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South Africa Travel: Trains

South African Rail Transport

South Africa's trains are a slower way to travel the country than buses. The 1,400km journey from Johannesburg to Cape Town, for example is around 27 hours - around ten hours more than by bus.

In general, train transport in South Africa is safe, cheap and a more relaxing means of travel than by coach.

The major South African rail operator is Spoornet (Tel: 086 000 8888) which claims to operate 80% of the total of African rail routes on its Shosholoza Meyl passenger trains and freight routes.

The parent company, Transnet, has its major business in the transport of freight rather than passengers.

Johannesburg Park Station is the largest station in Africa and a major rail hub.

Sleeping berths on the Trans-Karoo train cost around 60 USD and need to be booked in advance from Shosholoza Meyl bookings (027 11 774 4555).

Major South African Rail Routes

Spoornet's main intercity routes are:

Tourist class

Johannesburg-Port Elizabeth with departures from Johannesburg on Tuesdays and Fridays; Wednesdays and Sundays from Port Elizabeth. Travel time is around 17 hours.

Johannesburg-Durban with departures from Johannesburg on Thursdays; Saturdays from Durban. Travel time is around 15 hours.

Cape Town-Durban with departures from Cape Town on Wednesdays; Fridays from Durban. Travel time is around 14 hours.

Johannesburg-Cape Town with departures from Johannesburg on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays; Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays from Cape Town. Travel time is around 27 hours on the Trans-Karoo.

Johannesburg-Bloemfontein and East London with departures from Johannesburg on Fridays; Sundays from East London. Travel time is around 19 hours.

Tourist class trains have sleeper accommodation for either two people (coupé) or a compartment for 4 people. Both have a basin with hot and cold water. Bedding is available at additional cost or bring your own.

Economy Class

Johannesburg-Kimberley-Bloemfontein with departures from Johannesburg on Fridays & Sundays; Fridays & Sundays from Bloemfontein. Travel time is around 12 hours.

Johannesburg-Durban with departures from Johannesburg daily except Tuesdays; daily except Tuesdays from Durban. Travel time is around 12 and a half hours.

Johannesburg-Nelspruit-Komatipoort with departures from Johannesburg daily except Saturdays; daily except Saturdays from Komatipoort. Travel time is around 12 and a half hours.

Johannesburg-Polokwane-Musina with departures from Johannesburg daily except Saturdays; daily except Saturdays from Musina. Travel time is around 16 hours.

Johannesburg-Cape Town with departures from Johannesburg daily; daily from Cape Town. Travel time is around 27 hours.

Johannesburg-Bloemfontein and East London with departures from Johannesburg daily except Saturdays; daily except Saturdays from East London. Travel time is around 19 hours.

Cape Town-East London with departures from Cape Town on Sundays; from East London on Tuesdays. Travel time is around 14 hours.

Johannesburg-Port Elizabeth with departures from Johannesburg daily except Saturdays; daily except Saturdays from Port Elizabeth. Travel time is around 20 hours.

Economy class has 72 seats in each carriage with 2 seats in 2 rows.

Luxury Trains

Premiere Classe

The Premiere Classe train accommodates 126 passengers traveling from Johannesburg to Cape Town and return twice a week. The Premier Classe train leaves from Johannesburg to Cape Town every Thursday and Sunday, returning from Cape Town to Johannesburg every Tuesday and Saturday. The journey takes about 25 hours.

The Premier Classe train from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth leaves Cape Town every Friday, returning from Port Elizabeth back to Cape Town every Sunday. The journey takes about 25 hours.

The Premier Classe service from Johannesburg to Durban leaves Johannesburg every Friday and Tuesday, returning from Durban to Johannesburg every Sunday and Wednesday. The journey takes about 14 hours.

Blue Train

South Africa's celebrated Blue Train between Cape Town-Pretoria is one of the world's greatest luxury trains. The 27-hour, 1, 600 kilometre route travels through spectacular South African countryside. Luxury suites, fine dining, champagne, caviar and fares starting at 13595 Rand (1300 USD) in high season for 2010.

Rovos Rail

Rovos Rail rivals the Blue Train for luxury and class. Restored, Edwardian-era, wood panelled coaches transport travelers from the colonial-style railway station, Capital Park, just north of Pretoria, to Cape Town with stop overs in Kimberley and Matjiesfontein.

Shongololo Express

The Shongololo Express offers rail adventures in southern Africa: its most popular 16-day tours are the Good Hope Tour taking in Cape Town, the Winelands, Bloemfontein, Drakensberg, Zululand, Durban, Soweto and the Kruger National Park and the Southern Cross Tour visiting South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Botswana.

Steam Trains

South Africa has a number of steam engine lines including Friends of the Rail around Pretoria and the Outeniqua Choo-Choo Steam Train used to have departures from George along the Garden Route coastline. Unfortunately services ceased in 2009. Another route undergoing restoration is the Apple Express in Port Elizabeth, with a narrow gauge railway that once crossed the Van Stadens Bridge - the highest narrow-gauge bridge in the world. The Banana Express in Port Shepstone was closed in 2006.

Time In South Africa

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