World Cup

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

I read with interest that the price for a family of four to fly from Cape Town to Johannesburg during the World Cup next year will be around the R30.000-00 mark. With the influx of people to this country, have Shosaloza Meyl a marketing plan up there sleeve to lure travelers to rail. After our recent trip I have spoken to so many people about the rail travel in South Africa. Some did not even know that there was still a long distance passenger rail service in existence. Others were amazed that we we survived the trip. I find it sad that there is such an impression on rail travel. When I spoke about taking your car on the train , they were gob smacked. "Would your car get there in one piece" was one question.
Assuming the Spoories do get their marketing plan and there is a demand, will they be able to cope with the extra trains and passengers. Do we have sufficient carriages in running order and do we have enough serviceable Locomotives. I know in the Western Cape they are running thin with Electric Loco's. The Shos could go a long way and give itself a shot in the arm not only for the World Cup but beyond. Only time will tell.

[Alan Franks]

Glad i found this thread, we've been wondering how trains would run during the World Cup.

We booked flights from the UK as soon as it looked like England would qualify and the first thing we looked to incorporate was a nice long train Journey within South Africa.

I travelled through Europe as a young lad using an Interail ticket and hold special memories, the thought of a scenic journey in a sleeper Coupe really appealed. We were told we could book tickets from Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth three months before through Shosholoza Meyl so we waited. Finally i got through on the phone (the online booking service doesn't work) to be told there are no tourist class trains running during the WC !! I contacted a man at the 'South African Travel Directory' who admited his travel company were as much in the Dark as ourselves.

I can't believe that the rail company are not taking advantage of the extra capital generated by the influx of so many visitors, seems madness to me. If they are going to run trains but are changing the timetables they've left it too late for most people. We booked flights, Accomodation etc months ago and the fixtures have also been out for months.

We're going to bite the bullet on this one and book a flight now only because there is no viable alternative.

Does anyone have any information on this ? and how did they run the trains for the Confederations Cup last year ?

Really really disappointed.

Thanks.

[John Ashworth]

Alan, first of all, welcome to the FOTR forum - I believe this is your first post.

If the economy class trains are not running, I would suggest you check out Premier Classe. It is a superb experience (see many other threads and photos on this forum) and is very reasonably priced.

[Luca Lategan]

Here goes:

NO normal Tourist Class (1st & 2nd class) trains from 11 June to after the final in July. Tourist class trains will only run to a specific city where a match will take place the following day. You do not have to be in possession of a Fifa match ticket to make use of this service, but fare will be "substantially higher" than normal price.

Economy (3rd class) and Premiere Classe trains will run according to normal schedule, fare will be similar to normal, peak holiday period prices. Extra trains will however be made available if the demand is big enough around match days.

There was a Shosholoza meeting on Friday where these issues were discussed, more info regarding the pricing will hopefully be available by Tuesday (Monday is a public holiday in SA).

In the meantime I will pick up a timetable with the extra Tourist class trains from the Shosholoza office at Cape Town station on Monday.

[allanroy]

found this info

The Shosholoza Meyl Operating Plan was tabled as the original draft of this report was
tabled. The rail network indicates a basic requirement of one train will operate from each of
the inland venue centres to Johannesburg on each match day. A similar service will operate
from the same centres to Johannesburg for Pretoria matches on the day that matches are
played in that city except for the 23 June 2010 when a match is played in Johannesburg and
Pretoria on the same day. These rail services will provide 720 passenger spaces which is
equivalent to an average of 12 coaches per rail trip.
Over and above these services Shosholoza Meyl will provide additional trains from
Johannesburg to the four inland centres. The number of trains provided varies between one
and five depending on the venue. On 22 June 2010 there are three inland matches and
Shosholoza Meyl indicates that only one train will be provided to Rustenburg, on other match
days (12 June 2010) 5 trains are provided to this venue and (15 June 2010) 4 trains are
provided.
The Operating Team considered the capacity of the rail services and compared it with the
possible intercity coach service. The Operating Team concluded that an allocation of 12
coaches per train service would be the maximum that could be deducted from the national
coach fleet and therefore 96 coaches can be the calculated reduction for Shosholoza Meyl
providing the proposed service.
Shosholoza Meyl will also provide additional service between Johannesburg and Durban.
The intercity network made no provision for additional inland to Kwa Zulu services and
therefore the possible coach passengers that may be attracted from the road network are
those travelling between Newcastle and either Johannesburg or Durban

found it here http://www.transport.gov.za/siteimgs/Fi ... Report.pdf

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

This sounds like Sitter Class. I am sure Overseas visitors traveling intercity would not like to travel Sitter Class

[Alan Franks]

Thanks for the info.

The Premier Class train is not an option for us i'm afraid, it's Port Elizabeth we are travelling to and as far as i can see they don't have a direct service YET. Looks like it's a planned route for the future, pity as it's something we would have considered aspecially with the price being only a fraction more than domestic flights.

I don't really understand the other statment, alot mentioned about 'Inland' venues & matches. I take it from that they aren't including Port Elizabeth in their plans. It also gives me hope though because if they intend to run trains the day before a game it'll work out perfectly for us, There is a game in PE on the 12th and we need a train on the 11th so fingers crossed.

Because of the info you've given us we're going to wait until Wednesday to see if anything appears on the internet regarding Tourist class trains.

Thanks for all your efforts.

[Luca Lategan]

Just talked to Shosholoza Meyl about this. They STILL don't know what Tourist class trains will run where when during the WC. Regular Tourist trains stop running 9 June and will only resume on 13 July.

Premiere class prices are way out of reach at R2650pp sharing one way from Cape Town to Jhb.

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

What do you mean that Tourist Class trains will stop running between those dates?

[Alan Franks]

From what i can figure out although the Tourist Class trains will run during the World Cup they have been booked up completely by FIFA the world governing body for moving their officials around the country and won't be available to the general public. If true i don't suppose i can blame the train company as it must be a real money spinner for them, just a pity the genuine supporters visiting South Africa have been left with flying as the only real alternative. We managed to book a flight from Jo'burg to Port Elizabeth for a reasonable 890R but it's left me gutted we won't be able to try out a sleeper train.

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

Alan you will have to come to SA again after the World Cup and enjoy a Tourist Class train trip. The Cape Town to Durban is the longest two nights and goes the Karoo during the day. Something I have always wanted to do. If you have extra money, the Premier Classe is the Perfect way to travel by train. Paying in pounds should be cheap for you.

[Nathan Berelowitz]

Pssst Alan! Wanna buy some railway souveneers?