| The Blue Train has an aura of mystique about it. Kings and presidents have travelled on this magnificent moving five-star hotel. Its very name has become 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 savour exquisite meals freshly prepared on board by top chefs. Our meals are complimented by the best wines South Africa has to offer. The suites on The Blue Train live up to its reputation for magnificence and splendour. The finest bed linen, marble tiles and gold fittings in the bathrooms and sheer opulence all ensure that guests will never forget the time they spend on The Blue Train. When you choose to travel on The Blue Train, you choose to travel in a world of grace, elegance and romance. |
| Since it's inception in 1946, The Blue Train has become recognized as the epitome of luxury rail cruise and an icon of the Southern African tourism experience. Comparable to the world's finest hotels, each suite on board the train offers five star luxurious accommodation with private en-suite bathroom facilities. The luxury element on board the train is accentuated by the personalised butler service. The Blue Train prides itself on the fine cuisine it offers its guests with meals that are accompanied by a wide selection of South African wines sourced only from boutique vineyards. The on board experience is complimented by scenic landscape as the train meanders across the Southern-most part of the African continent. Recently redesigned and renovated, The Blue Train has cemented its place in history as the benchmark of luxury recreation. Some of the technology that has been incorporated into the newly revamped train includes a sophisticated suspension system which offers one of the smoothest rides that can be found on any train anywhere in the world. There are two "Blue Trains". Both trains are very similar in décor but have a slightly different composition. Train set 1 sleeps 84 passengers, including a paraplegic suite. This train set also has its club car at the end of the train - the only place where smoking is permitted. Train set 2 (usually marked in bold on the schedules) only sleeps 76 passengers and has an observation car at the end, with windows on three sides for maximum enjoyment of the passing scenery. Both trains offer a choice of De Luxe and Luxury suites, the main difference being that the Luxury suites are about a meter longer and have a full-sized bath rather than a three-quarter. De Luxe suites come with a choice of either a shower or three-quarter bath. The Blue Train mainly runs between Cape Town and Pretoria in either direction. Occasional trips along the Garden Route between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth are on offer when both trains are running. |
| The Train |
| The Blue Train is the ultimate definition of luxury in motion. You'll note it from the moment you step into your suite, which is transformed from an elegant, spacious lounge by day into a sanctuary of comfort at night. All the suites are equipped with 100% percale cotton linen, goose down duvets and pillows and private bathrooms with marble vanity basins, marble wall and floor tiles, gold fittings, and a choice of shower or bath. The suites include wardrobes with hangers. All the suites have a writing desk, ideally positioned next to the window, where you can enjoy the view in style or write a postcard to someone special. Each suite is a world on its own, with individually controlled air-conditioning and an entertainment centre with a choice of movie and radio channels. The suites also have under-floor heating in the rooms and bathrooms. |
| The Luxury suites are more spacious, offering a choice between twin or double beds with bath facilities. The luxury suite also boasts a selection of compact discs and movies on DVD. |
| Our De Luxe suites offer a choice between twin beds with a shower or double beds with a bath. |
| Blue Train routes Pretoria - Cape Town - Pretoria The route between Pretoria and Cape Town is a 27-hour journey of 1 600 kilometres (994 miles), through some of the most diverse and spectacular scenery offered by the African sub-continent. On the southbound trip, the train departs from Pretoria at 8:50 and arrives in Cape Town just before lunch the following day. En route to Cape Town there is a stopover and excursion in Kimberley, where we take a step back in time to the days of the diamond rush. On the northbound journey, the train leaves Cape Town just before noon and arrives in Pretoria in time for lunch the following day. It stops at the historic town Matjiesfontein, where guests can visit the famous Lord Milner Hotel and the old car museum. |
| Click Here for a detailed Pretoria to Cape Town itinerary in PDF format |
| Click Here for a detailed Cape Town to Pretoria itinerary in PDF format |
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| A window to the soul of South Africa |
