	70	70
PYD	80	80	60
HKR	80	80	70	60
WSR	100	90	80	80	70
NBR	110	110	100	90	90	70
PTR	120	120	110	100	100	80	70
PTG	130	130	120	110	110	100	80	70
SMC	150	150	140	130	130	110	100	90	80
LTT	160	160	150	140	140	130	110	100	90	70
MRM	170	170	150	150	150	130	120	110	100	80	70
MPI	180	180	170	160	160	150	130	120	110	90	80	70
MES	190	190	180	170	170	150	140	130	120	100	90	80	70

To book Shosholoza Meyl

Click to WhatsApp

Telephonic bookings:

+27-11130231

+27-11130232

+27-11130233

+27-860008888

Regional bookings:

Bloemfontein: +27-514082262

Durban:

+27-313618227

+27-313617019

Johannesburg: +27-117733139

Kroonstad: +27-562682058

What a way to see South Africa - far more scenic than a quick flight.

These email addresses no longer seem to work:

info_shosholozameyl@transnet.net

Shosholozameyl@prasa.com

Non-booking related queries

Email mlps.info@prasa.com

Bloemfontein:

tramokoma@prasa.com

+27-514083390

Cape Town:

fabian.jooste@prasa.com

+27-218187561

+27-214492940

Johannesburg:

nmancoba@prasa.com

+27-127487353

Gqeberha & Queenstown:

snodikana@prasa.com

+27-458082011

Click here to obtain a customer feedback form to fill in.

Economy & Tourist class

There are 2 classes on board the train.

Economy class consists of seated accommodation. The seats do recline and all offer backrests and headrests with lots of leg room. Communal toilets are available at both ends of each coach.

Tourist class consists of sleeper accommodation. You have a choice between a coupe, this accommodates 2 people and a compartment that can take up to 4 people. During the day the compartment/coupe are suites and at night they are converted into bedrooms, with both having hot and cold water. In addition both have a basin beneath a fold-up table. Communal toilets and showers are available at both ends of each coach. Please note bedding comes at an additional cost or you are welcome to bring on your own bedding

 

 

 

Shosholoza Meyl old routes (only JHB-CPT & JHB-MUSINA at the moment)

Shosholoza Meyl train trips to Bloemfontein	Cape Town to Bloemfontein
	Durban to Bloemfontein
	East London to Bloemfontein
	Johannesburg to Bloemfontein
	Kimberley to Bloemfontein
	Port Elizabeth to Bloemfontein
Shosholoza Meyl train trips to Cape Town	Bloemfontein to Cape Town
	Durban to Cape Town
	East London to Cape Town
	Johannesburg to Cape Town
	Kimberley to Cape Town
	Port Elizabeth to Cape Town
Shosholoza Meyl train trips to Durban	Bloemfontein to Durban
	Cape Town to Durban
	Johannesburg to Durban
	Pietermaritzburg to Durban
Shosholoza Meyl train trips to East London	Bloemfontein to East London
	Cape Town to East London
	Johannesburg to East London
Shosholoza Meyl train trips to Johannesburg	Bloemfontein to Johannesburg
	Cape Town to Johannesburg Stops at Bellville, Worcester, Beaufort West, Kimberley and Klerksdorp
	Durban to Johannesburg
	East London to Johannesburg
	Kimberley to Johannesburg Stops at Klerksdorp
	Komatipoort to Johannesburg
	Musina to Johannesburg
	Nelspruit to Johannesburg
	Pietermaritzburg to Johannesburg
	Polokwane to Johannesburg
	Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg
Shosholoza Meyl train trips to Kimberley	Bloemfontein to Kimberley
	Cape Town to Kimberley
	Durban to Kimberley
	Johannesburg to Kimberley
Shosholoza Meyl train trips to Nelspruit	Johannesburg to Nelspruit
	Komatipoort to Nelspruit
Shosholoza Meyl train trips to Pietermaritzburg	Durban to Pietermaritzburg
	Johannesburg to Pietermartizburg
Shosholoza Meyl train trips to Polokwane	Johannesburg to Polokwane
	Musina to Polokwane
Shosholoza Meyl train trips to Port Elizabeth	Bloemfontein to Port Elizabeth
	Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth

News

30 Aug 2024. Train trips between Johannesburg and Musina (via Polokwane) commence.

24 Jul 2024. The train service between Johannesburg and Cape Town (via Kimberley) was due to restart with weekly roundtrips; but could not due to rail damage from storms. The route was cancelled until further notice.

30 May 2024. Shosholoza Meyl restarts its train service between Johannesburg and East London; with Sitter class costing from R300 and Sleeper class from R480 (these prices wont last long...may already have changed!).



Feb 2024. President Ramaphosa's proclamation number 153 of 2024 is to investigate PRASA's awarding of tenders to:

Swifambo Rail Leasing (who are now insolvent) to supply PRASA with locomotives. For more background, see this court judgement in the case between PRASA and Swifambo.

Siyangena Technologies to set up access management systems at various train stations, and thenceforth to maintain them. For more background see the court judgement in the case between Siyangena Technologies and PRASA.

30 Jan 2024 (Tuesday). In PRASA's annual report for 2022/2023, it specifies that refurbishment to Shosholoza Meyl trains cost R17m.

Jan 2024. Shosholoza Meyl suspends train rides from Joburg to Cape Town, due to lack of locomotives and operational difficulties.

24 Dec 2023 (Sunday). A Shosholza Meyl train from Johannesburg to Cape Town runs into mechanical failures and stops at De Aar, for the passengers to complete their trip to Cape Town by bus.

Dec 2023. Shosholza Meyl resumes train trips between Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban.

Aug 2022. PRASA tender process for the overhaul and repair of 1400 Shosholoza Meyl train coaches (and 4500 Metrorail coaches).

22 Feb 2022 (Tuesday). A case gets underway involving the theft of 49km of rail, allegedly by Mthuthuzeli Swart, formerly the Acting Chief Exec of PRASA, acting in concert with Syed Mohiudeen.

23 Feb 2023 (Thursday). Mohiudeen's attorney, Aphsana Yusuph, files a High Court application for review of a previously dismissed Request for Further Particulars.

27 Feb 2019 (Wednesday). An entrepeneur, Syed Mohiudeen, is arrested in connection with the same crime.

22 Jan 2019 (Tuesday). Mthuthuzeli Swartz is arrested for stealing a lengthy 49 kilometres of rail (allegedly in 2012).

Feb 2013. At the police station in Elliot, Transnet security opens a case of theft.

2012. Fourty nine kilometres of railway line is stolen, from Maclear to Sterkstroom.

5 Jan 2020. A group of youths are suspected of having set alight 24 disused Shosholoza Meyl train carriages, at a depot in Bloemfontein.

4 Jan 2017 (Wednesday). A Shosholza Meyl train, carrying 599 people, crashes into a dump truck at a crossing, with at least nineteen people killed. The train was near Kroonstad, on its way from PE to Johannesburg. It's alleged that the truck tried to beat the train at the crossing.

23 Dec 2014 (Tuesday). Shosholoza Meyl cancels its Johannesburg to Messina and Johannesburg to Komatipoort routes.

15 Jul 2014 (Tuesday). Shosholoza Meyl announces changes to specific train schedules due to maintenance work set to commence on the 18th of July 2014 until the 18th of September 2014. Affected routes are: Johannesburg – Durban; Johannesburg – East London; Johannesburg – Port Elizabeth and Cape Town – East London.

27 Jun 2014 (Friday). A Shosholoza Meyl train from Johannesburg headed for Port Elizabeth with almost 220 passengers derailed while pulling into the station. The cause of the derailment was attributed to a section of the track snapping as the train switched tracks. There were no fatalities.

Jun 2012. Shosholoza Meyl start running a seperate train for each class on the Joburg - Cape Town route, with the economy class train running every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The tourist class train runs every Tuesday and Thursday.

1 Apr 2012. Shosholoza Meyl have indicated that the Durban - Cape Town (direct) route will resume as from the 1st of April, with the first train run being on the 4th from DUR - CPT and will be available every Wednesday ONLY from then on, departing at 18h30 and arriving on Friday at 08h45. The return service departs on Monday ONLY at 18h50 and arrives on Wednesday at 08h10. It will be a single class (Tourist/Sleeper) service and the fare will be R 740 per person one way.

16 Nov 2010. Shosholoza Meyl & Premier Classe train services are reinstated.

15 Aug 2010. Passengers are left stranded when Shosholoza Meyl long-distance train services are suspended due to a dispute between Transnet and the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa. It seems that Transnet refuses to certify Prasa trains that are not maintained by Transnet Rail Engineering, following Prasa making the decision to move the maintenance of its trains to its own workshops and other unnamed private contractors at the beginning of the week (saying that Transnet Rail Engineering was unreliable and costly). However, Transnet spokesman Mboniso Sigonyela released the following statement: "Transnet would like to place on record that there is no dispute between the parties relating to locomotive maintenance that is preventing Prasa trains from running on Transnet's network or any other dispute that would lead to the suspension of the Shosholoza Meyl service. Notwithstanding significant payment delays and pricing disputes, Transnet has continued to provide maintenance and upgrade services to Prasa. However, in mid-July 2010, Prasa revised certain governance processes that related to the manner in which work performed by TRE would be authorised by Prasa. The revisions have resulted in approximately 70 locomotives awaiting maintenance due to Prasa's inability to comply with these very same processes. Numerous attempts by Transnet officials for Prasa to address this serious matter have been unsuccessful and the situation continues."

May 2010. Shosholoza Meyl train services are suspended whilst workers go on strike.

7 Dec 2009. Two people are killed and a 110 hospitalised (mostly toddlers & teenagers) when two Shosholoza Meyl trains collided at 14h20 near Potchefstroom.

27 Jul 2009. At 0615am at Virginia passengers set alight 5 coaches of a Shosholoza Meyl train on its way from Bloemfontein to Johannesburg, after a locomotive broke down in the Free State. There were some 150 passengers on board and nobody was injured. Buses were used to take the passengers to their destinations. "While arrangements were being made for a replacement locomotive, the passengers became very angry and started to threaten Shosholoza Meyl employees on board. The damage to the train is estimated at R9 million. Shosholoza Meyl does not condone acts of violence and the public should be aware that burning of trains is a crime and the perpetrators will face the might of the law."  said Shosholoza Meyl acting chief executive Viwe Mlenzana.

15 May 2009. Transnet announces that it has sold its interests in Shosholoza Meyl (as well as the coach maintenance business of Transnet Rail Engineering) to the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa, formerly SA Rail Commuter Corporation). The deal was signed by Prasa’s chief executive (Tshepo Lucky Montana) and Transnet’s acting group chief executive (Chris Wells). The deal is effective from 31 Mar 2009 and the sale price was R100, with the sale agreement being signed on the 7th May 2009. As part of the transaction, Prasa paid an amount of R500m to Transnet on the 22nd May 2009, as reimbursement for passenger rail operating expenditure incurred by Transnet prior to the transfer date.Transnet Freight Rail was previously operating Shosholoza Meyl.

27 Oct 2007. The Shosholoza Meyl train crashes into a stationary Blue Train (which was waiting for it to pass) outside De Aar. Five passengers are seriously injured, 4 of whom are flown to Bloemfontein and the 5th to N1 City Hospital in Cape Town.

Children - Tourist Class
Children under 10 years accompanied by an adult in possession of a valid ticket pay half the adult fare. Children 10 years and older will pay the full adult fare. No unaccompanied children under the age of 16 will be allowed unless escorted or prior arrangements have been made with Shosholoza Meyl.

Children - Economy Class
Children under 5 years accompanied by an adult in possession of a valid ticket travel free of charge. Children from 5 to 9 years will pay half the adult fare and children 10 years and older will pay the full adult fare. No unaccompanied children under the age of 16 will be allowed unless escorted or prior arrangements have been made with Shosholoza Meyl.

Senior Citizens
Senior Citizens of 60 years and older are entitled to a discount during off-peak periods when they travel in Tourist Class (not applicable to Economy Class). Senior Citizens should produce their identity documents when buying a ticket.

Groups
Groups of 10 or more people receive a group discount during off-peak periods. No group discounts are available during peak periods.

Rent-a-compartment / Rent-a-coupè
A discount is applicable to individuals or families who prefer to travel alone by renting a coupè or compartment. The discount is only applicable during off-periods (Periods falling outside major holidays.)

Policies

Luggage in compartments coupès
Two medium-sized suitcases or carry bags needed during the journey are classified as luggage of a personal nature. Luggage is restricted to 50kg per full-paying passenger. Luggage weighing less than 50 kilograms is free.

Charges for luggage
Luggage of a personal nature is conveyed free of charge, provided it can be placed conveniently on the luggage racks or in the compartment, without inconveniencing other passengers.

Excess personal luggage
Luggage of a personal nature in excess of luggage allowances will be charged according to the luggage price table and processed through the reservation system to availability of space. This luggage must be tendered for registration at a Shosholoza Meyl Sales and Reservation's office.

Unaccompanied Luggage
Luggage, such as household furniture can be carried on the train unaccompanied. Reservations cannot be done in advance, instead they have to be made on the day of departure. This is because there is unlimited space. Check-in for unaccompanied luggage closes 2 hours before the scheduled departure time of the train.

Commercial Goods / Abnormal
Commercial goods and abnormal luggage will be charged according to the luggage price-table and be processed through the reservation system.

Motor Vehicles
This service is currently not available; but Shosholoza Meyl used to be able to carry vehicles on the train as well; but only on their Johannesburg - Cape Town and Johannesburg - Durban lines.

Pets on Shosholoza Meyl Trains:
Pets are not allowed on board except for trained guide dogs.

Refund:
Refunds are subject to the rules and regulations of Shosholoza Meyl refund policy.

Security:
Security personnel on the train are there to ensure the safety of every passenger. (TV cameras have been installed on the platforms for additional security.)

Smoking on Trains:
Smoking is prohibited on all Shosholoza Meyl trains and at the stations.

Special Requests:
Shosholoza Meyl caters for special requests on trains. If you require special assistance at the station or during the journey, please inform the reservations personnel. Upon making a reservation they will make sure you receive the assistance you need to make your journey pleasant and comfortable.

Medical Assistance
Should a passenger become ill on board, the Train Manager will arrange for assistance at the nearest station. There is always a first-aid kit onboard the train - please enquire from the Train Manager or Assistant Train Manager.

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