Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Blue Train - Southern Africa's Regal Train Trip

By Rob Atherton


The Blue Train goes between Pretoria and Cape Town and is a 27-hour trip of 1,600 km's (994 mls), via some of the most diverse and magnificent surroundings in Africa. The extravagant Blue Train takes tourists through the enticing scenery featuring service that comprises amazing food and roomy cabins. It has been carrying passengers since 1939 and takes its title because of its blue locomotives, carriages and leather seating. It owes its origin to the Union Limited and the Union Express, which, from 1923, connected Joburg together with the mail ships departing from Cape Town for England. In days gone by once the Union Castle liner docked at Cape Town, passengers may possibly have taken the Blue Train to Joburg, South Africa's monetary powerhouse figuratively and literally built on gold.

The new Blue Train is the most amazing train on earth and the finest way to travel. In 1947 the three month long tour by the British Royal Family witnessed the acquiring of 8 ivory-painted air-conditioned carriages from The UK, three of which were put together to Blue Train sleeping car standards, while the other 5 were unique saloons to be used by the Royal Family and Field Marshal Jan Smuts, the South African Prime Minister. It is little surprise these prominent passengers chose the Blue Train. Falling asleep with a Karoo moon in the sky and rising up to a fresh pot of coffee as the Blue Train goes by Cape vineyards is a sensation which is difficult to beat.

The Blue Train suites live up to their status for magnificence and splendour. The Blue train takes you to a timeless world of high-class living, combining the enchantment of travelling by rail while using the comfort of a grand hotel. Much of the attraction with the Blue Train is based on its history and it can easily lay claim to being certainly one of the top three luxury trains around the world. The Blue Train rivals numerous 5 star hotels with regards to sophistication, grace, comfort and style with decorations put together by a leading interior planning business. An a la carte South African menu is simply part of the Blue Train service that also incorporates butlers looking after your each and every need along with a lavish suite. Taking merely 2 days, the Blue Train runs from Pretoria to Cape Town or vice versa.

With menus offering an array of local delicacies, meals on board the Blue Train is surely an encounter by itself - from Karoo lamb and ostrich fillet to Knysna oysters - alongside award-winning cultivars from the Winelands of the Western Cape. The royal blue menus with their gold twine really are a colour representation of the district through which the Blue Train guests are venturing. The Blue Train is equipped with the finest bone china in white, cut-crystal and traditional silver utensils engraved with the customary "B" insignia. Fine South African wines compliment a gourment food selection provided in a classy ambiance making dinner a superb experience on the Blue Train. This is a showcase for South African wines and following painstaking discussion with top South African wine gurus have been selected to compliment each course on the menu.

Passengers are required to check-in 1 hour before departure in the Blue Train lounges in Pretoria and Cape Town. The management team is at your disposal to ensure every guest enjoys a unique experience during the journey. The private suite fuses the desires and needs of the contemporary world with the ambiance and classiness of traditional high-class train travel in Africa. Your suite is a daytime high-class lounge. Your own servant will convert your personal suite into a exquisite master bedroom after sunset. The suites aboard the Blue Train live up to their status for magnificence and splendour.

The Blue Train still connects Pretoria and Cape Town a couple of times per week but these days is geared fairly and squarely at tourists. Guests are offered an out of the ordinary journey in magnificent style and comfort they could very well reminisice over for a long time. The mystique, the aura of luxury and heritage that come with without doubt one of the globe's most popular trains is part of the attraction for first timers and returning passengers. The boutique on board is really a treasure trove of gems and minerals as wealthy as Africa itself. Unique branded gifts are presented to guests at the finish of their trip. As a memento passengers get an engraved sherry glass with the Blue Train logo. A lifetimes fantasy for several is a journey on the well known Blue Train of South Africa.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment