Trans Karoo Express

The Trans Karoo Express, or simply Trans Karoo, was a South African express passenger train service which travelled an approximately 1,600 kilometer (1,000 mile) journey between Johannesburg and Cape Town. It operated daily in each direction, meaning that there were in fact two Trans Karoos - they passed each other during the night, heading in opposite directions. The service was operated by Spoornet, the national railway company.

The Trans Karoo was named from the Great Karoo scrubland, one of the most extensive geographical features of southern Africa, across which the train operated. The route was identical to that operated by the Blue Train. However, the Blue Train is an exclusively 1st-class luxury service, on which a considerable premium is payable. The Trans Karoo conveyed 3rd class, 2nd class, and 'ordinary' 1st class passengers. Those travelling 1st class on the Trans Karoo had private sleeping compartments (converted to seating accommodation during the day) with washing faciltiies, plus shared showers and lavatories in each carriage. There was also a dining and bar car on the train, where meals could be taken in comfort. 2nd class consisted of couchette coaches, and 3rd class of simple upright seating.

The service is now incorporated into the Shosholoza Meyl network of operations, a sub-division of the national rail operator. Although the title of Trans Karoo has officially ended, it is still used colloquially to refer to the Johannesburg to Cape Town section of Shosholoza Meyl operations, where the trains still operate exactly the same route as the old Trans Karoo, and to the same timetable. Shosholoza Meyl has introduced new modern railway coaches, although these have attracted criticism from tourists for their small windows and resulting limited views.