Blue Train (South Africa)
The Blue Train ( ) is a South African luxury train under the jurisdiction of the state-owned transport company Transnet . It operates between Pretoria and Cape Town , and formerly also between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth . There was also occasional traffic from Pretoria to Hoedspruit at the Kruger National Park and to the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe as well as to Namibia .
description
The Blue Train is one of the most luxurious trains in the world. The carriages have soundproof windows shaded in gold and carpeting in the compartments. In the highest booking class, users have a whole suite (bedroom, lounge, bathroom) at their disposal, in the two top booking classes the bathrooms are equipped with bathtubs . From the highest booking class, three suites fit in one car; There are two cars of this type that are used in two different trains. The other cars each contain four suites; one with bath, three with shower. A conference / viewing car is also carried along. A kitchen and dining car with space for 42 guests provide catering. The formal dinner in the evening is served in two shifts; each shift lasts two hours. Breakfast and lunch are taken without any formal requirements.
There are two train sets: a larger one for 74 guests in 37 suites and a smaller one for 58 in 29 suites. The length of both trains is the same due to the observation car: 336 meters (433 yards), as well as the weight of 825 tons each without the locomotive.
Since its introduction in 1923, this train has become synonymous with luxury travel. In 2009 and 2011 the Blue Train was recognized as the most luxurious train in the world at the prestigious World Travel Awards . Since 1998 it has won the title of most luxurious train in Africa 14 times.
The Blue Train in the Karoo
One of the two lounges on the train
Logo on the car
One of the bedrooms
Bathroom of a suite
history
The Blue Train was first used in 1923 as a Union Limited between Johannesburg and Cape Town to offer an attractive connection to the luxurious ships that left for England. In April 1939 the train was given its current name.
Varia
In 1958, Lord Rockingham's XI brought out the instrumental piece Blue Train as the B-side of their single Hoots Mon , in which, in addition to the name, a railway whistle connects to the train.
Web links
- www.bluetrain.co.za (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ World Travel Awards 2009 (English), accessed June 20, 2015
- ↑ World Travel Awards 2011 (English), accessed June 20, 2015
- ↑ Blue Train at worldtravelawards.com (English), accessed June 20, 2015
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIWofDU7Zew
- ↑ https://itunes.apple.com/ch/album/hoots-mon-blue-train-mono/id920246454