Blue Train (South Africa)

:"This article is about the South African luxury passenger train. For the French luxury passenger train of the same name, see Le Train Bleu (passenger train)."

The "Blue Train" travels an approximately 1,600 kilometer (1,000 mile) journey in South Africa between Pretoria and Cape Town. It is one of the most luxurious train journeys in the world. It boasts butler service, two lounge cars (smoking and non-smoking), an observation car, and carriages with gold-tinted picture windows, in soundproofed, fully carpeted compartments, each featuring its own en-suite (many of which are equipped with a full-sized bathtub).cite web|url = http://www.seat61.com/SouthAfrica.htm#famous%20'Blue%20Train| title=Train travel in South Africa |publisher = www.seat61.com |accessdate = 2007-06-30] The service is promoted as a "magnificent moving five-star hotel" by its operators, who note that kings and presidents have travelled on it. [cite web| url=http://www.bluetrain.co.za/default.htm |title=The Blue Train |publisher=www.bluetrain.co.za |accessdate=2007-06-30]

History

The "Blue Train"'s origins date back to the "Union Limited" and "Union Express" trains which began in 1923, taking passengers from Johannesburg to the ships departing from Cape Town to England. The "Union Express" introduced luxury features such as a dining saloon in 1933 and air-conditioned carriages in 1939.cite web|url= http://www.smh.com.au/news/south-africa/love-on-the-tracks-for-the-diehard-train-buff/2005/02/15/1108229983185.html| title=Love on the tracks for the diehard train buff |publisher=The Sun Herald |date=2004-12-12 |accessdate=2007-06-30 ]

After a break in service in World War II the service returned in 1946. With the reintroduction of the train, the colloquial "blue train" moniker, a reference to the blue-painted steel carriages introduced in 1937, ] was formally adopted as the new name.

In 1997, three years after the end of apartheid, it was refurbished and relaunched.

Route

Prior to 2002, the "Blue Train" operated on four distinct routes:
*the main Pretoria-Cape Town service
*the scenic "Garden Route" from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth
*to Hoedspruit, along the western edge of Kruger Park
*to Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls

By 2004 last two routes have since been suspended, the former due to lack of patronage, the latter due to erratic rail rates being charged for access to the network of financially strapped Zimbabwe. ] As of 2007, the only regular route in operation was Pretoria-Cape Town, however special package tours were offered to Durban or the Bakubung Game Lodge. [cite web| url=http://www.bluetrain.co.za/routes.htm |title=The Blue Train - Routes |publisher=www.bluetrain.co.za |accessdate = 2007-06-30 ]

Another named passenger express operates over the same route. The Trans Karoo Express, popularly referred to simply as the 'Trans Karoo' operates the same Pretoria to Cape Town route, with one sleeper train per day in each direction, but is not a 'luxury' service.

Current operations

"Blue Train" is operated by Luxrail, a division of Spoornet, the state-owned national rail company of South Africa. Operations currently require two Blue Trains in operation. One operates in the northern direction and the other in the southern direction, allowing for daily departures from both ends of the route.

References

External links

* [http://www.bluetrain.co.za/ Blue Train website]
* [http://www.seat61.com/SouthAfrica.htm#famous%20'Blue%20Train The Blue Train from Cape Town to Pretoria]