Make the best of 2011 and live your dreams. Geniet 2011 met oorgawe – ons bly in ‘n pragtige land.

Whilst the majority of our readers had either a peaceful or exciting Festive Season during the past month, we had the opportunity to take ‘close to a thousand’ (1000) people on holiday AND booked more than 400 people on upcoming train tours during the course of the coming year! Whether it was for a tour to Namibia, the KKNK in Oudtshoorn, the Argus Cycle Race, Two Oceans marathon or Jazz Festival in Cape Town, we did it!

It seems that many of our readers have used their December holiday bonuses to book on a 2011 train trip, whilst other just made sure that they didn’t miss out on any of these popular tours.

We had some time rethink about the past year (considering the 3 weeks Transnet strike in May 2010 as well as the suspension of long distance trains from mid August to mid December 2010) - about 5 months of no trains running! However, we were blessed and received lots of goodwill and grace from Above. And we are VERY thankful.

THANKS to ALL our loyal patrons – new and repetitive. We are looking forward to another exciting year with new tours and new challenges

BAIE dankie aan elkeen wat in 2010 saam met JB Train Tours gereis het.

During December we’ve paid a visit to Baviaanskloof in the Eastern Cape and 'The Hell’ (Gamkaskloof) in the Western Cape. We did a ‘recce’ for dual-purpose bikers who’d like to visit this magnificent area. More info on this Motorbike-on-Train tour to follow soon. (This tour will be hosted for ‘the normal man on the street’ who can ride a motorbike on good and sometimes challenging dirt roads).

Our Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour train tour from Jo’burg to Cape Town in March 2011 is filling up rapidly. Unfortunately we had to merge the two tours due to the fact that Shosholoza Meyl does not render a service any more departing on a Monday from Cape Town to Jo’burg. The only train tour now running will depart on Wednesday 9th March 2011 from JHB and depart again on Sunday 13th March 2011 at 18:30 from CPT to arrive the following evening (Monday) in JHB. This tour is almost fully booked. More info

The articles in our October, November & December 2010 Newsletters, about thesuspension of long distance passenger trains in South Africa for more than 3 months (12 Aug to end of Nov 2010) refer. The latest news is that the trains have started running again ‘as close as possible to normal’. ALL our scheduled tours for 2011 are going ahead and we are looking forward in welcoming you on board a train tour!

Die eerste inniBosveld Fees was in Februarie 2010 op Kurt Darren (bekende en gewilde sanger) se wildsplaas buite Naboomspruit aangebied. Die organiseerders het gehoop & vertrou dat daar 5000 mense sou opdaag. Daar daag toe wel bykans 18000 op! Dit het talle nuwe eise aan die organiseerders gestel en 2011 se fees wat oor 2 dae (18 & 19 Februarie) aangebied word, sal ietwat anders daar uitsien, PLUS al die tekortkominge van die 2010 Fees sal aangespreek word.

Ons maatskappy is weer versoek om die bustoere soontoe te reël en het onlangs weer op Kurt se plaas gaan kuier & vergader om ons van die nuutste logistieke reëlings te vergewis. Ons het een bus vir 2010 beplan & begroot en daar het toe ses (6) busse gery! Vir baie mense was dit die maklikste, veiligste, gerieflikste en lekkerste wyse om die Fees by te woon. Ons reël vir 2011 weer die bustoere soontoe.

JB Train Tours bied in 2011 ook drie verskillende naweek-buspakkette na die Fees toe aan. Die busse vertrek op Vrydagoggend 18 Feb 2011 vanaf Jo'burg lughawe (ORTIA) en reis oor Centurion en Pretoria na die onderskeie bestemmings in en buite Naboomspruit. Passasiers kan langs die roete (Centurion, Menlopark en Montana in Pretoria) ook opklim.

Die naweek-bustoerpakkette sluit retoer-busvervoer, 2 nagte akkommodasie, 2 etes per dag, toegang tot beide die Feesdae en 'n toergids in. Met die een toerpakket word in die skoolkoshuis op Naboomspruit oornag. Die tweede toerpakket maak voorsiening vir verblyf in luukse tente by Die Oog minerale bron, terwyl die derde pakket verblyf in chalets op 'n wildsplaas verseker. Al drie hierdie toer-opsies gaan heerlike kuiergeleenthede en waarde vir geld bied. Akkommodasie in die omgewing is MIN oor hierdie naweek. Meer inligting oor die 3 naweekpakkette.

Die dagtoer-buspakkette sal ook weer aangebied word. Daar word op Vrydag- en Saterdagoggende vanuit JHB & PTA vertrek. Kostes beloop vanaf R450 pp (Vrydag) en R500 pp (Saterdag). Meer inligting oor die dagpakkette.

'n Verdere nuwigheid is dat daar in 2011 op beide Feesdae 'n middag-voorprogram aangebied word waartydens minder-bekende kunstenaars sal optree. Diegene wat vroeg arriveer sal derhalwe ook ekstra kyk- en luistergenot ervaar.

Die kunstenaars wat gaan optree lyk soos die 'Who's who' van Afrikaanse musiek in SA. Besoek gerus ook die Fees webwerf byhttp://www.innibosveld.co.za/

VRYDAG: Kurt Darren met Thys die Bosveldklong, Jay (Eden), Lianie May, Ray Dylan, Rudi en Corlea, Bobby van Jaarsveld, Heinz Winckler, Snotkop, David Fourie & Pieter Koen.

Bobby

Lianie

Heinz

SATERDAG: Kurt Darren met Juanita Du Plessies, Arno Jordaan, Nicholis Louw, Broers, Kevin Leo, Mathys Roets, Emo Adams, Romanz, Jakkie Louw & Steve Hofmeyer.

Nicholis

Juanita

Steve

Diegene wat in 2010 dit bygewoon het, sal weer daar wees. Diegene wat dit misgeloop het, gaan in 2011 daar wees!

If you had problems getting through to our offices by telephone during the last couple of weeks, it was due to the heavy rain falls in our region, affecting the lines negatively. Sorry for this. When experiencing problems getting through, please use this number as well: 011 913 7863 or in case of emergency you may phone 082 920 6908.

Ever thought of going on honeymoon by train in South Africa? Since introducing this concept late last year, many newly wedded couples made use of this very affordable 4-day or 7-day tour packages on the upmarket Premier Classe train. Tours depart from Jo’burg, Durban and Cape Town respectively. More info Premier Classe train. Tours depart from Jo’burg, Durban and Cape Town respectively. More info

We'll be hosting nine (9) rugby train tours to Super 15 matches from February onwards this year. Trains will depart from Jo'burg, Cape Town and Durban. Return train trip, bedding and meals on the train, accommodation at destination, bus transport, rugby ticket and tour guide included in the package.

Hierdie pos is intussen gevul. Baie dankie aan elkeen wat aansoek gedoen het. Charl Roesch het op 1 Januarie 2011 diens aanvaar.

Spoil your loved one on the upmarket Premier Classe train and... win her/his heart forever!

These packages are romantic & a very AFFORDABLE way to treat your loved one on a Valentine’s weekend!

We’ll be hosting four tours: One from Jo’burg to Durban,two tours from Jo’burg to Cape Town and one from Cape Town to Jo’burg.

Valentine’s Day is on Monday 14 February 2011. We suggest you book NOW! In 2010 the spaces were sold out in a short space of time.

Enquire today with Jolene at jolene@jbtours.co.za – spaces very limited!

There are many good reasons why you are receiving this E-zine Newsletter. We would like YOU to benefit from it and to make use of it. Let’s share some of them with you:

• You would be the first to know when we run a ‘special offer’ on any tour
• You would know first what new tours are hosted
• We keep you updated about Rail Tourism in South Africa
• You are informed about one of the most affordable ways of going on holiday or on tour
• We share with you new places recently visited and possible new tours
• We confirm regularly with you that “we are alive and well. Come tour with us”
• We like ‘talking’ to you
• You are on the database of the biggest Rail Tourism operating company in Africa! Maybe in the world!

Budget Tours:

January 2011 TRAIN TOURS

Budget Tours:

No Tourist Class train tours to be hosted during this month.

Upmarket Tours:

Note: Link to 360 degree pictures of the interior of Premier Classe train

February 2011 TRAIN TOURS

Budget Tours:

Upmarket Tours:

Note: Link to 360 degree pictures of the interior of Premier Classe train

March 2011 TRAIN TOURS

Budget Tours:

Upmarket Tours:

Note: Link to 360 degree pictures of the interior of Premier Classe train

There are only two companies in Gauteng hosting day trips by train. This is ideal for families, companies, churches, clubs, etc. and especially for children who have never been on a train trip. Both these companies haul the train with a steam locomotive engine!

Pretoria area:             Friends of the Rail     Contact Mr. Arno Victor at Tel: 082 293 4616 or sales@friendsoftherail.com or visit their website athttp://www.friendsoftherail.com                     They travel mostly from Pretoria to Cullinan & Bela Bela..

Johannesburg area:   Reef Steamers           Contact Mr. Les Smith at Tel: 011 956-6409 or bookings@reefsteamers.co.za or visit their website athttp://www.reefsteamers.co.za     They travel mostly from Maraisburg to Magaliesburg.

KZN (Durban & PMB) area:            Umgeni Steam Rail                Contact Mr. Rob McGregor at Tel: 031 303 3003 or robbie@umgenisteamrailway.co.za or visit their website at http://www.umgenisteamrailway.co.za/. They travel mostly from Inchanga, Kloof & PMB.

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

Regards/Groete