South Africa: Shoshloza Meyl long-distance passenger rail services resume operations!

South Africa's Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula, announced on twitter that Shoshloza Meyl, the long-distance passenger rail service of the Passenger Rail Service Agency of South Africa (PRASA), resumes operations today (27 November 2020). According to the Minister, the passenger train service will operate as part of the festive season transport alternatives for commuters. Main Line Passenger Services (MLPS), which operates Shosholoza Meyl, announced on twitter that it will offer services between:

• Johannesburg - East London at 14:20
• Economy  - R300/person
• Tourist - R480/person
• Johannesburg – Komatipoort at 18:10
• Economy  - R190/person
• Tourist  – R270/person
• Johannesburg – Durban at 18:30
• Economy  – R170/person
• Tourist  – R360/person
• Johannesburg - Musina at 19:00
• Economy  – R190/person
• Tourist  – R310/person

South Africa: Reinstatement of Shosholoza Meyl and Premier Classe passenger train services!

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) just informed the public that Main Line Passenger Services (MLPS), which operates the Shosholoza Meyl and Premier Classe long-distance passenger train services in South Africa, is set to reinstate services between Johannesburg - Musina (via Polokwane), Johannesburg - Port Elizabeth and Cape Town - East London.
The service between Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth will operate with effect from 11 December 2019 and will run every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The service from Cape Town to East London (Thursdays) will operate with effect from 12 December 2019, and return (Sundays) from 15 December 2019. The service from Johannesburg to Musina via Polokwane (Fridays) will operate from 13 December 2019 and return (Sundays) from 15 December 2019.

South Africa: Temporary termination of Shosholoza Meyl and Premier Classe passenger train services!

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) just informed the public that Main Line Passenger Services (MLPS), which operates the Shosholoza Meyl and Premier Classe long-distance passenger train services in South Africa, has temporarily terminated the Johannesburg > Musina, Johannesburg <> Port Elizabeth, Cape Town <> East London and Johannesburg > Komatiport train services. PRASA names "internal challenges" as the reason for the termination. We'll keep you posted!

Namibia: The "Desert Express" train service is set to resume operations! [update]

update (28 June 2019): Tour company Namibia Reservations has released more information about the famous "Desert Express". The luxury train will be travelling between Windhoek and Swakopmund on the following weekends in 2019: 26 July, 09 & 23 August, 06 & 27 September, 11 & 25 October, 15 & 19 November and 13 December. One way tickets (Windhoek > Swakopmund) cost N$4400/person (GBP245 | €273 | USD310) sharing; return tickets (Windhoek > Swakopmund > Windhoek) cost N$6160/person sharing (GBP343 | €382 | USD435). Namibian and SADC rates are available on request.

According to Namibian specialist business website Namibia Economist, the "Desert Express", a weekly tourist-orientated train service between Windhoek and Swakopmund, will be operational again from the end of June 2019. Further details, such as the train schedule and train fares, are not known yet, but will be published at a later stage.
The "Desert Express" service was launched by TransNamib, the state-owned railway enterprise of Namibia, in 1998 and got (temporarily) suspended in 2015 due to a lack of maintenance.

Shosholza Meyl: Temporary suspension of the main line passenger service between Johannesburg <> Durban in May 2018!

Shosholza Meyl just announced that due to rail line maintenance the main line passenger service between Johannesburg <> Durban will be suspended on 09 May 2018 (Wednesday) and 11 May 2018 (Friday). Booked passengers travelling on 09 May 2018 or 11 May 2018 on the Durban line will be transported by bus to their various destinations. For more information contact Shosholoza Meyl.



Shosholoza Meyl, a division of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), operates long-distance (intercity) passenger rail services in South Africa.

Shosholoza Meyl operates the following routes in South Africa:

• Johannesburg <> Komatipoort
• Johannesburg <> Cape Town
• Johannesburg <> Durban
• Johannesburg <> Port Elizabeth
• Johannesburg <> East London
• Cape Town <> Queenstown
• Cape Town <> East London

Botswana: BR Express now stops at eight stations between Lobatse <> Francistown!

Botswana Railways (BR) not only extended its passenger train service (BR Express) to Bulawayo, it also increased the stopping places of the BR Express from six to eight with effect from 15 December 2017.  The two additional stops are Pilane and Tonota Halt. The north bound train will arrive in Pilane at 22:00 and depart at 22:02. At Tonota Halt, the north bound passenger train will arrive at 05:22 and depart at 05:24. The south bound train will arrive at Tonota Halt at 21:53 and depart at 21:56. This train will arrive at Pilane at 05:06 and depart at 0508.
Botswana Railways also changed the departure time for the passenger train at Lobatse from 18:00 to 18:45, effective 15 December 2017.



Botswana Railways re-introduced a passenger train service in Botswana on 22 March 2016. The train consist of 3 classes being Standard and Business Class as well as Sleeper Coaches. This service currently connects Lobatse with Francistown via Gaborone, Pilane (new) Mahalapye, Palapye, Serule and Tonota Halt (new).

Botswana: Botswana Railways to launch a passenger train service between Francistown <> Bulawayo!

Botswana Railways (BR) just announced that with effect from 20 December 2017 its passenger train service, the BR Express, will connect Francistown in Botswana with Bulawayo in Zimbabwe. The BR Express will depart Francistown at 07:00 and arrive in Bulawayo at 12:30. Upon return, the train will depart Bulawayo at 14:15 and arrive in Francistown at 19:45. Botswana Railways stopped services to Zimbabwe in the early 2000s.



Botswana Railways re-introduced a passenger train service in Botswana on 22 March 2016. The train consist of 3 classes being Standard and Business Class as well as Sleeper Coaches. This service currently operates between Lobatse and Francistown.

Kenya: Passenger train service between Nairobi <> Mombasa temporarily suspended!

The popular passenger train service between Kenya's capital Nairobi and the coastal city of Mombasa has been temporarily suspended, as Rift Valley Railways (RVR) is set to refurbish all coaches. The upgrade of the 20 wagons will take about four month, so that services will most likely resume at the end of November 2016.
Rift Valley Railways usually operates two weekly trains (Mombasa Deluxe Service) between Nairobi and Mombasa on Mondays and Fridays (Nairobi > Mombasa) as well as on Tuesdays and Sundays (Mombasa > Nairobi). The cost of travelling first class is currently Sh4,405 (all inclusive), second class Sh3,385 (all inclusive) or Sh2,335 (fare/bed & breakfast) while third class travel is Sh680 (fare). Trains depart Nairobi/Mombasa at 19:00 in the evening and arrive in Mombasa/Nairobi at 10:00 next day morning.

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Botswana: Botswana Railways has launched its new passenger train service!

Botswana Railways (BR) has launched its long-awaited passenger train service in Botswana this morning. The BR Express will run daily between Lobatse and Francistown via Gaborone, Mahalapye, Palapye and Serule from 23 March 2016. Standard Class tickets will cost 14 Pula - 102 Pula (single way), Business Class tickets will cost 24 Pula - 171 Pula (single way) and First Class tickets will cost 40 Pula - 285 Pula (single way). The luggage allowance is 30kg per adult in Standard Class, 40kg in Business Class and First Class respectively.

BR EXPRESS UNVEILED!More to follow
Posted by BWgovernment on Tuesday, 22 March 2016

Botswana: Train schedule & ticket fares for new passenger train service now available >>

Botswana: Train schedule & ticket fares for new passenger train service now available!

The Government of Botswana has published some long-awaited information about the new passenger train service in the country via Facebook. According to the postings (see below), Botswana Railways will run a daily service between Lobatse and Francistown via Gaborone, Mahalapye, Palapye and Serule. Botswana's transport and communications minister, Mr Tshenolo Mabeo, said in late February 2016, the new passenger train service will be operational by the end of March 2016. We'll keep you updated!

FINALLY IT IS COMING - INTRODUCING PASSENGER TRAIN SERVICE
Posted by BWgovernment on Friday, 18 March 2016

OVERNIGHT PASSENGER TRAIN SCHEDULEIt is finally here...#BlueTrain
Posted by BWgovernment on Friday, 18 March 2016

Standard Class tickets will cost 14 Pula - 102 Pula (single way), Business Class tickets will cost 24 Pula - 171 Pula (single way) and First Class tickets will cost 40 Pula - 285 Pula (single way). The luggage allowance is 30kg per adult in Standard Class, 40kg in Business Class and First Class respectively.

PROMOTIONAL PASSENGER TICKET FARES – PASSENGER TRAIN SERVICES It is finally here...
Posted by BWgovernment on Friday, 18 March 2016