Blue Train – South Africa’s Majestic Rail Trip
The Blue Train path links Pretoria and Cape Town. It’s a 27-hour experience of 1,600 kilometres (994 mls), through part of the most diverse and impressive surroundings offered by the African sub-continent. It carries travellers across the excellent scenery featuring service which is made up of exceptional food and huge cabins. The Blue Train has been running since 1939 and takes its name from its blue engines, carriages and leather seating. It owes it’s origin to the Union Limited along with the Union Express, that, from 1923, connected Joburg with the mail ships departing from Cape Town for England. In the past as your Union Castle boat arrived at Cape Town, you may well have taken the Blue Train to Joburg, South Africa’s monetary powerhouse figuratively and actually built on gold.
The new Blue Train is the most amazing train on earth and the finest way to travel. In 1947 the three month long tour by the British Royal Family witnessed the acquiring of 8 ivory-painted air-conditioned carriages from The UK, three of which were put together to Blue Train sleeping car standards, while the other 5 were unique saloons to be used by the Royal Family and Field Marshal Jan Smuts, the South African Prime Minister. It is little surprise these prominent passengers chose the Blue Train. Falling asleep with a Karoo moon in the sky and rising up to a fresh pot of coffee as the Blue Train goes by Cape vineyards is a sensation which is difficult to beat.
The Blue Train suites live up to their status for magnificence and splendour. The Blue train takes you to a timeless world of high-class living, combining the enchantment of travelling by rail while using the comfort of a grand hotel. Much of the attraction with the Blue Train is based on its history and it can easily lay claim to being certainly one of the top three luxury trains around the world. The Blue Train rivals numerous 5 star hotels with regards to sophistication, grace, comfort and style with decorations put together by a leading interior planning business. An a la carte South African menu is simply part of the Blue Train service that also incorporates butlers looking after your each and every need along with a lavish suite. Taking merely 2 days, the Blue Train runs from Pretoria to Cape Town or vice versa.
With menus having an array of regional food, meals on the Blue Train is an encounter itself – from Karoo lamb and ostrich fillet to Knysna oysters – along with award-winning cultivars from the Winelands. The royal blue menus with their gold twine really are a colour representation of the area through which the Blue Train guests are voyaging. The Blue Train is furnished with the best bone china in white, cut-crystal and traditional silver cutlery engraved with the well known “B” insignia. Wonderful South African bottles of wine supplement a gourment menu provided in a sophisticated environment making dining a impressive experience on the Blue Train. This is a showcase for South African wines and following careful deliberation with prime South African wine specialists have been selected to supplement each course on the menu.
Guests are required to check-in one hour prior to departure at the Blue Train lounges in Pretoria and Cape Town. The Blue Train management team is at your service to make certain that each passenger has a unique experience during the trip. The private suite fuses the needs and desires of a modern world together with the ambiance and style of classic deluxe train travel in Africa. The suite is a daytime high-end living room. The butler will convert your private suite into a high-class bedroom during the night. The suites on the Blue Train meet their track record for elegance and splendour.
The Blue Train still links Pretoria and Cape Town a few times per week but nowadays is focused fairly and squarely at travellers. Passengers are offered an out of the ordinary journey in luxurious style and comfort that they can may perhaps reminisice over for many years. The mystique, the aura of luxury and heritage that come with undoubtedly one of the world’s most well known trains is part of the appeal for first timers and returning guests. The shop on board is a treasure trove of jewels and minerals as wealthy as Africa itself. Particular branded gifts are presented to passengers at the conclusion of their journey. As a memento guests are given an engraved sherry glass with the Blue Train company logo. A lifetimes desire for several is a getaway on the notable Blue Train of South Africa.
Of all the luxury rail journeys around the world, the Blue Train of South Africa is definitely the best loved.