The Blue Train is one of the handful of rail journeys in the world sold entirely as an experience rather than transport, and understanding exactly what the fare includes — because it includes almost everything — is the key to deciding whether it's worth the price. Here is what a journey on board actually looks like, what's covered in the ticket, and how it stacks up against its closest rival, Rovos Rail.
The route and how long it takes
The Blue Train's principal journey runs between Pretoria and Cape Town, a distance of around 1,600 km, taking approximately 27 hours in each direction. The train departs Pretoria in the afternoon and arrives in Cape Town the following afternoon, or the reverse — the schedule is built so that a full daylight period is spent moving through the changing landscape: the Highveld around Pretoria and Johannesburg, the wide plains and small towns of the Northern Cape and Karoo semi-desert, and finally the approach to Cape Town beneath Table Mountain. Occasional seasonal itineraries run to other destinations, but the Pretoria–Cape Town route is the train's best-known and most frequently operated journey.
What's included in the fare
This is the detail that surprises first-time passengers used to ordinary rail travel: the Blue Train fare is genuinely all-inclusive. Covered in the ticket price:
- The suite itself — all cabins are en-suite with a private bathroom, a real bed rather than a fold-down berth in the higher categories, climate control and butler call button.
- All meals — breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and a formal multi-course dinner, served in a dedicated dining car with a dress code (smart/formal for dinner) and white-tablecloth service.
- Most drinks, including a selection of South African wines with dinner and drinks in the lounge car through the day.
- Butler service for each carriage, handling everything from turning down the bed to arranging in-suite dining if you'd rather not go to the dining car.
- A guided excursion — historically a stop at a diamond mine museum in Kimberley, though the exact excursion included can vary by departure, so check the current itinerary when booking.
Essentially nothing beyond a few premium extras (top-shelf spirits, specific rare wines, spa treatments where offered) sits outside the base fare — which is part of why the ticket price looks startling compared with an ordinary long-distance train, and part of why regular travellers should not compare it directly to Shosholoza Meyl or a flight. It is priced against luxury hotel stays and small-ship cruising, not against transport.
Cabin categories
The Blue Train offers a small number of suite grades, generally ranging from a standard Deluxe Suite up to a larger Luxury Suite with a bathtub rather than just a shower and additional living space. All are compact by hotel standards — this is still a train, and space is inherently limited — but finished to a high standard with wood panelling, large windows and proper beds rather than the couchette-style bunks found on ordinary sleeper trains. Suite availability and exact configurations should be checked directly with the Blue Train, as they are periodically updated.
The Blue Train vs Rovos Rail
The Blue Train's closest comparison is Rovos Rail, based in Pretoria, which runs a similar Pretoria–Cape Town route among a wider range of itineraries reaching Namibia, Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, and occasionally further afield. Both are five-star, all-inclusive luxury sleeper operators at broadly comparable price points; the meaningful differences are more about style and specific itinerary than any large gap in quality:
- Rovos Rail uses restored vintage carriages, generally runs longer, multi-day itineraries with more off-train excursions built in, and has a slightly older-world, heritage-railway aesthetic.
- The Blue Train runs a more streamlined modern fleet, focuses primarily on the core Pretoria–Cape Town route (with occasional variations), and tends to be the somewhat more famous name internationally.
Neither is objectively "better" — the choice mostly comes down to specific departure dates, which route variant is on offer, and which carriage style appeals more. See our wider South Africa by train guide for how both fit alongside the country's budget Shosholoza Meyl network and the Gautrain rapid rail.
Booking and timing
Departures run only a handful of times a month rather than daily, and popular dates — particularly around the Southern Hemisphere summer of December through February — can sell out months in advance. Booking well ahead is essential if a specific date matters to your itinerary; this is not a train you can reliably turn up and board on short notice.
Is it worth the price?
For travellers who see the journey itself as the point of the trip — rather than a means of covering distance — the Blue Train delivers a genuinely distinctive experience: watching the Karoo scroll past from a lounge car with a glass of South African wine is not something replicated by any flight or ordinary train. For travellers simply trying to get from Pretoria to Cape Town efficiently, it is an expensive and slow way to do it compared with the roughly two-hour flight between the same cities, and a budget traveller is far better served by Shosholoza Meyl or a domestic flight. The honest framing is that the Blue Train is a bucket-list rail journey and a destination in itself, not a transport decision.
Frequently asked questions
What is included in the Blue Train fare?
Almost everything: the suite, all meals and most drinks, butler service, and a guided excursion (commonly a stop connected to Kimberley's diamond history, though the specific excursion can vary). Only premium extras like top-shelf spirits typically cost more.
How long does the Blue Train take between Pretoria and Cape Town?
About 27 hours in each direction, departing one afternoon and arriving the following afternoon, timed so the journey through the Karoo and approach to Cape Town happens in daylight.
What's the difference between the Blue Train and Rovos Rail?
Both are comparable five-star, all-inclusive luxury operators running similar Pretoria–Cape Town routes. Rovos uses vintage restored carriages and offers longer itineraries reaching Namibia and Victoria Falls; the Blue Train runs a more modern fleet focused mainly on the core route.
How far in advance should I book the Blue Train?
Several months ahead is sensible, particularly for December to February departures, since the train runs only a limited number of times each month and popular dates sell out well in advance.
Sources and further reading:
- Fares, suites and departure calendar: Blue Train (bluetrain.co.za).
- Comparison operator: Rovos Rail (rovos.com).
- Route background: The Man in Seat 61.