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Tours in Cape Town |
Shosholoza Meyl (tel: (021) 449 2124 or 08600 08888; website: www.spoornet.co.za) operates all mainline railway services, while Cape Metrorail (tel: 0800 656 463; website: www.capemetrorail.co.za) operates the suburban services (see Getting Around). While national travel is easy and comfortable, often even luxurious, suburban services are unreliable, not very extensive and can be very dangerous, especially after dark. Rail enquiries should be directed to the Metro Transport Info central toll-free number (tel: 0800 656 463; website: www.mti.co.za); inter-city train reservations are also available. Metrorail also provides a security emergency number (tel: 0800 210 081).
Cape Town Station, Adderley Street, services both national and suburban lines. The station is in a vast, vaulted building that houses an array of shops and kiosks - some tacky, others quite compelling. Other facilities include information desks, security lockers for hire, a restaurant and even a doctor and dentist. There is also an open-air flea market (Monday-Saturday), located immediately outside the station.
Rail services: Standard train services going to mainline destinations include daily services to Johannesburg, via Kimberley and Worcester (journey time - 26 hours 30 minutes), and a weekly service to Durban via Kimberley and Bloemfontein (journey time - 37 hours). Trains to Johannesburg and Durban offer a sleeper service and are relaxing alternatives to flying, with dining cars for fast food and serviced compartments, though journey times are slow. There's also a more upmarket service known as Premier Classe (tel: 08600 08888 or 0117 744 555; website: www.premierclasse.co.za) that goes to Johannesburg twice a week, with compartments more like three-star hotel rooms and fine dining in the dining car.
The premier luxury train in South Africa is the Blue Train (tel: (021) 449 2672 or 334 8459; website: www.bluetrain.co.za), with services between Cape Town and Pretoria (journey time - 27 hours). They arrange occasional trips from Pretoria to Pilanesberg National Park and trains can be chartered from Pretoria to Victoria Falls and Nelspruit/Hoedspruit. Trains to Pretoria usually depart once a week, with more departures in May, August, October and November. Advance booking is essential.
Transport to the city: Cape Town Station is situated right in the heart of the city centre. The central public transport bus depot is situated across the road, on Strand Street (in front of the Grand Parade). The minibus taxi rank is on top of the station, but these are also easily picked up outside the station where metered taxis are also available.
Cape Town Station, Adderley Street, services both national and suburban lines. The station is in a vast, vaulted building that houses an array of shops and kiosks - some tacky, others quite compelling. Other facilities include information desks, security lockers for hire, a restaurant and even a doctor and dentist. There is also an open-air flea market (Monday-Saturday), located immediately outside the station.
Rail services: Standard train services going to mainline destinations include daily services to Johannesburg, via Kimberley and Worcester (journey time - 26 hours 30 minutes), and a weekly service to Durban via Kimberley and Bloemfontein (journey time - 37 hours). Trains to Johannesburg and Durban offer a sleeper service and are relaxing alternatives to flying, with dining cars for fast food and serviced compartments, though journey times are slow. There's also a more upmarket service known as Premier Classe (tel: 08600 08888 or 0117 744 555; website: www.premierclasse.co.za) that goes to Johannesburg twice a week, with compartments more like three-star hotel rooms and fine dining in the dining car.
The premier luxury train in South Africa is the Blue Train (tel: (021) 449 2672 or 334 8459; website: www.bluetrain.co.za), with services between Cape Town and Pretoria (journey time - 27 hours). They arrange occasional trips from Pretoria to Pilanesberg National Park and trains can be chartered from Pretoria to Victoria Falls and Nelspruit/Hoedspruit. Trains to Pretoria usually depart once a week, with more departures in May, August, October and November. Advance booking is essential.
Transport to the city: Cape Town Station is situated right in the heart of the city centre. The central public transport bus depot is situated across the road, on Strand Street (in front of the Grand Parade). The minibus taxi rank is on top of the station, but these are also easily picked up outside the station where metered taxis are also available.
View Our Airport Guides for Cape Town:
Cape Town International Airport