South Africa's GREAT VALUE FIRST CLASS TRAIN: Premier Classe to Durban
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 ม.ค. 2018
- Your support to this channel is hugely appreciated. Any contributions will go towards helping to create content
/ flyspeedbird1
Social media:
/ flyspeedbird1
Equipment:
SanDisk SDSQXAF-064G-GN6MA Extreme microSDXC Memory Card
amzn.to/2sq9ud2
Goji G6PBBK17C 6700mAh Portable Micro USB Charger
amzn.to/2Hd1oZK
This video reviews the train journey from Pietermaritzburg, to Durban in South Africa in November 2017. Captions will give you further information and tips about this very scenic journey across the Valley of a 1000 Hills in the KwaZulu-Natal region.
This train is run by the Passenger Rail Authority of South Africa: PRASA.
I discovered this train service thanks to the ever useful "The Man in Seat 61" website:
www.seat61.com/SouthAfrica.htm
On the route from Johannesburg, Pietermaritzburg is the last stop before arriving at Durban (the other route run by the Premier Classe service goes from J'burg to Cape Town). Pietermaritzburg is the capital of the KwaZulu-Natal region and its train station has a special historical importance: Gandhi was thrown out of a train at this station at the end of the 18th century. This incident shaped the rest of this life and commemorated in a small exhibition inaugurated by Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India.
The Premier Classe service has a dedicated website:
www.premierclasse.co.za/index....
Unfortunately, the timetable for these services is not available and the online booking section didn't work. This service isn't very well known by South Africans and the staff at Pietermaritzburg station tried hard to help. It took more than one visit to the station to get it sorted and my paper ticket came all the way from J'burg (I had to provide a South African mobile number and passport number for the booking).
As the Premier Classe service I took was attached to the regular Shosholoza Meyl, it seems that the schedule for Durban follows the timetable for the Shosholoza Meyl. Please see link below
www.shosholozameyl.co.za/train...
"The Man in Seat 61" website gives further useful information on ways to buy a train ticket in South Africa
As the journey between Pietermaritzburg and Durban is operated after dawn, I was able to make the most of the scenic journey. I would have been happy to travel all the way from Johannesburg and enjoy the comfortable cabin at my disposal as well as the dinner and bar/lounge.
The train arrived 20 minutes late at Pietermaritzburg. I was given the mobile number of the train manager and after texting him when I got up, I had a prompt reply informing me of this short delay. I was impressed by such personalised service.
I found all the staff on-board equally helpful and engaging. The overall service was very good without feeling formal.
When arriving at Durban station, a train attendant walked to the lounge. I had no safety issues during the journey but as for any travel or daily life, common sense applies.
Check-in and boarding: * (because of the lack of online booking offered by PRASA/Premier Classe)
Seat comfort: ****
Cabin cleanliness: ****
Staff: ****
Food and drinks: ****
Entertainment: n/a
Value for money: ****
Recommend: yes
Thanks for watching. You are welcome to Like, Share or subscribe to this channel
Music:
Accralate - The Dark Contenent by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution licence (creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: incompetech.com/
A Good Day On the African Planes, Doug Maxwell/Media Right Productions
Bumba Crossing by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution licence (creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: incompetech.com/
LAKEY INSPIRED - I Found Me
» SoundCloud: / lakeyinspired
![จังหวะนี้ - เม้ก อภิสิทธิ์ [ Official MV ] จอนนี่มิวสิค](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/4gQRZCkRyiU/mqdefault.jpg)
Wow great video, I'm from Johannesburg but studying at Pietermaritzburg. I always use train although I use economy class but I still enjoy travelling using train... your video has just got me missing home
That's wonderful. Thank you so much for your great feedback. So good to hear you also had the chance to enjoy the same train route from PMB. Any other train journeys in SA you would recommend? Greetings from the UK
Im from Durban but living in Cape Town now. Watched and loved this video. reminded me of home.
Thank you so much and great to hear this video reminded you of the wonderful KZN region. Have you enjoyed other train trips in SA you would recommend?
I always remember going through the metal detectors at Johannesburg and Pretoria. No knives No guns No clubs No spears!! I hope PRASA put more long haul trains on. Greater frequency would boost demand
You also need more passengers to justify the higher frequency. Bit of a catch 22 situation
How nice to see the luscious greenery around Valley of a Thousand Hills, so beautiful!
I once traveled on the Milk train, from Durbs to Joburg, but, I have to say I remember zero about the journey, must've slept through.
I love a good train journey and this is up there with the best!
I have fond memories from 1984 of doing this trip when ,I was visting family in Petermaritzburg. I had come up by train from CapeTown, very nice video, well dome
Thank you. Very sad to hear about the riots in KZN in the last few days :-( I'd love to travel again to SA
The dinner was a memorable 7 course meal when I last traveled
This man's videos are some of the best! Thank you for sharing! He captures those moments I enjoy and would, if I still could!
Hans Quennet Thanks Hans, it's ever so nice to be able to share this experience and I feel privileged to get some fantastic feedback like yours. Your encouragement and kind words from other viewers mean a lot. Currently editing my next video, hope you ll enjoy it.
..... Beautiful lush green countryside, and a great ride, thanks for the upload!
Thank you Manuel. It was a beautiful ride indeed, so glad you enjoyed it too.
I also recently took a train ride across Corsica. In my pipeline of videos to be edited!! Please feel free to subscribe to my channel for more updates.
What a great train journey man, you just motivated me to wanna take this train journey since i like travelling , Thanks man that was awesome
That's the best feedback I can hope for... inspire others to enjoy such great journeys.
Thank you so much for taking the time to watch the video and commenting. Much appreciated
Nice video.. Well Done!
I worked in SA in the 80s and 90s and took quite a few train journeys, mainly in NE Transvaal including Hoedspruit and Nelspruit. I always enjoyed them
Regards from The UK
Thanks BrianSo glad you enjoyed it and so good to hear about your extensive train travels in ZA.
Any other routes you would recommend?I thought you might also enjoy this train trip in Norway: th-cam.com/video/lZVHXbBSASU/w-d-xo.html
Hope to welcome you on-board :-)
It's is a revelation to me. I was under the impression that railway travel in south africa is dangerous.
Thanks for watching. I've never had any issues during my visits to SA. Security was present and it's always good to use common sense and precautions .
Nice one. Thanks for sharing..
You're very welcome. Thanks for watching
You seemed to be the only passenger on the entire carriage. Another great video yet
Well spotted. I didn't have the chance to check other parts of the train but I was the only one indeed in the Premier Classe section. It's a very good service and despite the challenges to buy the ticket, I really enjoyed the ride. I hope that by doing this video and sharing it, I will - modestly - contribute to this service having more well deserved recognition
Great video, thanks....I am ready to try it out.
Great. You'll also find more useful information for your trip in the description below this video. Happy travels :-)
Quite a long and pretty train. Very pristine mountains. food looks very delicious.
Breakfast was really nice indeed. Thanks for watching
I have been travelling with this train for 2 years i love it and its not expensive great trip
It certainly is. Quite a traditional experience and so enjoyable
Is it still good. I intend travelling on it with my foreign wife as I hope to show off our country
How much are meals in tourist class on average and do they do fancy meals. How about alcohol
Is safety ok
Thanks in advance
Thanks for sending me the link to this ride. Enjoy your adventures. When i complete the trip I feel as if I had been on said trip. I noticed on the trip just watched that I didn't see a lot of "shanty towns", but saw lots of houses that looked like they could be seen along side a road here in the States, or in merry ol' England. The telly does seem to enforce the image of South Africa as backward and almost :stoneage-ish" to coin a word.
South Africa is a fantastic place - there are big social inequalities (but you'll find that in so many countries)
This does actually look pretty interesting! I am not the train guy to be honest but this is a ride i would take too! Great video, thanks for sharing :)
Thank you. Yes I would certainly recommend it (and you can take the train from J'burg to CPT and fly back to have the best of both worlds)
very enjoyable!
Leland Peck thank you. Really glad you enjoyed it 😃
thanks for the video!!Great job!! New sub here!!I hope to get even more beautiful footages!!
Thanks. I be been rather busy lately with very little spare time for video editing. I am due to finish a video about a trip on the French high speed train and it's really nice first-class section
I really like these kinds of station and trains, totally empty.
Last time I rode an empty train was in 2015 when I was the only one along with my mom
Was it on this line to Durban?
Thank you
You're welcome
Ah the Shosholoza Meyl a.k.a the Trans Natal Express. Took this train to Jozi and back many years ago. Great memories.
Stunning scenery. I mentioned to friends in South Africa I was going to use the Premier Classe service but most didn't know about it. If you are in SA, would you say people are familiar with it or not?
Some people don't know the difference between the Shosholoza and the Premiere Classe. I guess most aren't that aware of the Premiere Classe. The train you took is the Shosholoza Meyl train, but then there's slightly more upper class trains service from PRASA called the Premiere Classe. However the Premier Classe is not on the same level as the Bluetrain or Rovos Rail. But still you had the pleasure of traveling on one of the most beautiful railway lines in South Africa, if not the most beautiful..
That's a shame, I really enjoyed the service. I wish online bookings were available. Feel free to share the video, it may encourage others to try this service.I came across a disused railway line near Hilton (there was a small railway museum but I wasn't sure if it's still open)... rich railways history in the region!
I would love to have seen the train going down the sithundo hills lovely view
Thanks for watching
Fantastic! I also enjoy train travel. I have been to Durban and back to Johannesburg in tourist class. I have been to East London and back.
Being on retirement I was looking forward to doing the seven province tour. Unfortunately they have taken away the Orange Express that ran from Durban to Cape Town.
In the meantime I will do the Algoa and Trans Karoo.
Thank you very much for sharing.
The Orange Express would have been an amazing experience. Is there any hope this service will be back?
Such great train journeys and travel are the best way to enjoy your retirement. Thanks for watching. Stay safe
@@Speedbird1FLY I totally agree. My travels took me on the Algoa, Trans Karoo, Orange Express, Blue Train, and the overnight from Bulawayo to Jo'burg.
@@brucewilliams8714 Amazing experiences. Which one(s) was your favourite?
Durban stations are a mess sies.
That was wonderful, but would like to see a longer trip.
I'd love to try again this service - maybe to Cape Town.
I would have enjoyed trying the dinner service but as most of the trip from J'burg to Durban would have been after dark, I didn't feel too bad about it. The section from PMB offered scenic views
I love long distance travel
Thank you for watching
Our family also had that section of the train to ourselves. Great service and great value. We were happy when our train was running late!
That's wonderful Lynnie. So you also found out about this best kept secret 😂 was it on the same route? Thanks for watching. So nice to hear from other fellow travellers
When we had it to ourselves it was JNB-DUR in March. JNB - Capetown was in April 3 years ago and had more people. I first found it on The Man in Seat 61. Despite my J'Burg living sister-in-law telling us we shouldn't do it, that it was dangerous and dirty, etc., we thoroughly enjoyed it. As with everything there, you have to stay flexible and have a sense of humour!
@@lynnieo8330 we both found out about this great train service thanks to the same great web site. I d love to try the route to Cape town. Most people I spoke to in SA about this train service didn't know about it. I am glad that after trying it others were encouraged to do the same. I must check whether online bookings work, just getting the ticket at the local station took such a long time
In March of this year, the booking process seemed a little less cumbersome but was still back and forth with the email.
We called it the Sleep train to Durban Leave Johannesburg @ 7 and arrive the next morning in Durban ❤️
And a great scenery to enjoy
This looks like an amazing journey, although a bit too short!! The restaurant and bar cars seem empty so I wonder if the rest of the train in economy was full. It is such a long train and beautiful train! The scenery is amazing and so lush! Breakfast looks good too!
Luke Starkenburg thanks 🙏 now I experienced this train service, i d love to try to entire route to Durban or CPT. Online booking would be so useful to get a better access to this service
yes the economy is all the time full
I miss so much 😢😭
Amazing. Another of those to do things that is well up there on my list. Great filming and production; thanks for uploading and please count me in as a subscriber.
Thank you thank you thank you (for watching, your kind comments and becoming a subscriber). I would certainly recommend such service to visitors or anyone in South Africa
An anecdote. In 1992 I had to travel from Durban to Jo'burg twice in one week. When I was buying my second ticket, from the same official who sold me my first, he asked if I was a "reverend".
Apparently there were some clergy earning some extra cash by buying cars in Jo'burg (where the climate was dry) and selling them at a premium in Durban, which was humid and rust-prone.
Having driven the car to Durban, the seller returned by overnight train. I wonder if they still do that.
Great anecdote. A long drive to Durban... hope he bought great cars and such a nice way to travel back to Jo'burg. I can t wait to travel to SA again. Thanks for sharing
Great video thank you! What is the song at the end called?
Thanks Amy I am glad you enjoyed this video and hope it will inspire your future travels.
I put info about the music tracks featured in the video in the description
Nice video again! Any idea how many coaches the train had?
Thank you so much Lorenzo. At least 16 carriages. I wonder if any friends from SA can comment further
Omd this train station building hasn't changed a bit
Sindy Mbau glad this video brought back memories of familiar places 😊😃
@@Speedbird1FLY yes so much happy I was a little kid and my first time to be on train station🙈
@@sindymbau5255 oh wow that's a wonderful memory and a beautiful train station too. During my first visit to PMB I didn't have the chance to take the train. I was keen to make it when I came back. I look forward to more trips. Any train routes you may recommend in SA would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for watching and sharing such great memories 😃😊👍
It's very sad to hear that our railway infrastructure is demolished as a result of bad governance.
Very tropical.
Stunning scenery
@@Speedbird1FLY indeed!
Is it air-conditioned? it gets around 35 degrees and humid in KZN
Hi, yes train was air-conditioned. Thanks for watching
Hi guys can you tell me the price of the ticket?
What an incredibly under-utilised and amazing value train journey. Seems PRASA would do well to spend a little time and money to promote this journey overseas. Looks like a great way to see a bit of South Africa if you’re not up for the cost of the Blue Train.
Yes a great experience... even if the interior is not to the same standards as the blue train, it's a very comfortable and enjoyable ride with all the perks added. I haven't tried booking it online recently, have you?
I believe the premier classe is only going from Cape Town to Johannesburg n back in 2022?!! Is that true! I want to go in March 2022 on this train from Cape Town to Johannesburg but it’s only running on the 3/5/22 and then not I’m March any more! WHY?? Please fill me in - let me know whether I am wrong. Take care looking forward to your reply!!!!!!!
I don't have any trips to SA planned yet. Travel plans have been very fluid with many changes. Some good opportunities opened up whilst some travel rules or changes also made other plans very difficult
this is from where to Durban?
Pietermaritzburg in KZN
How much for a double from Joburg to Cape Town please and how much are drinks and can you bring your own
Hi, thanks for watching. I posted a link to the premier classe website in the video description. You'll get all the latest fares there
@@Speedbird1FLY Thanks
So many worries when you come from Europe! The passport man asks have you enjoyed your stay in SA? I have every time! Your driving around J Burg ring road! Suicidal! Things are improving now!
Thanks for watching. I've been to SA a few times and always greatly enjoyed my stays there
The aging rail network, cable theft and track theft have made this service very unreliable. It was such a lovely train. Now it's always late and sometimes cancelled. Very sad state of affairs, as this really was a excellent train.
Thanks for your feedback.
Do you know whether online booking is now available? Or would have other routes in ZA to recommend?.
Thanks for watching
Thanks for your video. I would be hesitant to recommend this train service now in 2019. The other luxury trains are Rovos rail, and the Blue Train. I believe they are both much more reliable.
@@warnerbeachful I have different opinion to you,you seem to exagerate things in your comment.Nothing much have changed after SINCE he made this video last year.In such shot span of time all of a sudden you want to make this train a hellhole?!He was there himself, he made this video and nothing has changed at all ever since he made this video.
I was expecting your kind though to come with comments like this as usual.
@@mabhodlelajj1195 I comment from personal experience. I was on this train , halfway through the journey the trip was cancelled and we were bussed to Capetown. In My country USA we are more advanced and do not treat our customers like you do. Sorry but it's the truth.
Has anyone taken the train recently of so how was the service
In tourist class how much are the meals and alcohol. Can you get three course fancy meals
I want to surprise my wife and I'm looking for a memorable experience
Thanks
Sadly the trains between CPT to JHB & DBN have been suspended since 2020
@@sandswest1837 oh shoot
Why were they suspended
Thanks
@@GrumpyTinashe initially becuase of the regulator saying there was some infrastructure and safety issues they had to sort out first but the also remember during 2020 there was massive infrastructure damage and looting because of those security contracts that were terminated which left the infrastructure unguarded. So I guess now repairs are underway and it will take a while for everything to be fully restored. The reason I know all of this is cause I'm very passionate about Trians, even though I've never been on one as a Young South African. Very sad to see this state of fairs, what kind of country doesn't have any trains connecting it's major cities? Sad
@@sandswest1837 Truly sad. I too am passionate about trains. I'm in UK and was hoping to ride on that train when I visit in December
Is the drive between Joburg and Cape Town scenic and is I doable in a single day or best done over 2 days?
why him alloaver..
Nice video, but you need to jack up your spelling and proofreading. At one point you used "loosing" when it should be "losing". Elsewhere you used "enthusiast" when you meant "enthusiastic".
You are so right. I tend to finish the editing quite late before publishing in the morning. My heart sinks when I spot a typo. If you enjoy train videos, I have other reports you might be interested in . Thanks for watching
Nice trip bad a poor video
I am sorry to hear that. What would you change?
@@Speedbird1FLY Hi, I've watched your video again and I enjoyed it today.
I also think your logo is original and it gives a great touch to the start of your presentation. Your voice in the video as you nurrate would give a persoanl experience to the viewer, and all the reading gets a bit boring. However, you may have persoanl reasons for not putting your voice in, and this I can take into consideration, Remember, I'm watching a video, not reading a magazine.
The music is not too ongoing and changes between scenes, which is good; -but in the intro, sounds too familiar of other "review videos" on TH-cam.
Other than you editing, I did enjoy the video and felt like I was enjoying the trip with you.
Just to let you know, I do not post my own videos under this chanel and do not put my own content out as professional.
Thanbk you