Luxury assumes a new dimension on The Blue Train which you will feel from the moment you step into your suite, an elegant spacious lounge by day and a sanctuary by night with goose down duvet and pillows. Private bathrooms offer marble basins, tiles and floor, gold fittings, and a shower/bath.

All suites have a writing-desk, air-conditioning and radio/movie channels as well as a link to the driver's-eye-view camera. The GPS map on an overhead monitor means you can keep track of progress.

On The Blue Train, personal service comes as standard, with a dedicated butler.

Here's to Suite Dreams...on The Blue Train, the ultimate definition of luxury in motion.

	The Luxury Suite have either twin or double bedded options with a deep, long bath for slow, luxuriant soaking. The Luxury Suite extends the choice of radio and movie channels even further, with a private digital entertainment centre and a selection of music CDs and big-screen movies on DVD.

	The De Luxe Suite features twin beds with shower or a double bed, with bath tub and hand held shower.

The Blue Train's legendary cuisine - call it Cordon Blue - is an irresistible tribute to culinary mastery on the move. The Blue Train can accommodate Vegetarian, Halaal, Kosher, or other special dietary requirements, if specified on booking. Choose from two dinnertime sittings, or dine in your suite. Continental or Full English breakfast is served at your leisure.

In the evening, the smart-casual dress code gives way to a parade of elegant eveningwear or traditional attire.

Each meal is scored to a selection of equally tasteful background music, ranging from smooth jazz to light classical to the mellow tones of the Soweto String Quartet.

	Linking the private suites are two wooden-panelled cars - The Blue Train's Lounge and Club Cars are ideal for an aperitif, an interlude between meals, or an after-dinner conversation. Smoking is permitted in the Club Car. Entetainment includes cards, chess, or backgammon, or a volume from the library. Unwind, relax, indulge.

The Conference Car of The Blue Train seats up to 22 delegates or family members in comfort and style. From laptop ports to overhead projectors, from multimedia outlets to photocopy and fax, every facility is available for a meeting or informal occasion. For smaller groups, with advance notice, the Conference Car have both full business facilities and lounge seating plus breathtaking panoramas from the Observation window.

The Blue Train Boutique, adjacent to the Lounge Car, offers baguettes, Marquises, black and yellow diamonds, white gold and platinum, Tanzanite stones in the colour of The Blue Train. There is also a range of quality items that bear the elegant Blue Train brand; golf shirts, playing cards, key rings, cufflinks, limited-edition coffee table book and more.

• There are two Blue Train sets, which differ only in the number of accommodation and lounges. Train set I accommodates 82 guests in 41 suites. Train set II accommodates 74 guests in 37 suites, and features a Conference/Observation Car.
• The trains travel at a maximum speed of 90kmh (58mph), for ample opportunity to absorb the ever-changing countryside.
• The fully air-conditioned kitchen car features walk-in cool rooms and freezers.

Pretoria - Cape Town - Pretoria
This is a 27-hour journey of 1,600 kilometres (994 miles) each way, through some of the most diverse and spectacular scenery offered by the African sub-continent.

Southbound, the train departs Pretoria at 08:50 and arrives Cape Town at 12:00 the following day.

En route to Cape Town there is an excursion in Kimberley, where we take a step back in time to the days of the diamond rush.

Northbound, the train leaves Cape Town at 11:00 (08:50 from 2008) and arrives Pretoria at 13:45 (12:20 from 2008). It stops at the historic town Matjiesfontein, where guests can visit the famous Lord Milner Hotel and the old car museum.

Guests must check in 1 hour before departure at The Blue Train lounges in Pretoria and Cape Town.

Download the itineraries as .pdfs:

• Pretoria - Cape Town
• Cape Town to Pretoria

Charter / Conference
The Blue Train can be chartered for journeys anywhere in South Africa where compatible with The Blue Train's technology.

Chartered journeys can be customised to suit the needs of the client. Click here to find out more.

Rates for 2008
Notes: Maximum 2 guests per suite. Rates per person, inclusive of meals, high tea, drinks (alcoholic / non-alcoholic) and off- train excursions; exclusive of French champagne, caviar and external telephone calls. Rates are for a one-way journey; subject to change without prior notification. Arrival times and off-train excursions cannot be guaranteed. Reservations for children on request only. Special requests for meals (e.g. Kosher and Halal) and bed preference (double or twin) to be specified at time of reservation.

• Low season: 1 January - 31 August / 16 November - 31 December
• High season: 1 September - 15 November

Cape Town / Pretoria or Pretoria / Cape Town

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