Tour Description

With accolades year after year such as Africa’s Leading Luxury Train & the World’s Leading Luxury Train, The Blue Train has to rank as one of Africa’s finest experiences!

Kings and Presidents have travelled on this magnificent moving five-star hotel with its very name becoming synonymous with the ultimate in luxury and personal service. The routes of The Blue Train take guests through some of the most breathtaking countryside to be found anywhere in the world. As the ever-changing scenery flashes past the windows, guests can savor exquisite meals freshly prepared on board by top chefs and complemented by the best wines South Africa has to offer.

Blue Train FAQ

Itinerary

CAPE TOWN TO PRETORIA 

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6h30 : Register and check-in at The Blue Train Lounge, Cape Town Station. Guests enjoy pre-departure drinks. Welcome snacks will be served on-board the train.

7h30 : Boarding commences. Butlers usher guests to their suites.

8h30 : The Blue Train departs from Cape Town Station.

10h30 – 12h00 :  First sitting for Brunch

12h30 – 14h00 : Second sitting for Brunch

Off-the-train excursion (weather and time permitting)

14h30 – 15h30 : The Blue Train arrives at Matjiesfontein for an off-the-train excursion.

On arrival at Matjiesfontein guests are invited for a glass of sherry at the bar. The sherry glass engraved with The Blue Train logo is a memento for guests to keep. The Victoria buildings and original nineteenth century London lampposts impart to the traveller, the uncanny sense of entering a colonial time warp – an oasis suspended in a different age.

15h30 : The Blue Train departs for its northbound journey to Pretoria. High tea is served in the Lounge Car.

18h00 : After an exciting interlude guests are welcome to refresh themselves and enjoy pre-dinner drinks at any one of our lounges.

18h30 – 20h00 : First sitting dinner

20h30 : Second sitting dinner

Remember, dinner is an elegant affair and men are requested to wear a jacket and tie and ladies elegant evening wear.

Guests enjoy post-dinner drinks, Cognacs and Cuban cigars in the Club Car before retiring to bed.

07h00 – 10h00 : Breakfast is served on a first-come-first- served basis. Breakfast can also be served in-suite at the guests’ request.

12h00 – 14h45 : Three-course lunch served at leisure (first-come- first- served)

15h00 : The Blue Train arrives at Pretoria Station.

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PRETORIA TO CAPE TOWN

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06h30 : Register and check-in at The Pretoria Station Lounge. Guests enjoy pre-departure drinks. Welcome snacks will be served on-board the train.

07h30 : Boarding starts. Butlers usher guests to their suites. Boarding concludes at 08:00am.

08h30 : The Blue Train departs from Pretoria Station (Will depart earlier once all guests have checked-in).

10h30 – 12h00 : First sitting for Brunch

12h30 – 14h00 : Second sitting for BrunchHigh tea is served in the Lounge Car.

19h30 – 21h00 : First sitting dinner

21h15 : Second sitting dinner

Remember, dinner is an elegant affair and men are requested to wear a jacket and tie and ladies elegant evening wear.

Guests enjoy post-dinner drinks, Cognacs and Cuban cigars in the Club Car before retiring to bed.

07h00 – 10h00 : Breakfast is served on a first-come-first-served basis.

18h00 : The Blue Train arrives at Cape Town Station. Butlers usher guests to The Blue Train Lounge.

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Tour Overview

The luxurious journeys are made possible by two Blue Train sets. The first train accommodates 74 guests in 37 suites. The second accommodates 58 guests in 29 suites and features a conference or observation car at the back of the train. They travel at a speed of 90 kilometres per hour (58,2 mph). Both are 336 metres (433 yards) long and consist of 17 & 16 carriages respectively, 10 & 8 of which are for the use of the guests.

They each carry 31 000 litres (6820 gallons) of water. Two diesel-powered generators – one of which is always on standby – are used to supply The Blue Train’s demanding power requirements. The kitchen car is a masterpiece of stainless-steel design. The fully air-conditioned car features walk-in cool rooms and freezers, ensuring that wines and hors d’oeuvres remain at optimum temperatures.

All the public cars are fitted with gas-filled air-conditioning systems. A standard internal temperature of between 20 to 21°C (70 to 72°F) is maintained throughout the journey. For the comfort of guests, each suite has individual temperature controls which range from 18 to 24°C (65 to 77°F). These systems are water-cooled and each suite has its own fresh air intake. During cold periods, all systems are provided with heating cycles from the air-conditioning units, as well as under-floor heating. Heating systems have been fitted under the marble tiles of most of the bathrooms.

Each suite has its own bathroom with either a shower or bath. There are two luxury coaches which both have three suites with bathrooms fitted with tubs. The other nine De Luxe coaches have four suites per coach. One of the four suites has a bathroom with a bath, while the other three have showers.

The beds have been custom-designed for The Blue Train. A butler pulls them out, already made, from a space in the suite wall, converting the lounge into a comfortable bedroom. White cotton sheets and down duvets are the standard linen throughout the train. Ten of the suites feature double beds on the first train, while there are nine on the second. The luxury suites have hi-fi, audio CD and VHS video systems. Guests on The Blue Train receive special branded gifts at the end of the journey.

The dining car provides seating for 42 people. There are two sittings for lunch and dinner. Lunch is smart-casual, dinner is jacket and tie for the men and elegant wear for the ladies, while breakfast is casual. Each of The Blue Trains has two lounges: the main lounge car in which high tea is served each afternoon, and the club car where guests can relax over a post-prandial cognac. The club car is the only public area available for smoking.

There is a first-aid worker on board and contingency medical plans have been put into place should an emergency arise. There are also doctors on standby en route.

Fax facilities are available in the train manager’s office. There are also facilities for mailing letters, as well as stamps and The Blue Train postcards. A camera mounted on the front of both trains gives guests a driver’s-eye-view of the scenery ahead. The unfolding journey is shown on a TV screen in the club car and on one of the TV channels so guests can view it in their suites. Each suite is also equipped with a cellular communication telephone which can be used for phone calls and to reach train staff. The Blue Train has a central intercom system which is used for making relevant announcements.

On each journey, a team of highly qualified and specially trained hospitality staff run The Blue Train. These include, train manager, rooms division supervisor, restaurant supervisor, executive chef, sous chef, butlers, waiters/barmen as well as kitchen staff.

Tour Departure Dates

See below the departure dates for 2018 and 2019. Book now your trip with the luxurious Blue Train and experience a world of grace, elegance and romance of the old days.

Dates in bold denote the train with a maximum capacity of 80 guests  – with a Conference Car & Paraplegic suite (partially wheelchair friendly)

Non-bold dates denote the train with a maximum capacity of 52 guests (this train set does not have a paraplegic suite and therefore is not wheelchair friendly

CAPE TOWN TO PRETORIA 2018
Selected Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays
Month Day Month Day
January   5, 10, 12, 17, 24, 26, 29, 31          July   4, 11, 18, 25
February   7, 14, 19, 21, , 23, 28 August   1, 8, 15, 22, 29
March   5, 7, 14, 21, 28, September   5, 12, 19, 26
April   4, 11, 18, 25 October  3, 10, 17, 24, 26, 31
May   2, 9, 16, 23, 30 November   7, 14, 21, 28
June   6, 13, 20, 27 December  5, 12, 19, 21

Departure Time : 18h30 (am) and Arrival Time : 10h30

 

 

CAPE TOWN TO PRETORIA 2019
Selected Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays
Month Day Month Day
January 10, 17, 19, 24, 26, 31 July 6, 13, 25, 27
February 7, 16, 21, 28 August 1, 8, 15, 22, 24, 29, 31
March 2, 7, 14, 16, 21, 28 September 5, 12, 14, 21, 26
April 4, 11, 15, 25 October 10, 12, 19, 24, 26, 31
May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
June 6, 13, 20, 27 December 7, 14, 19, 21

Departure Time : 18h30 (am) and Arrival Time : 10h30

PRETORIA TO CAPE TOWN  2018
Selected Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays
Month Day Month Day
January 3, 8, 10, 15, 22, 24, 26, 29 July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
February 5, 12, 16, 19, 21, 26 August 6, 13, 20, 27
March 2, 5, 12, 19, 26 September 3, 10, 17, 24
April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 October 1, 8, 15, 22, 24, 29
May 7, 14, 21, 28 November 5, 12, 19, 26
June 4, 11, 18, 25 December 3, 10, 17, 19

Departure Time : 16h00 and Arrival Time : 10h30

 

 

PRETORIA TO CAPE TOWN  2019
Selected Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays
Month Day Month Day
January 7, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28 July 3, 10, 22, 24, 29
February 4, 13, 18, 25, 27 August 5, 12, 19, 21, 26, 28
March 4, 11, 13, 18, 25 September 2, 9, 11, 18, 23
April 1, 8, 12, 22, 29 October 7, 9, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30
May 6, 13, 20, 27 November 6, 13, 20, 27
June 3, 10, 17, 24 December 4, 11, 16, 18

Departure Time : 16h00 (am) and Arrival Time : 10h30

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Booking Rates

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