Blue Train of Africa- pps slideshow..

[rikkis_playpen Diamond Club Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close rikkis_playpen]

I just received a powerpoint presentation for marketing the Blue Train of Africa, and some of the photos are just breathtaking.. A dear friend is currently traveling through South Africa and wanted to make me jealous!

The Blue Train is a luxury coach that travels approx 1,000 miles across South Africa between Pretoria and Cape Town. The line originally started back in the twenties, and after a brief hiatus during World War II, resumed service. You can definitely feel the atmosphere of historic elegance in the interiors.

I don't think I can attach a pps here, so if anyone wants to see it just send me your email by private message and I'll forward it to you.

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

When I was in SA, I wanted to take the blue train from Jo'burg to Capetown, but the schedule would have meant staying a couple of extra days in Jo'burg and cutting my time in Capetown short, so I took the regular train that runs daily on the same route. We passed the blue train travelling the opposite direction. At that time the blue train was a real bargain, but I suspect the price is much higher now.

[rikkis_playpen Diamond Club Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close rikkis_playpen]

Based on the marketing material... Ridiculously expensive!

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

The last time they replaced the blue train equipment, which was in the 70's or early 80's, they took the old blue train, painted it green and ran it as the Drakensburg Express between Jo'burg and Durban through the Drakensburg Mountains, which is actually a more scenic route. However, it did not get the ridership and was cancelled. As I recall, these trains carried ~100 passengers total on 18 cars, so each passenger has a lot of space.

[rikkis_playpen Diamond Club Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close rikkis_playpen]

A compartment for two is priced at $2,600. But again- the photos they show are stunning.. Probably just a little too costly for my personal taste..

None of their material says how long the trip takes.. If it runs at 50 mph+, the trip should only take about 20 hours.. How many stops does it make?

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

That is considerably more pricey than when I was in SA years ago, but about what I expected. As I recall, it did not make many stops. I know Pretoria, Jo'burg, and Capetown, but there might have been a few others. The regular daily train stopped more often but was still a pleasant journey.