Shosholoza Meyl- A Pleasant experience.

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

This is what my wife daughter and I experienced two weeks ago. We caught the Tourist class from Cape Town to Johannesburg enroute to Sun City. On arrival we were met by a very able porter who helped us to our coach. The train compartment was clean as was the toilet and shower, however these coaches are starting to show signs of wear and need an urgent refubishment. We departed three minutes early only to be held up 7 minutes later where they are building the new Century City station and only one line was open right through to Monte Vista. At Bellville, Hugenot and Wellington boarding passengers ran around looking for their coach , another 15 minutes delay. They should book people in advance down the line in specific coaches to save time. After Wellington our driver made up almost 20 minutes and arrived at Worcester 15h30 on the dot. The driver change over was quick and 20 minutes later we were on our way. We stopped twice for other trains which again made us 15 minutes late for Matjiesfontein. After a driver change at Geelbek we made up time and arrived in Beaufort West at 21h25. After a Loco change we sat waiting for the correct departure time. 22h00. We could have departed 15 minutes earlier. After Beaufort we went to sleep. I only awoke in De Aar. At 05h30 I woke up with a bang. We were on the outskirts of Kimberely where they now change Loco.s We arrived in Kimbereley 40 minutes early, with the result of us sitting there for an hour. We kept on gaining time and I estimated that we would be in Park station by 14h45. That was until we hit a red signal under the Mandela Bridge. WE sat there for 20 minutes until the South Bound Premier Classe departed. We arrived 5 minutes early. Overall we could have done the journey in two hours less than the timetables stipulates. The food was good. The staff helpful and polite. Plenty of Security Personal who would hop off at each station. The toilet and shower kept clean for the duration of the trip. The drivers were also friendly and were willing to chat when they hopped off for their change. WE passed 26 trains. Seven of them passenger. this excludes the night as I slept soundly. My wife said she would do the trip again. So that means PRASA get a big thumbs up. After a great holiday at Sun City we caught a boring flight back to Cape Town. Long live passenger rail travel. I will post some of my photos. I need to go through them them all first. (1113 photos I took)

[Adelbert Stigling]

Good for you Stephan, now it is my and my wife, daughter and grand daughters turn. Leaving for Durban on Wednesday and then Johannesburg and back to Cape town, counting the sleeps with my Grandaughter.

[Luca Lategan]

Great to hear you had a good trip and holiday, Stefan.

30 November is my turn. Was slightly shocked to learn that to transport a small car these days costs about R1900 in off-peak!

[Morne Bothma]

Good to hear everything is still improving Stefan, we also travel with shos meyl at least 2 times a year, and I have to agree that over the past year + things have definatly improved. Most of the times we just take a joy ride from CT to Durban and back, highly recommended!! For the past 2 years they have quite a nice set running this route, old premiere classe coaches with the wooden interior, our last trip was June and great as always. No luck for me 2 squeze in another trip within the next year as I have another boy on the way. Hey Aldebert enjoy, im very jealous!!

[Kevin Wilson-Smith]

Have,nt been on atrain trip in Africa for years. Am trying to organise a trip on Premier to Durban - niot much more then the airfare. I need to go on work so I will put in the difference!

[Steve Appleton]

Kevin,
Premier Classe have a number of specials on offer in November 2009. For example, CPT to PLZ R1200 per person -- a bargain for what you get! See their website at:
http://www.premierclasse.co.za/
Book with Santie Bekker at:
http://www.satravelbooking.co.za/
Mention "Friends of the Rail". Do not botherwith Shosholoza Meyl's reservations depatment. It is apparently a shambles.

[Kevin Wilson-Smith]

Thank you Steve!

[fanie kleynhans]

Hi Stefan and all, question about the compartment doors, can you lock them from the outside? I remember many years ago you could lock them only from the inside and Im thinking to also do a trip sometime in future but in case I want to get of at stations to take photos I want to know my stuff is safe inside.

[Luca Lategan]

The doors still lock with 'coach keys', that very few people have, but that's not impossible to get. So if you're on the train you would just have to call the coach attendant and ask for your compartment to be locked.

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

Hi Fanie Luca is correct. Only the Train staff have the keys. When we went to the Dining Car we just made sure that I had my wallet ID book and camera. If anybody wanted to steal my Mr Price's clothes they were welcome to them. I believe though that it is safe in Tourist Class

[Morne Bothma]

I can agree on my experiences over the past 2 years that the tourist class trains are pretty safe!!

[allanroy]

been looking at prices to take the train to jhb and there has been a increase since march when I first asked. For passengers its not bad but to take you car that is now very expensive.

n March the price on the Shosholoza Meyl was
Tourist class R570 per adult now for december its R620 which is not bad
But the big shock is the cost to take your car on the train it went from small cars R1960 and big cars R2660 to small cars R2450 and big cars R3700.

[Luca Lategan]

Alan, these prices are only for the "high season" ie December and January, it is expected that it will also apply during the June/July soccer period. I booked for the 30th November Transkaroo ex Parkstation and paid the R1960 plus R230x2 to have a coupe to myself.

[allanroy]

Thats the problem with going on holiday day in december, got a price from avis at the station and I can hire a toyota corolla for the period I am there for R1700 so cheaper to hire.

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

Hi Allan. We paid R380 per person in the SEptember Holidays. I did not realise that it went up so much in December. If you travel on Friday or Sunday then its R410 per person. Save up your E Bucks or equivalent and hire a car with that. I did.