Blue train

The Blue Train lives up to its reputation for magnificence and splendour, offering its passengers a luxurious on-board experience that they will never forget.

Making the spectacular nearly 1000-mile journey across South Africa from lively Pretoria and fascinating Cape Town, the Blue Train is South Africa's premium train, designed to discover the magic of this stunning African nation in comfort, luxury and style. The Blue Train harks all the way back to the 1920s where it has its origins in two separate trains, known as the Union Limited and the Union Express. Both were steam trains which travelled along the Great African Railway, past the Zambezi river and the glorious Victoria Falls. With the South African gold and diamond boom, the wealthy visitors came to expect a higher level of rail travel and consequently, a more luxury service was introduced. After the two trains were requisitioned for WWII in the 1940s, the two were turned into what is now called the Blue Train, named after the royal blues of the engines. With refurbishment in the 1970s, this train has ferried kings, presidents and dignitaries across the length and breadth of South Africa.

The Blue Train has a Lounge Car which is the ideal place to meet your fellow travellers and relax after dinner with a coffee. The Club Car has a well-stocked bar, a library and a big screen television and is a great place for a game of cards or backgammon. There is also a boutique on board, selling a collection of beautiful South African jewellery as well as Blue Train souvenirs. A Train Manager and two engineers are on board the train at all times and they are all happy to share their knowledge of the country, route and train with passengers.

The meals on board The Blue Train are an experience in themselves and are taken in the dining car. On-board chefs use the freshest produce and ingredients to prepare a sumptuous menu of local cuisine, which is complemented by award-winning South African wines. Crisp table linen, crystal glassware and the finest Sheffield cutlery complement the silver service presentation of the food. A continental or full English breakfast is served at leisure.

Accommodation

We include accommodation in Deluxe cabins, featuring the finest bed linen, marble tiles and gold fittings in the bathrooms. There are four Deluxe cabins per carriage, with either twin beds and a shower or a double bed and a bath. By day, the beds fold away to provide an elegant lounge so you can admire the passing scenery from the comfort of your own cabin.

All cabins also feature a washbasin and WC as well as a wardrobe and a safe. Each carriage has its own dedicated butler who may be contacted 24 hours a day via the telephone found in each cabin.

The train has recently been updated to include complimentary Wi-Fi access throughout and flat screen televisions in your cabin which show spectacular scenic footage live from the driver's view of the train.

Upgrades to Luxury cabins are also available on The Blue Train (subject to availability). There are three of these larger cabins per carriage, with twin or double beds which fold away during the day to provide a lounge with seating. The Luxury cabins include a wardrobe and a digital entertainment centre incorporating a CD player and a DVD player and an en suite bathroom which features a bath, washbasin and WC.

Blue train

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Accommodation