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 floor and wall tiles, marble basins with gold fittings,  along with  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.

Sightseeing & Itinerary

The real star of this journey is the African landscape, hence only one stop on the northbound journey and one stop on the southbound journey.

Matjiesfontein (Northbound journey)

Founded by an immigrant Scotsman at a minor railway stop in 1884, Matjiesfontein became a fashionable oasis for the rich and privileged, renowned for a climate beneficial for chest complaints.  Visited by Lord Randolph Churchill and Rudyard Kipling alike, it was also home to Olive Schreiner, one of South Africa’s first feminist writers.

Kimberly (Southbound journey):

Following departure from Pretoria, and after brunch and high tea, the Blue Train arrives at Kimberley Station.    Guests visit the railway museum, followed by an old tram for a ride down to the Open Mine Museum and a tour of the mine.  The tour includes a chance to win a diamond.  Guests are taken onto an enclosed ramp on the edge of the Kimberly hole.  Guests then return to the train for dinner, overnight and the remainder of the journey to Cape Town.

Route & Map

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 Blue 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 Blue Train leaves Cape Town at 08.50 and arrives Pretoria at 12.30. 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 at least 1 hour before departure at The Blue Train lounges in Pretoria and Cape Town.

Blue Train Facilities

• Temperature control
• 3 luxury suites per carriage, bathrooms with bath
• 4 deluxe suites per carriage, 3 with showers, 1 with bath
• Suites are private lounges by day
• Luxury suites have hifi, audio CD and DVD systems
• Fax and postbox
• First aider on board
• Doctors available en route
• Fully staffed with train manager, accommodation and restaurant managers, executive chef, sous chef, butlers, waiters/barmen as well as kitchen staff.

Luxury Suites

The Luxury Suites have either twin or double bedded options with a long, deep bath for  slow, luxuriant soaking – a rare treat on a train.   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.

Deluxe Suites

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

The Dining Car

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.  The dining car seats 42 people, with 2 sittings for lunch and dinner.

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.

The Lounge Car & Club Car

In the main lounge car, high tea is served each afternoon.

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. Entertainment includes cards, chess, or backgammon, or a volume from the library.

A video camera on the front locomotive gives a driver’s eye view of the scenery and is shown on a screen in the club car and on a TV channel in the suites.

The club car is the single public area where smoking is permitted.

The Conference Car

The conference car is the ideal setting for meetings, seminars, think-tanks or get-togethers with a difference.

With sufficient notice, the conference car can be adapted for smaller and less formal sessions.

With full business facilities, plush lounge seating and breath-taking panoramas of the passing countryside, this is an experience that no client or colleague will ever forget.

General Information

Dress Code

Breakfast is casual.  Lunch is smart casual.  Dinner dress code is a jacket and tie for the men and elegant wear for the ladies.

Luggage

Storage space is limited in the cabin and soft top cases are recommended for easy storage.  There is a luggage van for additional luggage that a guest may not need during the journey

Picture Gallery

In addition to the  photos in the gallery at the top of this page, see more photos from the Blue Train.

Departures:

Pretoria  to Cape Town:   May 21, 28.    June 4, 11, 18, 25.    July 2, 16, 23, 30.    August 6, 13, 20, 27.    September 3, 10, 17, 24.    October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29.    November 5, 12, 19, 26.    December 3, 10, 17.

Cape Town to Pretoria:   May 23, 30.  June 6, 13, 20, 27.  July 4, 18, 25.  August 1, 8, 15, 22, 29.   September 5, 12, 19, 26.  October 3, 10, 17, 24, 31.  November 7, 14, 21, 28.    December 5, 12, 19.

Tariff

2012

Rates are per person, inclusive of all meals, high tea, drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and off-the train excursions excluding French champagne, caviar and external telephone calls.

LOW SEASON:
Valid 01 January – 31 August 2012
16 November – 31 December 2012

Luxury Double                                                       R12,515

Luxury Single, including supplement          R18,770

De Luxe Double                                                     R11,585

De Luxe Single, including supplement        R17,375

HIGH SEASON:
Valid:  01 September 2012– 15 November 2012

Luxury Double                                                       R15,570

Luxury Single, including supplement          R23,150

De Luxe Double                                                     R14,295

De Luxe Single, including supplement        R21,430

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We’ll be happy to provide you with a full quote, please contact us on +44 (0)1249 890176.

Bookings & Reservations

To find out more, make bookings or reservations, simply contact us in the UK : +44 (0)1249 890176 or info@luxurytrainclub.com

We’ll be happy to answer any questions and make all your arrangements for you for a luxury train journey of a lifetime aboard the Blue Train.