Passengers trains in South Africa are run by SPOORNET and THE BLUE TRAIN.
SPOORNET has three classes; 1st, 2nd and 3rd/Economy. 1st and 2nd class has compartments very similar to European couchettes with 4 berths on 1st class and 6 berths on 2nd class, though with wash basin in the compartment and shower in some cars. Towels are not provided, though! So called ”coupés” (half compartments) with only 2 berths on 1st and 3 on 2nd class are available. 3rd class/Economy is mainly non-compartment cars with hard benches, but compartment cars do exist. Long distance trains have dining cars with table service, the food being prepared on board in a kitchen car.
THE BLUE TRAIN is the world’s most luxurious train, running after schedule. It runs (at least) weekly between Cape Town and Pretoria, occasionally from Pretoria to Victoria Falls, from Pretoria to Hoedspruit and from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth. The train has two compartment categories; luxury and de luxe, both with either 2 berths or one ”grand lit”. The luxury compartments and every fifth de luxe compartment has private toilet and bath tub, the other de luxe compartments private toilet and shower. The train has dining car with table service, the food being prepared on board in a kitchen car, a ”club car” for non-smokers and a ”lounge car” for smokers. Everything on board is included, even washing and pressing of clothes, drinks and cigars.
The train Komatipoort-Maputo and ”The Victoria Falls Blue Train” Pretoria-Victoria Falls are at present the only international trains to/from South Africa.
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