Blue Train Journey Pretoria to Cape Town
Location: Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
No. of Days: 2
Relax in luxury and comfort on the two day Blue Train Journey from Pretoria to Cape Town and watch the world go by. Gourmet dining, butler service and luxurious facilities on board of The Blue Train are complemented by an informative visit at Kimberley's 'Big Hole' diamond mine and museum.
.jpg "Blue Train Journey Pretoria to Cape Town")
Blue Train Journey Pretoria to Cape Town
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Overview
The Blue Train Itinerary from Pretoria to Cape Town
Relax in luxury and comfort on the two day Blue Train Journey from Pretoria to Cape Town and watch the world go by. Gourmet dining, butler service and luxurious facilities on board of The Blue Train are complemented by an informative visit at Kimberley's 'Big Hole' diamond mine and museum.
The Blue Train - a world of grace, elegance and romance
The routes of The Blue Train in South Africa take guests through some of the most breathtaking countryside. As the ever-changing scenery flashes past the windows of The Blue Train guests may savour exquisite meals which have been freshly prepared on board. The delicious meals are complemented by the best South African wines. The suites on The Blue Train live up to their reputation for magnificence and splendour. The finest bed linen, marble tiles and gold fittings in the bathrooms and sheer opulence provides travellers with an unforgettable holiday experience.
The routes of The Blue Train in South Africa take guests through some of the most breathtaking countryside. As the ever-changing scenery flashes past the windows of The Blue Train guests may savour exquisite meals which have been freshly prepared on board. The delicious meals are complemented by the best South African wines. The suites on The Blue Train live up to their reputation for magnificence and splendour. The finest bed linen, marble tiles and gold fittings in the bathrooms and sheer opulence provides travellers with an unforgettable holiday experience.
Pretoria - Cape Town - Pretoria
The route between Pretoria and Cape Town is a 27-hour journey of 1 600 kilometres (994 miles), through some of the most diverse and spectacular scenery. On the Southbound trip, the train departs from Pretoria main train sation at 8:50 and arrives in Cape Town train station at 12:00 the following day. En route to Cape Town there is a stopover and excursion in Kimberley, where one takes a step back in time to the days of the diamond rush.
Day 1: Depart Pretoria on The Blue Train to Cape Town
07:50 - 08:30 Register and check-in at The Blue Train Lounge, Pretoria Station, where guests enjoy pre-departure snacks and drinks
08:30 Boarding starts and the Blue Train Butlers usher guests to their suites
08:50 The Blue Train departs from Pretoria Station
11:30 - 13:30 First seating for Brunch
13:30 - 15:30 Second sitting for Brunch
15:30 High tea is served in the Lounge Car of The Blue Train
17:10 The Blue Train arrives at Kimberley Station
17:45 Guests disembark and assemble at the railway museum, from where they will be ushered to a bus, which transfers them to the centre of Kimberley to join an old tram for a ride down to the mine.
Guests arrive at the Open Mine Museum for a tour of the mine. Guests are first taken to view interesting and historical sites. Guests are also taken onto an enclosed ramp on the edge of the Kimberly hole.
18:35 Guests depart from the Open Mine Museum for Kimberley Station. At Kimberley Station guests are greeted with a glass of sherry. The sherry glass engraved with The Blue Train logo is a memento for guests to keep.
19:05 The Blue Train departs Kimberley Station for the journey Southbound to Cape Town
19:30 First seating for elegant dinner
21:15 Second seating for dinner
Day 2: Arrival of The Blue Train in Cape Town, Western Cape
7h30 - 10h00 Breakfast is served on a first come first serve basis. Breakfast can also be served in-suite at the guests' request.
12:00 The Blue Train arrives at Cape Town Station. Butlers usher guests to The Blue Train Lounge
07:50 - 08:30 Register and check-in at The Blue Train Lounge, Pretoria Station, where guests enjoy pre-departure snacks and drinks
08:30 Boarding starts and the Blue Train Butlers usher guests to their suites
08:50 The Blue Train departs from Pretoria Station
11:30 - 13:30 First seating for Brunch
13:30 - 15:30 Second sitting for Brunch
15:30 High tea is served in the Lounge Car of The Blue Train
17:10 The Blue Train arrives at Kimberley Station
17:45 Guests disembark and assemble at the railway museum, from where they will be ushered to a bus, which transfers them to the centre of Kimberley to join an old tram for a ride down to the mine.
Guests arrive at the Open Mine Museum for a tour of the mine. Guests are first taken to view interesting and historical sites. Guests are also taken onto an enclosed ramp on the edge of the Kimberly hole.
18:35 Guests depart from the Open Mine Museum for Kimberley Station. At Kimberley Station guests are greeted with a glass of sherry. The sherry glass engraved with The Blue Train logo is a memento for guests to keep.
19:05 The Blue Train departs Kimberley Station for the journey Southbound to Cape Town
19:30 First seating for elegant dinner
21:15 Second seating for dinner
Day 2: Arrival of The Blue Train in Cape Town, Western Cape
7h30 - 10h00 Breakfast is served on a first come first serve basis. Breakfast can also be served in-suite at the guests' request.
12:00 The Blue Train arrives at Cape Town Station. Butlers usher guests to The Blue Train Lounge
The trains of The Blue Train
The luxurious journeys are conducted by two Blue Train sets. The first train accommodates 74 guests in 37 suites. The second accommodates 58 guests in 29 suites and features a conference or observation car at the back of the train.
The trains travel at a speed of 90 kilometres per hour. Both are 336 metres long and consist of 17 and 16 carriages respectively, 10 and 8 of which are for the use of the guests. The weight of each train is approximately 825 metric tons, excluding the locomotives.
They each carry 31 000 litres of water. Two diesel-powered generators - one of which is always on standby - are used to supply The Blue Train's demanding power requirements.
The kitchen car is a masterpiece of stainless-steel design. The fully air-conditioned car features walk-in cool rooms and freezers, ensuring that wines and hors d'oeuvres remain at optimum temperatures.
Luxury Experience: Temperature control on The Blue Train
All the public cars of The Blue Train in South Africa are fitted with gas-filled air-conditioning systems. A standard internal temperature of between 20 to 21°C is maintained throughout the journey.
For the comfort of guests, each suite has individual temperature controls which range from 18 to 24°C. These systems are water-cooled and each suite has its own fresh air intake.
During cold periods, all systems are provided with heating cycles from the air-conditioning units, as well as under-floor heating. Heating systems have been fitted under the marble tiles of most of the bathrooms.
Suites on The Blue Train, South Africa
Each suite on The Blue Train features its own bathroom with either a shower or bath. There are two luxury coaches which both have three suites with bathrooms fitted with tubs. The other nine De Luxe coaches have four suites per coach. One of the four suites has a bathroom with a bath, while the other three have showers.
The beds have been custom-designed for The Blue Train. A butler pulls them out, already made, from a space in the suite wall, converting the lounge into a comfortable bedroom. White cotton sheets and down duvets are the standard linen throughout the train. Ten of the suites feature double beds on the first train, while there are nine on the second. The luxury suites have hi-fi, audio CD and VHS video systems.
Dining experience on The Blue Train, South Africa
The dining car provides seating for 42 people. There are two sittings for lunch and dinner. Lunch is smart-casual, dinner is jacket and tie for the men and elegant wear for the ladies, while breakfast is casual.
Lounges Each of The Blue Trains has two lounges: the main lounge car in which high tea is served each afternoon, and the club car where guests can relax over a post-prandial cognac. The club car is the only public area available for smoking.
Facilities on The Blue Train
Fax facilities are available in the train manager's office. There are also facilities for mailing letters, as well as stamps and The Blue Train postcards.
A camera mounted on the front of both trains gives guests a driver's-eye-view of the scenery ahead. The unfolding journey is shown on a TV screen in the club car and on one of the TV channels so guests can view it in their suites.
Each suite is also equipped with a cellular communication telephone which can be used for phone calls and to reach train staff.
The Blue Train has a central intercom system which is used for making relevant announcements.
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