FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ’s)

GENERIC INFORMATION DOCUMENT
TRAIN TOURS

What is the purpose of this document?

To answer in advance as much as possible of the questions normally asked by prospective clients/passengers. PLREASE READ it THOROUGHLY.

(The Reservation Form / Booking Form is at the bottom of each tour info)

Why travel by JB Train Tours holiday train tour?

It is Comfortable, Affordable, Safe & Secure          

PLUS

You don’t get lost – we do the planning and driving
You won’t be affected by petrol price increases – our tour price remains as advertised
Tour guides travel with you      
You relive the nostalgia of travelling by train
You return from holiday with no post-holiday stress or tiredness
We do the planning, booking and organising – you just travel along
Because travelling by train is ‘lekker’!

When last did you listen to the ‘click-clack’ sound of the train’s wheels on the iron track? When last did you taste the sumptuous ‘Railway’ meals ?
When was the last time you slept on a train…or experienced the peace of the Karoo while watching the sunset and the kilometers rolling by?

JB Train Tours relives these experiences on different train tours to various destinations in Southern Africa. Some of these trips are exclusive to our passengers on tour, whilst the safety and security of our passengers are always major issues to us.

We host ‘budget’ and ‘upmarket’ train tours.

Please visit upmarket for more information on the upmarket tours, or contact our offices.

The pace of our train tours is slow and convenient, thus all ages would be able to enjoy it. We don’t rush from Point A to Point B, but we still visit all the places worthwhile seeing. You will discover interesting places you’ve never heard of before!

Lately train holidays have become one of the most affordable and comfortable ways of travelling. We organise it and you sit back, relax and enjoy. No more holiday planning, looking for the best accommodation, driving long distances, getting lost, petrol & toll gate increases, eating poor food, worrying about safety and all these nibbling issues. We’ll add value to your life in a pleasant, relaxing and safe way.

Southern Africa still has so much to offer and we want to show it to you. See our country from a different point of view. We go where cars normally don’t and can’t go.

JB Train Tours used to offer chartered train tours, for quite a number of years, from Gauteng (Pretoria and Johannesburg) to various destinations across Southern Africa.

On June 1st, 2006, Spoornet announced that no more Charter trains would run from 1 January 2007. Hence, we had to look for and find alternative means of taking our passengers to their holiday destinations. We have succeeded in doing so by organising some new tours and maintained some of our long-standing tours. The main difference now are that once we have arrived at our destination, we sleep off the train & we travel on scheduled Shosholoza Meyl trains.

Our Company now utilises Shosholoza Meyl’s (the company & train service provider) Tourist Class trains. I.e.: The Trans Karoo, Trans Orange & Algoa, as well as the upmarket Premier Classe & historical Shongololo Express trains. Note: The Trans Natal Tourist Class train has been permanently withdrawn from service between Jo’burg and Durban on 1st August 2010.

We invite you to travel with us and would like to welcome you on board. You would most likely feel like a stranger when you board the train but when you get off you will be part of the “bigger train family”.

General Information – Questions and Answers:

This generic document gives you general information about the train, the tours, as well as all the arrangements made. Each tours has got its’ unique atmosphere, qualities, highlights, fun and experiences. There is a detailed Tour Information Document of each tour available. We will gladly make it available to you on request.
 
Who may travel along? Any person who loves a train trip and holiday, who wants to travel safely, loves tasty food, doesn’t want to drive long distances anymore or get lost and wants to explore new destinations. A Train Holiday is a joyful and fun filled  experience. Book NOW to reserve your place on a tour.

Dates:

Each tour has its own unique date. Please see the Year Programme and Tour Information Documents.

Times:

The various tours depart at different times. Please see the relevant Tour Information Document.

Running Times & Routes:

Shosholoza Meyl schedules the running times of the trains. JB Train Tours cannot be held liable for any delays due to trains not running to schedule. Off-train excursions cannot be guaranteed and will only be undertaken if time and circumstances permit. Departure and arrival times are approximate and cannot be guaranteed. We reserve the right to alter our routing at any time between departure and arrival points.           

Accommodation:

You sleep on the train whilst travelling – unless otherwise advertised in the Info Doc. It is provided in a 4-bed Compartment or 2-bed Coupe. You determine how many passengers per compartment, according to the price structure per person.

We accommodate our budget tour passengers in upmarket hotels & lodges, as well as hostels, guest houses and B&B’s.

Compartment:

A Compartment consists of 4 bunker beds (sorry, no double beds available), a basin, storage space for your luggage, a convertable table, hanging and packing space for clothes.

Coupe:

A Coupe exists of 2 bunker beds (the one bed above the other). The rest is the same as for a compartment.

Bedding:

Shosholoza Meyl provides sufficient bedding (blankets, sheets, & pillows) on the train. See the relevant tour’s Info Doc.

Please bring your own towel & an extra blanket in winter. It can get VERY cold on a train.

Meals:

Meals are included as per the relevant tour’s Information Document. Enjoy a glass of wine with your meal in the air-conditioned dining car or lounge. We receive many favourable compliments for the meals served on our tours.

If there is no dining car on the train, it would be replaced by a lounge car with bar facility.

Location of major train stations:

Johannesburg
Durban
Cape Town
Bloemfontein
Kimberley		 Rissik Street, CBD
Masabalala Yengwa Ave (ex NMR Road)
Adderley Street
End of St Andrews Street
Florence Rd, off Old De Beers Rd

You are welcome to contact us for directions.

Passenger trains running South (to Cape Town or PE) or East (to Durban) do not depart from Pretoria anymore as from 1st July 2006.

Parking at Johannesburg station:

Covered parking at the station at +-R25 per night per vehicle. The entrance is corner of Leyds & Loveday Streets, close to the Rotunda building. GPS: S 26° 11.755’ E 28° 02.404’

Open air parking and drop off at Rissik Street parking at station. GPS: 26° 11.785’  E 28° 02.462’

As from July 2006, the Trans Karoo train does NOT depart from Pretoria anymore. Special bus transport by a sub-contractor is available between Pretoria (Manhattan Hotel) and Johannesburg station at R160 per person per one-way trip. Please book with us.

Parking at Durban station:

Open air parking at the station at no charge. Entry to the Station & Platform is off Masabalala Yengwa Ave (previously NMR Road) into Jelf Taylor Street, up the ramp, turn left at the top and right after 50 meters. Main entrance (glass doors) is in front of you. GPS: S 29° 50.748’ E 31° 01.388’

Transport to the station:

JB Train Tours does not organise transport for individuals to the station but we can help you to arrange it. Please contact us. No group is too big or too small.

Tour price:

Please see the relevant tour’s Tour Information Document.

Discount:

Group bookings are welcome. Discount is applicable for group bookings of 20 and more passengers on certain tours.

Free Pass Holders:

As from 22nd May 2009, ex & retired Spoornet & TFR employees may NOT use their Free Pass vouchers on JB Train Tours’ anymore. There was a tax directive from SARS on it.

Reservation Form:

Please complete the attached Reservation Form, in full, (your e-mail address is very helpful) and reserve your place on an unforgettable train tour. Remember to post or fax your bank deposit slip with the Reservation Form.

NB!!                Write your Initials, Surname and tour number at Ref./Verw. on the Bank deposit slip before you deposit the money.
                       
                        Example of Bank Deposit Slip:

A J   B O T H A         K K 1

Both the Reservation Form and Bank Deposit Slip must be faxed or posted to us.

Deposit:

A Non-refundable deposit of R500 per person (all budget tours) or more (all budget tours where flights are involved – see relevant Info Doc) is payable when you make a booking. The balance must be paid by the latest six weeks before the tour departs.

A Non-refundable deposit of R1000 per person (all upmarket tours) or more (all budget tours where flights are involved – see relevant Info Doc) is payable when you make a booking. The balance must be paid by the latest six weeks before the tour departs.

Note!!             Your booking will be cancelled automatically without further communication if your balance is not paid on time. Normally latest six weeks before departure date.

Our Banking details:

See at the bottom of the Reservation Form.

Confirmation:

Your tour booking will be confirmed in writing by us once your money deposited reflects in our bank account. If you have not received it within a week, please enquire with us.

Cancellation of tour:

If the tour should be cancelled for whatever reason by JB Train Tours, prior to departure of the tour, your booking fees paid will be refunded. You are allowed to cancel, in writing, up to six weeks before the tour departs. (See ‘Deposit’ above). Thereafter you are responsible for the full outstanding amount. Remember, the deposit is not refundable.

Insurance:

As a rule we highly recommend our passengers to arrange comprehensive travel insurance once booked for a tour to cover all possible losses, injuries, cancellations, etc.*

* JB Train Tours shall not be held responsible for damage to, or loss or theft of personal luggage and belongings, nor can we be liable for personal injury, accident, illness or death. JB Train Tours will also not be responsible for refunds for instances where circumstances beyond its control lead to an interruption, earlier termination, change in transport mode or cancellation of any particular trip. Such circumstances shall include, but not be limited to instances of vis major/force majeure and/or casus fortuitus (acts of God such as floods and other natural disasters, fortuitous and unforeseen events, etc.) nor strikes. We strongly urge you to adequately cover for any eventualities with your insurance agent. We recommend that you also purchase a "trip cancellation" protection insurance to cover yourself in the unlikely event of a late cancellation or loss.

On the train:

An air conditioned dining car with sit-down meals and/or a lounge, tuck shop and bar, showers, two toilets per carriage, electrical points (only at certain places) for hair dryers and cell phones, fresh drinking water in the passage. Ice is very limited on the train. Please bring your own.

Smoking on the train: Not allowed.

Medical:

Please take your own medication and Medical Aid Card.

Any first aid or medical treatment provided by the Company at its expense to any Traveller, shall be discretionary and on a compassionate basis. Under no circumstances shall the provision of such treatment be tantamount to an admission of liability by the Company for any injury sustained by the Traveller.

Boarding & Disembarking:

You may board at “virtually any place en route”. Please indicate accordingly on the Reservation Form.

Transport at destination:

Bus transport is provided where applicable as per the relevant Info Doc. In some cases we make use of public transport. I.e.: At the KKNK, Innibos, etc.

Bus Transport:

When we make use of bus transport (i.e. Excursions and day trips), we make use of reliable and credible bus companies with good safety records and proper support systems.

Tour Guides:

We make use of qualified tour guides. They all add value to your train tour experience.

Should the Company appoint a tour guide in respect of any tour, then the Traveller shall be obliged to comply with all reasonable instructions of such tour guide.

Travel along:

Every tour is an experience and with a train it’s even better. It’s not a tour for moaners, whiners or people complaining about ‘nothing’, but for those people who love to mingle, who want to make new friends, who want to travel comfortably and who enjoy life.

Not allowed on the train:

Firearms, pets, Hi-Fi’s, radio’s, TV, long faces, house troubles, whiners and ‘moaners’.

To take with:

Each person has his/her own needs, but we do recommend you take with you: a towel, magazines, sweets, shower sandles, camera, a big smile and friendliness.

Luggage:

You are allowed to take one suitcase per person plus one hand-luggage item. Weight NOT to exceed 20kg. Each passenger must be able to handle, carry or pull his/her own luggage.

Porters:

The availability of porters at stations is limited. Many stations do NOT render such a service anymore. If a porter is used, it is custom to tip R5 per item being carried or transported.

Note:

The porter carrying your luggage from your car into the station is NOT allowed onto the platform. A different porter will take over the duties. You then have to tip both porters.

Tips/gratuities on tour:

It is custom to tip if you are satisfied with services rendered. This could be done individually (I.e.: When served by a waiter) or at the end of a tour (I.e.:  Tour guide or bus driver).

Passports:

You do need your passport when you travel abroad (Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Swaziland, etc.). If you are not a South African citizen, please find out if you need a visa and get one in time.

Cell phones:

Cell phones can be used on the train and reception is available on most routes. When you travel abroad you’ll need ‘International Roaming’.

Closing date:

As soon as the tour is fully booked. We recommend you book NOW

Security:

There is security staff on the train.

Safety:

JB Train Tours and Shosholoza Meyl will do their utmost to offer you a safe train tour. Traveling by holiday train is after all currently the safest way to travel in South Africa.

Pregnant Passengers:

"Shosholoza Meyl takes no responsibility for pregnant female passengers whilst traveling on Shosholoza Meyl trains. Women more than 6 months pregnant, may not travel on a Shosholoza Meyl train, unless in possession of a doctor’s certificate declaring her fit to do so.

Where a pregnant female passenger does travel on a Shosholoza Meyl train this will be at her own risk." (Sho Meyl Sales and Reservation Policy, Version 2.1,  30 Nov 06)

Unruly passengers:

The Company reserves the right to terminate the tour of any Traveller who wrongfully or unlawfully fails to adhere to the reasonable instructions of an appointed tour guide and / or causes any wrongful disruption, disturbance or nuisance to any other traveller, tour group or service provider.

BONA FIDES - JB TRAIN TOURS (Since 1975)

Due to the recent number of mal practices & unethical actions committed by certain so-called Train Tour Operators in South Africa, we are more than willing to share with you the contact details of some of our regular and big service providers. You are welcome to contact any or all of them regarding our company’s bona fides, existence and services rendered over the years.

Elwierda Buses Mr. Piet Uys Ops. manager Tel: 021 418 4673
Shosholoza Meyl  Mr. Poena Pretorius Accountant  Tel: 011 773 7551
The Fountains Hotel Ms. Manja Jaspers Marketing Director Tel: 021 443 1100

Enquiries:

Contact our offices at JB Train Tours at Tel: 0861 JBTOURS or 0861 52 86 87 or 011 913 2442, or E-mail them at info@jbtours.co.za or Fax them at 086 687 7344 or 011 913 0552

Note:

We have scheduled and hosted a variety of train and other tours during 2010, of which the majority was fully booked. We’ve added a few new train tours for 2011. I.e.: Garden Route train tour from Cape Town; Motorbike-on-Train tour from Durban to the Western Cape and Boland; Kruger National Park departing from Port Elizabeth; Jo’burg to Port Elizabeth, various Premier Classe tours from Jo’burg to Durban – come and travel with us.

Note:        Don’t change/cancel your holiday – change your way of going on holiday! Travel with JB Train Tours. It is Comfortable, Affordable, Safe, Fun & Nostalgic.

"When you travel, remember that a foreign country is not designed to make you comfortable. It is designed to make its own people comfortable." - Clifton Fadiman

Travel greetings

Johan Badenhorst &
The JB Train Tours Team