Train travel in:
How to travel by train in
South Africa . . .
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Train travel in: |
How to travel by train inSouth Africa . . . |
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Country information |
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Train operator in South Africa: |
Shosholoza Meyl trains: www.shosholozameyl.co.za. (for reservations from overseas call + 27 11 774 4555) Luxury Blue Train, Cape Town-Pretoria: www.bluetrain.co.za. Premier Classe trains, Cape Town/Durban-Johannesburg: www.premierclasse.co.za |
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Time zone: |
GMT+2 |
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Currency: |
£1 = approx 12.5 Rand. $1 = approx 8.4 Rand Currency converter |
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Visas: |
UK citizens do not need a visa to visit South Africa. |
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Hotels, flights & tours: |
Hotels in South Africa Flights to South Africa Tours & activities |
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Page last updated: |
17 June 2009 |
Contrary to what you may have heard and to what many middle-class South Africans may tell you, taking the train is a remarkably safe, civilised & enjoyable way to travel between cities in South Africa. In fact, you'd be crazy not to consider it. There are several completely different train services:
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These long-distance passenger trains are perhaps South Africa's best-kept travel secret. Comfortable, cheap & safe, they link major cities. They are run by Shosholoza Meyl, part of South African Railways (Spoornet) previously known as Main Line Passenger Services. These trains are a great way to travel, as they let you see South Africa comfortably & affordably at ground level, without spending whole days & nights in a bus seat. In 2006, Shosholoza Meyl split its trains into two separate types: Tourist class trains consist exclusively of sleeping cars (2- & 4-berth compartments) and a restaurant car serving meals, snacks, beer and wine. The sleepers even have hot showers at the end of the corridor! Economy class trains consist of sitter class seats and sometimes a restaurant car. In this section: Routes & times Fares How to buy tickets What are Shosholoza Meyl trains like? Safety on Shosholoza Meyl trains Travellers' reports
Train Times:Johannesburg - Pretoria - Louis Trichardt - Messina Johannesburg - Pretoria - Nelspruit (for Kruger Park) - Komatipoort - Maputo (Mozambique) Kimberley - Mafeking service withdrawn. You can check Shosholoza Meyl train times (though not usually fares) at www.shosholozameyl.co.za. 1. Cape Town - Johannesburg
* Pretoria: Shosholoza Meyl & Premier Classe trains no longer run through to/from Pretoria, since May 2006 they start/finish their journey at Johannesburg. Remember that Johannesburg city centre isn't safe for visitors, although the station itself has security and is well-patrolled & secure. Be very careful if you walk outside the station. It's recommended that you pre-book a car or taxi to pick you up at Jo'burg station when you arrive, and when leaving again, take a taxi or car to the station entrance. Pretoria is a safer city to use as a base when visiting the Jo'burg area. Fares How to buy tickets What are the trains like? Safety on board these trains
Fares How to buy tickets What are the trains like? Safety on board these trains 2. Johannesburg - Durban
Fares How to buy tickets What are the trains like? Safety on board
3. Johannesburg - Port Elizabeth
Fares How to buy tickets What are the trains like? Safety on board these trains 4. Cape Town - Durban
Fares How to buy tickets What are the trains like? Safety on board these trains Train times for other Shosholoza Meyl routes, including Johannesburg to East London, Messina and Komatipoort (for Maputo in Mozambique). Shosholoza Meyl fares...
What are Shosholoza Meyl Tourist Class trains like?Sleeping-cars: The sleeping-cars have 4-berth rooms known as 'compartments' and smaller 2-berth rooms known as 'coupés'. The berths convert to seating for daytime use. There's a cut-away 3-D picture of the tourist class coach layout at spoornet.co.za. Each compartment has basic leatherette bench seats which convert to bunks at night, and a washbasin with hot and cold water. Bedding is provided for a small extra charge (20 Rand, about £1.70) and expertly made up for you in the evening by the train attendant. Each sleeping-car has a hot shower at the end of the corridor, with lockable shower cubicle & changing area - bring your own soap & towel. The coaches are not air-conditioned, so the windows open for a superb view of the countryside. A metal / mesh screen is provided for use at night to allow cool air in. Two passengers travelling together will normally be booked into a 2-berth coupé, a solo traveller will normally be booked into a 4-berth compartment with passengers of the same sex. The price is the same. If you pay for two tickets (quite affordable, given the fare) you can have sole occupancy of a coupé. The whole train is all non-smoking. Restaurant car: There's a restaurant car serving snacks, drinks and affordable complete meals. Catering was originally sub-contracted to caterers such as BJ's, the South African equivalent of Wimpy, though is now back in-house. A full English 'Farmhouse breakfast' hits the spot in the morning, and beer and a wine list is available for something to go with you lunch or dinner. The food is not expensive, even by South African standards. Restaurant car staff also come down the train to sell tea and coffee to you at your seat. . Watch the video: Although taken in 1995, well before the trains' refurbishment and re-branding as 'Shosholoza Meyl', this video gives a good idea of the excellent scenery you'll see and the on-train sleeping-car and restaurant car facilities, on the Shosholoza Meyl tourist class train from Cape Town to Johannesburg (the Trans Karoo). A real South African travel experience! Recent video of dining in Shosholoza Meyl restaurant car. What are Shosholoza Meyl Economy Class Trains like?
'Sitter' class seating: Economy trains have basic seating, which does not convert to berths. Fine for daytime journeys, but not generally recommended for visitors on overnight trips unless you're prepared to rough it. Sitter class coach layout. Sleepers: There are no sleepers on economy class trains, except on the Johannesburg to East London route, which also has a sleeping-car with 3 & 6 berth compartments. How to buy tickets: When in South Africa call 086 000 8888Call Shosholoza Meyl reservations on 086 000 8888 or book in person at any station reservation office. Bookings open 90 days before departure, you can't book before reservations open. Reservations are computerised, so any reservation office can book any journey in South Africa. When booking by phone, you will be given a booking reference number, which you quote at the station when you pick up and pay for your tickets. Your ticket will not show your coach or berth number, but a passenger list showing which berth is allocated to which passenger is posted in a glass case at the station about an hour before departure. You should reserve as many days in advance as you can, rather than leaving it to the last minute - some trains, such as the 'Trans Karoo' from Cape Town to Pretoria, regularly leave with all sleeper class berths fully booked. How to buy tickets: From overseas call + 27 11 7744 555You cannot book online. From outside South Africa, just call the Shosholoza Meyl reservations service on + 27 11 774 4555. Bookings open 90 days before departure, you can't book before reservations open. You will be given a reference number, and can pick up and pay for your tickets at any station reservation office when you get to South Africa. Your ticket will not show your coach or berth number, but a passenger list showing which berth is allocated to which passenger is posted in a glass case at the station about an hour before departure. You may also be able to book by email, as there are contact details including email addresses for reservations staff, at www.spoornet.co.za - click 'Passengers' then 'Shosholoza Meyl' then 'Contact us'. Travellers' reports...Traveller Matthew Dowling travelled with Shosholoza Meyl tourist class in late 2007: "As for the south African Shosholoza Meyl train from cape town to Kimberly – only good things to say. Excellent service, comfortable and efficient. Surprisingly empty, though, which allowed us a six sleeper compartment all to ourselves. The dining car was well kept and reasonably priced - a real pleasure sliding through the Karoo desert sunset and having a lasagne and a glass of wine." Traveller Maranda reports from a trip on Shosholoza Meyl's Johannesburg-Cape Town train: "I met fascinating people (there were no non-South Africans visible on the trains I was on) and saw the country in a spectacular way. My parents and husband were happy because it was clearly safe. And I even stayed within my budget. I was greatly blessed to meet wonderful people and to see a slice of South African life that's not on the tourist maps. On the Trans-Karoo, the food I had at dinner in the restaurant car was really good. I had fried fish and yellow rice with some onion/tomato topping. Quite scrumpy, and at Rand 30, a very good deal. It was obviously freshly made. You still need to take a bar of soap, as soap provision in toilets was a bit spotty. Overall, have to say that the 1st class travel on Shosholoza Meyl is one of the best bargains I've ever encountered. As you said, the train staff are lovely, the bedding is comfy, the views are unbelievably spectacular, and the whole experience is great. Plus you just get a window onto so many different aspects of South African life, just in terms of whom you meet. " Security on Shosholoza Meyl trains: Not a problem!Shosholoza Meyl tourist class trains are perfectly safe to travel on, and can even be recommended for families and women travelling alone. Sleeping compartments have both a normal lock and a security lock which cannot be opened from the outside, and the train manager and his assistants do a good job looking after their passengers. People who tell you that 'trains in South Africa are unsafe' have probably never been on one, and are confusing these excellent and safe Shosholoza Meyl trains with the suburban Metro trains around the big cities which they see adversely reported on South African TV. It goes without saying that the high-end Premier Classe and Blue Train services are very safe, too. Having said that, you should take advice before walking into Johannesburg city centre. Johannesburg station (Park Station) itself is relatively safe and well-patrolled with security guards and CCTV, but surrounding streets may not be, so arrange a car to pick you up at the station entrance.
Cape Town - Johannesburg twice weekly, all year round.Durban - Johannesburg (new from 14 October 2008, twice weekly)Cape Town - Port Elizabeth (new from 5 December 2008, weekly)Premier Classe is another of South-Africa's well-kept travel secrets, which gets great reports from travellers! If you can't afford the famous Blue Train, but still want something special, Premier Classe is an affordable deluxe service from Cape Town to Johannesburg running twice a week, all-year-round. Introduced in 1998, Premier Classe ran attached to the regular Shosholoza Meyl 'Trans-Karoo' until May 2006 when it was increased to twice a week and made into a completely separate train. New from October 2008, a Durban-Johannesburg Premier Classe train will run, too, and from December 2008 they've added a weekly Cape Town-Port Elizabeth train. Premier Classe trains have refurbished deluxe sleepers with more space than normal Shosholoza Meyl trains (one passenger per 2-berth coupé, two passengers per 4-berth compartment), a special Premier Classe restaurant car and a Premier Classe lounge car. The fare includes all meals and tea/coffee (alcoholic drinks extra) and Premier Classe passengers can use the luxury 'Blue Train' VIP lounges at Cape Town and Johannesburg stations. Premier Classe is now run by the same management as The Blue Train. This amateur video gives a good idea of what to expect on board the Premier Classe train and in terms of scenery. Car transport: Cars can also be transported on these trains between Cape Town or Durban & Jo'burg, R 1,100 per car to/from Durban or R 1,780- R 3,700 per car to/from Cape Town. Cars will be carried between Cape Town & Port Elizabeth from January 2009. Premier Classe timetable...
You can check these train times at www.premierclasse.co.za. Premier Classe fares...
Children from 5 to 9 pay 50% of the adult fare, children under 5 travel free sharing with their parents, children 10 & over pay the adult fare (note these child age limits are the new ones, changed in early 2008). You can check fares at www.premierclasse.co.za.
How to buy tickets: + 27 12 334 8039 or info@premierclasse.co.zaTo book or to ask for more information, call + 27 12 334 8039 (lines open Monday-Friday 08:30-17:00, GMT+2) or e-mail your request to info@premierclasse.co.za. There is more information at the Premier Classe website, www.premierclasse.co.za. You can also try booking through www.satravelbooking.co.za.
Traveller's reports...Traveller Andrew Darwin travelled from Johannesburg to Cape Town by Premier Classe in February 2008: I discovered the existence of the ‘Premier Classe’ train from Johannesburg to Cape Town through seat61. I have just returned from there a few days ago, having taken this train in both directions. What a treat! It was probably the longest and most enjoyable railway journey I’ve ever made, immensely enjoyable. The train is modern and well designed. 18 carriages long including 2 lounges, 2 dining cars and 2 enclosed trucks at the back for carrying people’s cars or motorbikes. On our trip there were 4 Harley Davidsons in one of these trucks, while the burly middle-aged bikers (and their molls) enjoyed the comfort of the Premier Classe to Cape Town before going back by road. The staff were all brilliant, very keen to be of service and clearly with great pride in their job. At stations, some of them would get out and clean the train windows! There was a hot shower in each coach, which meant that one arrived the other end fresh and clean, as well as rested and fed and watered. The drinks on board are refreshingly cheap – a bottle of perfectly decent wine in the dining car can be had for as little as £2.00. The return ticket cost about £250, including all meals. What a contrast to the flight back from Jo'burg to London: squashed into a cramped seat, nowhere to go and nothing to see, plastic food, limited drink, no chance of rest, no shower. Totally uncivilised: 12 hours of torture! Traveller Michael Schaffer travelled from Johannesburg to Cape Town by Premier Classe in July 2007: "Oddly, few of the local travel agents in Pretoria knew about the Premier Classe train, instead they all reflexively warned us against taking trains. I suspect this is part of the odd feeling in that country, where large segments of the population live in fear and also assume anything "public" will be bad. Finally, a friend cued us in to what we'd learned on your website: A weekly [now twice-weekly], first-class-only train designed as kind of a middle-class approximation of the Blue Train. The train itself is comfortable and pleasant, albeit a triumph of style over substance. They have attractively printed menus and solicitous dining-car service, but the food is so-so, although still great for a knockabout traveller. The 4-bed sleepers have been converted to accommodate just a couple, and they put your name on the door. The views from the train are both astonishing (the Karoo, and table mountain from the rear) and telling (the often invisible shantytowns of South Africa’s poor). At the front end, in Jo’burg, you have access to a first-class lounge where they take your bag and offer you tea and coffee, etc., but you still have to get there by walking through the public portions of a station that has about the worst reputation in the country. We were fine, although we saw two different people being taken off by police. At the far end, in Cape Town, the station is pleasant and quiet, although for us this meant there were no taxis to hail. Eventually, the train’s purser got his son to give us a lift to our hotel! Still need convincing to try Premier Classe? See this video...
Metro trains around Johannesburg & Pretoria...Although long-distance Shosholoza Meyl trains are perfectly safe, 'Metro Rail' suburban trains around Johannesburg and Pretoria are different matter. Unless you are particularly foolhardy or adventurous, they are probably best avoided completely. Metro trains around Cape Town...Metro Rail suburban trains around Cape Town are less of a problem and providing you take care, leave your valuables at your hotel and don't travel after dark, they can be a good way to get from central Cape Town to the seaside town of Simonstown (a scenic run along the coast), or to the wine regions at Stellenbosch or Paarl. Indeed, there is a new initiative for tourists using the Cape Town to Simonstown train service to tour the coast. Two classes are available, 1st ('Metro Plus') and 3rd. Outside the rush hours, there is a train from Cape Town to Simonstown or Stellenbosch every hour or two, taking about an hour. Make sure you sit in a carriage with other travellers. To reach the wineries, bicycles can be hired in Stellenbosch, for about £4 a day.
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A bit of history...
On board The Blue Train...
Meals and drinks (and even Montecristo
Havana cigars!) are included in the fare, and there is an extensive
list of South African wines available. You probably won't be able
to drink £450-worth before you reach Pretoria, but you can have a dam'
good try... The Blue Train timetable...The Blue Train leaves Cape Town at 11:00 about 5 times each month, arriving in Pretoria at 13:45 the following day. This includes a one-hour visit to the 19th century health resort of Matjiesfontein in the heart of the Karoo. The train no longer serves Johannesburg, as few tourists want to go there because of its security problems. Southbound, it leaves Pretoria 4 or 5 times a month at 08:50 arriving in Cape Town at 12:00 the following day. The Southbound trip includes a stop at Kimberley for a tour of the Kimberley 'big hole' mining museum. The train ran 2 or 3 times a week before the collision in late 2005 which damaged one of the two sets of coaches used to run the service. The Blue Train rolling stock is also used to run irregular rail cruises, usually monthly from Pretoria to Victoria Falls, and also on a couple of other scenic routes within South Africa.
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Several companies run all-inclusive tours using special 'cruise' trains. Rovos Rail (www.rovos.co.za) runs a cruise train to a regular schedule from Cape Town to Pretoria and on to Victoria Falls. The train consists of beautifully restored South African coaches with all the usual tourist facilities - lounge, restaurant, private sleeping compartments and showers. Meals are included in the tour price. For times, dates of running and prices see www.rovos.co.za. Another 'cruise' train operating on various routes in Southern Africa and into neighbouring countries is www.shongololo.com. Also try www.jbtours.co.za. |
The trains don't go everywhere in South Africa, and there are times when you might need to take a bus. There are several long-distance bus operators. Useful internet addresses are: |
It's probably the most adventurous timetable ever produced... The famous Thomas Cook Overseas Timetable has train, bus and ferry time for all of Africa, Asia, America and Australasia. It is published every two months. No serious overland traveller should be without it..! It costs £13.99 from the bureau de change in any branch of Thomas Cook, or it can be ordered by phone on 01733 416477 (+44 1733 416477 from outside the UK). Buy online at www.thomascooktimetables.com.Alternatively, you can buy the twice-yearly Independent Traveller's edition at Amazon.co.uk also with shipping worldwide. |
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Click the images to buy online at Amazon.co.uk...Or buy direct from the Lonely Planet website, with shipping worldwide. LP Southern Africa is less detailed than LP South Africa, but it covers other countries as well as SA. |
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Finding hotels in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban or anywhere in South Africa...A good guidebook like the Lonely Planet or Rough Guides will point you at some good hotels in each town or city when you get there. Alternatively, you can pre-book hotels (budget, mid-range and upmarket) in almost any South African city through www.hotelscombined.com, just use the search box below. It's not a hotel booking website, but a free search tool which checks all the main hotel booking sites for you (AsiaRooms, Opodo, Expedia, Travelocity, LateRooms and many others) to find the cheapest hotel rates on the net. Set up in 2005, it's an amazing system and probably the best place to start for booking any hotel online in any country, worldwide.
Personal recommendations...The Tudor Hotel in Cape Town is inexpensive and central, a good budget choice, from 440 Rand (£33 or $65) per night. Pretoria is a better place to stay than Johannesburg itself. Try the Victoria Hotel, the oldest hotel in Pretoria, about 450 Rand per night.
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Travel insurance is boring, but a necessity, so don't travel without it. Make sure you get adequate cover, at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover, from a reliable insurer. It should also cover cancellation and loss of cash (up to a limit) and belongings. An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheaper than several single-trip policies even for just 2 or 3 trips a year (I have an annual policy myself). Here are some suggested insurers. Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy after clicking these links.
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These trains have economy seats ('sitter class') and Tourist class sleepers (3-bed & 6-bed compartments). Economy is OK for daytime journeys but not recommended for overnight trips. Tourist class sleepers are quite safe for foreign travellers.
"The Amatola". This train has Economy class seats, and also has a sleeping-car, as of April 2007 the only economy class train that still has sleepers. The tourist class sleeper train only runs at the end of the month - call Shosholoza Meyl to confirm.
"The Bosvelder". This train has Economy class seats only (it used to have sleepers, but now doesn't). For travellers bound for Bulawayo or Harare in Zimbabwe, Messina is 12km from the Zimbabwe frontier across the Limpopo River at Beitbridge.
"The Komati". This train has This train has Economy class seats only (it used to have sleepers, but now doesn't). * Please double-check locally that the Komatipoort-Maputo connecting train is running. As at April 2007 it is still not running, but alternative buses are available.
"The Taxi". Economy seating. Take your own food and drink. Sadly, the Mafeking-Kimberley train is reported as no longer running as of early 2008. Now no train service.
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It's
the most famous train in South Africa, and one of the most famous trains
in the world. South Africa's 'Blue Train' links Cape Town with
Pretoria once or twice a week, year round. With a one-way
fare of about R8,595 (£580) per person for two people travelling together, it's
now aimed squarely at foreign visitors. Single passengers cannot opt
to share, so should reckon on paying R12,890 (£870) one-way for
sole use of a 2-berth compartment. However, The Blue Train is
definitely the most luxurious way to travel between these two cities,
and if you do choose to splurge, you will not be disappointed!
A
fast train called the 'Union Express' northbound and the 'Union Limited'
southbound was introduced in 1923, to link the Union Castle steamers
arriving at Cape Town from Southampton with the gold fields of Jo'burg
and the Transvaal capital at Pretoria. The original wooden coaches
were replaced in 1937 with steel coaches built in Birmingham and painted
a smart blue. Before long, the train became known colloquially as
'that blue train', and its name was changed officially to 'The Blue
Train' in 1946. Two new sets of coaches were built for the Blue
Train in 1972, and both of these were beautifully refurbished in
1997. You travel in one of these two trainsets today - the other
was damaged in a collision in October 2005 and has not been repaired.
The Blue Train is still run by the South African Railways ('Spoornet'),
but it is now a separate business unit, due for privatisation...
The
Blue Train offers two types of room: 'Deluxe' compartments have
either a double bed or two single beds and en suite shower or small
bath. 'Luxury' compartments, costing about £50 more per person,
are almost identical, but have a full size bath (yes, really..) and a
video. The train has a dining car and two lounge cars (one
smoking, one non-smoking) and one of the two trainsets has an
observation car at the rear, allowing you to look back along the line.
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