Shosholoza Meyl- A Pleasant experience.

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

Luca That route is so busy as it is. Remember all the trains from the Cape Flats, Mitchells Plain, Khailisha, Strand, Kuilsriver, Stellenbosch and a certain amount of the Wellington Belville trains plus some of the freight and light engine workings. There are far more stations. The Bottle neck would be frustrating to Passengers. Like when you arrive in JHB. From Roodepoort onwards the train crawls at walking speed. Even on a Public Holiday. Once that station is complete things will be back to normal. Its like road construction.

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

Derek , the interior of the train is clean although worn. The seats are recovered with purple leather or mock leather and are in good nick. All the turqoise paint has been scratched off and the original gray Formica showing through. We will see once all those coaches have been refurbished into the new colours. The Loo,shower and passage were kept clean throughout the journey.

[allanroy]

I just wish somebody would photograph the interior of the coaches so we can see what has changed.

I will be on the train on the 23rd travelling Cape Town to Jhb with the family, so I will try and get some photos of the interior.

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

Look forward to plenty when you get back

[Luca Lategan]

Derek, I've emailed a similar message to one I posted to the FOTR forum to the customer feedback manager, Mr Benedict Litye, email him on benedict.litye@shosholozameyl.co.za or phone him on 011 773 9196. People already have such unfair negative perceptions of the Shosholoza service and we must be very careful to put more coal on the fire, that's why I wont write to the papers and condemn people like Trovato.

[allanroy]

We left Cape Town with the Shosholoza Meyl tourist on the 23rd December 2009. Got a porter to take all our bags from the car into the station where I had to wait for the rest of the family who where arriving on a normal metro service from Fish Hook. Porter wanted R30 for taking the baggage this short distance, got him down to R22.
When the family arrived we made our way to the train ourselves as we could not afford another porter. Security allowed my Mother in Law and her sister on the platform to help carry all our bags. Lots of staff sitting on those big railway trolleys who just watched us battling with all our bags, not one offer of help. Seems if you don't pay extra no one will offer help.

Once on the train it was different, everyone was friendly and helpful. The train left Cape Town 10 minutes late and just got later and later as it went. Now we are a family of 5 with 3 small children, my youngest was booked into her own compartment as there are only 4 beds in a cabin, and she is only two years old. Train manager said its a problem on the booking side and could we please keep all the children together with us. Said that it happens often and he has had a case where a baby was booked into the front of the train and the family near the back.

We got bedding for the night and the beds where made at 17h00 while waiting to enter the 16km long tunnel in the hex river. White sheets, pillow cases and two blankets. The only problem was most of the pillows should have been thrown away long time ago,having no filling in the middle only on the side.

When we went for supper in the dining car we found that a tour group was on the train and the first two sessions in the dining car where reserved for them, so we could only get dinner at 19h15. Then breakfast we could only get at 09h15 which was a problem as the kids woke at 6 and it was a long wait. The tour guide said we could have a table to sit at but the train staff said we would not be served until the group was finished. The tour guide really tried to help get breakfast early for the children but the staff would not help.

The train has lots of security and you never feel unsafe, when going to the dining car we just pulled the door closed and took the camera, cell phones etc with us. We did have a problem at a disused station called Goudini weg where some small children where throwing stones at the train. My son was looking out the window and the stone hit the glass just below his chin. It was very close to a serious injury and it look a long time to calm him down. He did not know why someone wanted to hurt him. Reported the manner to train staff and it appears to be a regular problem.

Tried the shower out and was surprised at the water pressure in the shower.And showered watching all the traffic on the N1.Train is so relaxedyou feel sorry for those driving.The passage was moped 4 times on the way and train was always clean, even the rubbish bags in the compartments are emptied on a regular basis.

We arrived in De Aar over an hour late, we woke up as the train was entering Kimberly 10 minutes early. So we really made up time during the night. The train then also left Kimberly 10 minutes early and the rest of the trip we started making up time arriving and departing stations early. From Krugersdorp it was non stop all the way into Jhb station arriving a whole 45 minutes early.
Jhb station is a big problem.The platforms are below the station, no porters, no escalators and no working lifts so everyone has to carry all there own bags up the stairs. We spoke to the tour guide and he told us the station has always been like that, he has had lots of meetings but no one cares. The stations really need to have trolleys that you can use, like at the airports and be more user friendly.

Sadly I think its this lack of trolleys / service at the stations that will put people off using the trains. The trains are wonderful and I would use them again but not if I have to carry all the luggage like we had to.

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

Thanks for that insight to your trip Allan. I am amazed that they take a tour party so close to Christmas when they know that bookings are at a Premium. WE also made up huge time between De AAr and Kimberely arring in Kimberely an hour early 05h30. We sat there until 07h00. Arriving in JHB also early but had to sit outside the station for 20 minutes waiting for the Premier Classe to depart, which was not even on our arrival platform. Jhb is confusing as my sister was on another platform. We had to lug our cases up the stairs and down another. Thank goodness we did not have any small children. Next time she can fetch us at Krugersdorp.

[allanroy]

My brother in law also said next time we should get off at krugersdorp rather than Jhb station. When we pulled into the station the Premier Classe was on the platform next to ours.

[fanie kleynhans]

Hi all, question to those that have booked train tickets recently, how should i go about booking a coupe? When i go on the cbsc website under Accommodation there is the option of Rent a Coupe, do i choose that one? Further on through the booking process there is Special requirements which gives 2 options also: request coupe and request to be in the same compartment or coupe. Do i choose one of these also?
Also if i book through that website, do i still need to go to the station to fetch my ticket or can i print my booking confirmation and use that?

[allanroy]

Also if i book through that website, do i still need to go to the station to fetch my ticket or can i print my booking confirmation and use that?

Not sure about the Coupe, phone them on 086 000 8888 you will be pleasantly surprised at just how helpful they are.

As for the tickets yes you still need to collect them from the station and you can do it on the day of departure, so I was told when I phoned the help desk.