Blue Train in Cape Town

SOUTH AFRICAN LUXURY BLUE TRAIN

he history of the famous South African Blue Train started with a passenger train, the ‘Union Limited’ in 1920. This train ran between Cape Town and Johannesburg. Because of the blue colour of the coaches, railroad folk named it "The Blue Train". Later on, in 1937, the Train’s management improved its services by changing ordinary coaches into luxury steel coaches with air-conditioning.

New Porsche coaches were delivered after two year. The total amount for this luxury train was 20,000 pounds. During the war, train was covered with dust protectors for several years. And only in 1946 did The Blue Train recommence with its service again.

This time Blue Train was noticed by the popular magazine “Fortune” and has since then been ranked among the most famous trains internationally.

Soon afterwards, the Blue Train luxury air-conditioned coaches were painted with a green colour and the train received a new title among people, ‘Drakensberg Express’. In the late 60's many companies applied to tender for the New Blue Train.

This prestigious job was eventually awarded to Union Carriage & Wagon Co. Ltd. Now the new Blue Train was re-designed to become real top-class and meant to be exclusively for Ultimate Comfort for Passengers. No wonder, that the Blue Train soon deserved the top-name among its passengers like “Dream Train’.

The New Blue Train was about 375 m long. On 4th September 1972 the first passengers to receive VIP comfort embarked on this ‘wonder on wheels’ . The first route for this innovation was from Pretoria to Cape Town. A while later the Blue Train underwent another improvement that cost about 45 million Rands.

And on 21st September 1997 the Blue Train again surprised those who value luxury and comfort. Eighty four people can comfortably be accommodated on Blue Train, all in en-suites. There are many routes via which Blue Train takes its trip today.

Cabins in Blue Train are equipped with personal safe, bar fridge with beverages. Blue Train provides room service 24 x Cabins are en-suite, with hot water, hair dryers and plugs for shavers etc.

There are 2 restaurant cars with the most delicious meals, all-inclusive in cost of the ticket. Dress code is expected in the restaurant in Blue Train: dresses for women and ties with jackets for men.

More information one can found on Cape Town’s main station.