26-858: Blue Train may refer to: Rail [ edit ] Blue Train (South Africa) , a South African luxury train Blue Train (Japan) , the generic name for sleeping car trains in Japan The Blue Train (fr. Le Train Bleu ), a train that ran between Calais and the French Riviera Le Train Bleu (ballet) , a ballet by Bronislava Nijinska, music by Darius Milhaud, scenario by Jean Cocteau, set by Henri Laurens, Chanel and Picasso (Ballets Russes, 1924) British Rail Class 303 or Blue Train, electric suburban trains introduced on
52-521: A luxury train that travels an approximately 1,600-kilometre (990 mi) journey in South Africa , between Pretoria and Cape Town . It is one of the most luxurious train journeys in the world. It offers butler service, two lounge cars (smoking and non-smoking), an observation car , and carriages with gold-tinted picture windows, in soundproofed , fully carpeted compartments, each with its own en-suite bathroom (many of which are equipped with
78-461: A 'luxury' service. As of 2009, the Blue Train is operated by Luxrail, a division of Transnet Freight Rail . Two Blue Trains are required to run daily departures from each end of the route, one travelling north, the other south. The first train accommodates 74 passengers in 37 suites, and the second accommodates 58 passengers in 29 suites and has a conference or observation car at the back of
104-677: A 2005 song by Asian Kung-Fu Generation "Blue Train" (Billie Holiday song) , a song by Billie Holiday "Blue Train" (Johnny Cash song) , a song by Johnny Cash "Blue Train" (Linda Ronstadt song) , a song by Linda Ronstadt "Blue Train", a song by Cibo Matto from Stereo * Type A "Blue Train", a song by Lord Rockingham's XI "Blue Train", a song by Page and Plant composed by Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, Charlie Jones and Michael Lee See also [ edit ] Blue Line (disambiguation) Blue Pullman (disambiguation) , trainsets operated by British Railways Blue Train Races ,
130-844: A 6,000-mile (9,656 km) trip (the world's longest train journey) across two continents and eight time zones . It follows the Trans-Siberian Railway , which connects Moscow and European Russia with the Russian Far East , Mongolia, China, and the Sea of Japan . Rocky Mountaineer is a Canadian company that operates trains touring the Canadian Rockies and the northwestern U.S. Via Rail sold off its Rockies by Daylight scenic train to Rocky Mountaineer Vacations (which became Rocky Mountaineer) in 1990. The company operates four routes. The Royal Canadian Pacific
156-666: A crew room, shower rooms, and toilets. It offers two- and four-day round trips, departing from Hakata Station . The two-day tour visits Nagasaki , Aso , and Yufuin , and the four-day journey visits Yufuin, Miyazaki , Miyakonojō , Hayato , Kagoshima-Chuo , Kagoshima , Aso, and Bungo-Mori . Luxury trains in India include the Palace on Wheels , Deccan Odyssey , Golden Chariot , Maharajas' Express , and Royal Rajasthan on Wheels . The Blue Train , covering about 1,600 kilometres (990 mi) between Pretoria and Cape Town ,
182-461: A full-sized bathtub). The service is promoted as a "magnificent moving five-star hotel " by its operators, who note that kings and presidents have travelled on it. The train runs through South Africa diagonally, with an average travel duration of 27 hours. The Blue Train 's origins date back to 1923, when the Union Express commenced between Johannesburg and Cape Town , it was named
208-669: A series of record-breaking attempts between automobiles and trains Blue Train Bentley , two automobiles involved in the Blue Train Races All Aboard the Blue Train , a 1962 album by Johnny Cash Blues Train , moving musical entertainment, Victoria, Australia Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Blue Train . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change
234-512: Is South Africa's oldest and best-known luxury train service. Transnet Freight Rail runs the Blue Train , also between Pretoria and Cape Town. Rovos Rail operates the Pride of Africa service, which runs between South Africa, Zimbabwe , Zambia , and Tanzania . The Ghan , a luxury train, runs 2,979 kilometres (1,851 miles) through the heart of the Australian continent, from Darwin in
260-602: Is a luxury overnight passenger train based in Calgary , Canada. The train has a royal warrant from Queen Elizabeth . It makes charter runs along CP tracks in summer and fall, taking passengers into the Rocky Mountains of Alberta and British Columbia . A typical six-day, five-night round trip runs through the Columbia River valley and Crowsnest Pass . The train halts at night to enable passengers to enjoy
286-563: Is credited with beginning the age of luxury trains and grand hotels. The Orient Express , setting of Agatha Christie 's Murder on the Orient Express , was Europe's first luxury train. It began its maiden journey on 5 June 1883 from Paris' Gare de l'Est . Although the original Orient Express ceased operation in 2009, private operators and public–private joint ventures provide luxury train travel in several countries. According to Belmond (formerly known as Orient Express Hotels),
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#1732772823941312-785: Is operated by Renfe Viajeros and runs from March to October on scheduled and charter trips. The main routes cross northern Spain and Andalusia , with special tours throughout the peninsula. The oldest tourist train in Spain (operating since 1983), the Transcantábrico , uses original 1923 Pullman coaches . Between 1950 and 1969, Swedish State Railways operated the luxury train service Sunlit Nights Land Cruises , which ran from Stockholm to northern Sweden and primarily targeted foreign tourists. The Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express began operation in April 2007 and takes passengers on
338-650: The Brighton Belle 's British Pullman coaches. Buffet cars are British Rail Mark 1 coaches. Although the train primarily operates in Northern England and Scotland, it also serves London and Bristol . The train has two British Rail Mark 3 sleeper coaches for its crew. It departs from a number of northern cities, including Liverpool , Edinburgh , Glasgow , and Manchester . The Northern Belle has six dining cars, named after historic British houses. Spain's state-owned network of luxury trains
364-527: The Union Limited in the reverse direction. The Union Express introduced luxury features including a dining saloon in 1933 and air-conditioned carriages from Metro-Cammell in 1939. After being withdrawn in 1942 in World War II , the service returned in 1946. With the reintroduction of the train, the "blue train" nickname, a reference to the blue-painted steel carriages introduced in 1937,
390-493: The Blue Train , a work of detective fiction by Agatha Christie set on Le Train Bleu Blue Train , a 2010 Serbian film on life after the death of Tito Music [ edit ] Albums [ edit ] Blue Train (album) , a 1958 jazz album by John Coltrane Songs [ edit ] "Blue Train" (composition) , 1957 jazz standard by John Coltrane "Blue Train" (Asian Kung-Fu Generation song) ,
416-616: The North Clyde Line and elsewhere in the Glasgow area Blue Train (Yugoslavia) , referred to as Tito's Blue Train , a luxury train used by former Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito Blue Train (Turkey) , passenger train service in Turkey Other uses [ edit ] Le Train Bleu (restaurant) or The Blue Train, a restaurant Blue Train, a nickname for the U.S. Postal Service cycling team The Mystery of
442-823: The Peruvian cities of Arequipa to Cusco in vice versa and the Belmond Hiram Bingham , named after the explorer who rediscovered the Incan citadel of Machu Picchu , runs from the Sacred Valley to the landmark. British Pullman cars were formerly used on the Brighton Belle out of London Victoria station . Northern Belle is a privately owned luxury train introduced in 2000. It consists primarily of British Rail Mark 2 coach stock, refurbished internally and painted externally to resemble
468-777: The Pioneer, was introduced in 1865 in the United States and was followed two years later by "hotel cars". It was the first railway carriage with dining and sleeping areas. Georges Nagelmackers founded the French Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits , creator of the Orient Express . Inspired by Pullman trains in the US, Nagelmackers returned to Europe and built a fleet of over 30 luxury trains that traveled to several European destinations. He
494-459: The company operates the highest number of luxury train tours in the world. With service in Europe, Asia, and South America, Belmond is the only private luxury tour provider (with the exception of Russia's Golden Eagle Trans Siberian Express ) to offer continental or intercontinental service. The Venice-Simplon Orient Express , with service from London to Venice, was voted the top luxury train in
520-399: The link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Blue_Train&oldid=1240949527 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Blue Train (South Africa) The Blue Train is
546-550: The only regular route in operation was Pretoria-Cape Town; however special package tours were offered to Durban or the Bakubung Game Lodge. Other variations on the route have been offered. Shosholoza Meyl , the long-distance train division of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa , operates trains on the same Pretoria to Cape Town route. One train per day runs in each direction, but this not
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#1732772823941572-467: The scenery. It consists of up to ten luxury passenger cars (built between 1916 and 1931), two fully restored 1950s locomotives, and a booster unit . Seven Stars in Kyushu is a deluxe sleeping-car excursion train that has toured the island of Kyushu since October 2013. Its name derives from Kyushu's seven prefectures and the train's seven cars. The train has a piano, bar, suites, a mini-kitchen,
598-438: The train replacing Class 18Es . Notable past passengers include Nelson Mandela, Quincy Jones, Paul Simon, Mia Farrow, Margaret Thatcher and Kylie Minogue. The Blue Train operated on four distinct routes prior to 2002: By 2004, the last two routes had been suspended, the former due to lack of patronage, the latter due to erratic rates being charged for access to the rail network of financially strapped Zimbabwe. As of 2007
624-519: The train. The trains travel at a speed of up to 90 kilometres per hour (56 mph). Luxury train A luxury train is a premium passenger rail service. Some luxury trains promote tourism in destinations across a region, while others (such as the Maharajas' Express ) take passengers on a ride through a single country. Luxury trains include restaurants, bars, bathrooms, and sleeping and seating areas. George Pullman 's first sleeping car,
650-550: The world in 2009. The Royal Scotsman offers service across Scotland and, occasionally, the rest of Britain. The Belmond Grand Hibernian began operations in Ireland on 30 August 2016. The Eastern and Oriental Express runs from Bangkok to Singapore (via Kuala Lumpur ) and to Vientiane . Covering over 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) of peninsular Southeast Asia, its two-day journey includes frequent stops at scenic locations. The Belmond Andean Explorer services
676-438: Was formally adopted as the new name. In 1955, it began to be hauled by 3E electric locomotives between Cape Town and Touws River . In 1959 a Wegmann & Co built air-conditioned dining and kitchen car was inserted into each set. In September 1972, two 16-carriage sets built by Union Carriage & Wagon were introduced. In 1997 it was refurbished and relaunched. In 2015, Class 20Es 20-031 and 20-032 were assigned to
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