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Dear
Subscriber
NOVEMBER 2009 - NEWSLETTER / NUUSBRIEF
| VAKATURE by JB TRAIN TOURS |
| Baie dankie vir al die aansoeke en navrae (53 in totaal) wat ons ontvang het vir die vakante pos by JB Train Tours. Daar sal binnekort ‘n aanstelling gemaak word. |
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| ANOTHER ‘THANK YOU’ LETTER |
| We’ve published in last month’s JB TT Newsletter an extract from a ‘thank you’ letter we received from Singapore. As mentioned we regularly receive numerous similar letters from grateful travelers and we really appreciate it, and we don’t intend publishing all of it(!), but following is a neatly handwritten letter we’ve received by post and we just had to publish it. (The writers name is withheld, although she won’t be able to read this Newsletter because she doesn’t have access to internet):
“Dear Sirs,
Having recently returned from Namaqualand on your 2009 Flowers and West Coast Train Tours, I felt I must congratulate you on a very well organised tour.
I found your tour guide Kobus made the trip, very knowledgeable, smiling, full of jokes – what a star. The trip through the Karoo was a bit long – no fault of yours, and the daisies let us down, again no fault of yours.
Please continue sending me brochures of future tours, and if my finances stand it, I shall most definitely be on another trip. As most of the people on the train were from Durban and only me from PMB I intend advertising your trip to people from Maritzburg. I am almost 80 years old – age is no barrier on this trip.
Kind regards” Signed |
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| WAAR KOM DIE MENSE VANDAAN? |
| Ons kry dikwels die vraag: “Waar kom jul passasiers vandaan?”. M.a.w. Waar woon hulle?
Om vir ons lesers net ‘n aanduiding te gee, het ons die name van die dorpe gelys van waar die November 2009 se ‘7 Provinsies & 3 Treine’ se passasiers vandaan kom.
Hulle kom vanaf: Witbank, Jeffreysbaai, Boshoek (naby Rustenburg), Garsfontein (Pretoria), Kriel, Kempton Park, Margate, Northam (naby Thabazimbi), Durban, Swartklip, van der Bijlpark, Vereeniging, Edenvale, Bedfordview, Bloemfontein, Johannesburg, Reitz, Worcester, Hartenbos, Kraaifontein, Klein Brakrivier, Lutzville & Sun Valley (Kaapstad).
Dit is omtrent wyd verspreid oor die land! Hierdie passasiers sluit by die toer aan by die naaste stasie aan hul woonplek en klim weer 8 dae later daar af. Almal doen derhalwe presies dieselfde roete oor dieselfde tydperk.
To add to the above, we’ve looked at one of the 8 train tours to be hosted from Jo’burg to Cape Town in December 2009 and the passengers come from: Sibasa, Lwamondo, Thoyoyandou, Shosanguve, Rosslyn, Welkom, Katlehong, Vereeniging, Modimole (Nylstroom), Masoleng, Sebokeng, Dube, White River, Springs, Mmabatho, Diepkloof, Krugersdorp, Randburg, Pretoria, Benoni and many more! |
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| TICKETS ONLY – PREMIER CLASSE TRAINS |
| The article in the October 2009 Newsletter, about JB Train Tours selling ‘tickets only’ as well on the luxurious Premier Classe train, created a lot of interest from many readers. These trains have become VERY popular in recent years and passengers who have traveled on them have commented very favourably about the good food, neat environment and friendly on-board services.
The luxurious Premier Classe train currently runs on four (4) routes in South Africa in both directions. I.e.:
Jo’burg to Cape Town – twice per week
Jo’burg to Durban – twice per week
Jo’burg to Hoedspruit – once per week
Cape Town to PE (via George & Oudtshoorn) – once per week
If you would like to travel on your own on one of these trains (not being part of an organised tour), you may book your tickets through JB Train Tours as well. No extra charges or costs are involved. Contact Jolene at our offices at 011 913 2442 or e-mail jolene@jbtours.co.za for prices and more details. Visit our website for more pictures (360°) of the inside of the train: Upmarket Gallery
The Premier Classe train |
The bar counter |
The lounge car |
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Some more info on the Premier Classe train is that it will only run on the JHB to CPT route from 1st June to 31st July 2010 (World Soccer tournament period) and NOT on the Hoedspruit, Durban or PE routes). |
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| TRAIN DELAYS - ALL TRAINS |
| It DOES happen, unfortunately, that trains are delayed en route. (Just like aeroplanes, buses, cars, taxi’s, etc.) This result in passengers arriving late at their destinations; passengers getting irritated and more time is spent on the train than planned. However, when a train (or trains) is delayed, Shosholoza Meyl and all their partners and service providers do their utmost to get everything back to normal as quickly as possible. No person ON the train can make the train go faster if there are technical problems. NOT the Train Manager, NOT the waiter in the dining car, NOT the tour operator and NOT the train driver. One just has to wait until everything has been addressed and solved by the off-board technical staff coming from afar.
Cable theft next to railway lines is probably the biggest reason for trains running late. If cables are stolen it means that the signal system doesn’t work, resulting in ‘a red robot situation’ for the train. I.e.: The train has to stop at every signal post and get permission telephonically to proceed.
Note: During the launch of Transport Month (October) it was announced that 190 diesel locomotives would be on standby during the 2010 Soccer World Cup Tournament in South Africa for in case electrical or mechanical failures do occur. (Why only then? – Ed.) |
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| TOY RUN in NOVEMBER – COUNTRY WIDE |
| The annual ‘Toy Run’ will be hosted again on Sunday 29th November 2009 in several places in different regions in South Africa. The main purpose is for bikers to get together, ride together and to donate a toy to less preveledged children.
In 2008 some 55000 bikers departed from different venues and drove to a gathering place in their area, dropping the toy at a collection point. Afterwards fun and music was the order of the day.
The 2009 Gauteng Toy Run will depart from many different venues (I.e.: Pretoria, East Rand, West Rand, Centurion, etc.) in the morning at about 09:00 and all bikes will proceed in convoy to the MTN Expo Centre at Nasrec. Hence, if you are on the road that morning somewhere in Gauteng, expect to see 1000’s of bikes roaring past.
JB Train Tours will be hosting a stall at the Expo, promoting their ‘Motorbike-on-Train’ tours BUT making a contribution to welfare as well. A competition will be run where any person can win a trip on one of the ‘Motorbike-on-Train’ tours to be hosted in 2010. If you’re reading this article and you are going to the Gauteng Toy Run, please pop in at our stall and say ‘hello’!
Bikes at previous Toy Run |
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| PLEASE FAX PROOF OF PAYMENT |
| Many people send their Reservation Forms (Booking Forms) to us to book on one of the train tours but they forget to fax the Proof of Payment to us. Without the latter we can’t send you the Final Confirmation Letter AND you won’t be booked on a tour. Please make sure that you’ve sent it to us. We currently have a lot of money in our bank account and we don’t know who sent it for which tour! |
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| FEEDBACK on TOURS – October 2009 |
| Kruger National Park CPT – Cape Town to Lowveld & KNP The KNP is always worthwhile visiting, whilst the Lowveld and Panorama route added some spice to the trip. The unexpected heat in the Lowveld forwarded some new challenges to everyone on board.
7 Provinces & 3 Trains – Circular route through South Africa Boarding in Jo’burg (or en route) in the evening, breakfast in Durban, lunch on the train (near Bloemfontein) the next day, breakfast in Cape Town the following day, dinner at Beaufort West (on the train) the next day and another two nights in Gauteng – it sounds like a ‘jet setter’s life’ but it is part and parcel of this 7-day round robin tour through South Africa. We had passenger pick-up points at 12 cities and towns on this tour.
Motorbike-on-Train Tour – Jo’burg to Western Cape & Boland It was the last ‘bike tour’ for the year and 36 bikers plus pillions enjoyed the trip. Due to the huge numbers of bikes, the tour group was sub-divided into two smaller groups, each with its own leader and sweeper. The Western Cape & Boland was in its splendid beauty after the winter rains. Note: A newly wedded couple (married on Saturday and on tour on Sunday) traveled with us as well.
Pas getroud & op toer – Benitha & Jaco Joubert van Middelburg
Huisgenoot Skouspel – Vanaf verskeie plekke in SA Die 2010 HG Skouspel, wat sy 10de bestaansjaar herdenk het en in die Superbowl by Sun City plaasgevind het, was weer heerlik, vol lewe, goeie musiek en lekker om by te woon. Heelwat meer Kapenaars het vanjaar ‘ingevlieg’ om die naweek saam te kuier.
Northwest University to CPT (Private Tour) – Jo’burg to Cape Town - A group of students from the Northwest University campus in Mafikeng traveled by train from JHB to CPT, visited various destinations in the Cape and flew back after 6 days.
Vic Falls to Jo’burg via Zambia, Botswana, Mozambique & Swaziland – This 15-day tour is currently in progress, visiting all the popular tourist destinations in the neighbouring countries. I.e.: Vic Falls, Livingstone (in Zambia), Chobe (in Botswana), Hwange Game Reserve, Matobo’s, Bulawayo and the Zimbabwe national monument (ex Zim ruines), Maputo (in Moz), the Valley in Swaziland and the KNP & Lowveld in SA.
Harley Davidsons (motorbikes) – Cape Town to Jo’burg – This group of HD owners had a good trip on the Premier Classe train after attending a rally at paternoster in the Western Cape.
Durban stylish weekend – Jo’burg to Durban – It was a good break-away weekend for a couple of friends who visited the Holiday City. |
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| UPCOMING TRAIN TOURS in 2009 |
| Budget Tours Upmarket Tours
November 2009 TOURS
7 Provinces & 3 Trains – Circular route through South Africa If you like traveling by train and you want to experience three of the oldest scheduled train trips in South Africa, this tour is for you. Ride on the Trans Natal, Trans Orange and Trans Karoo Tourist trains, joining along the route closest to your home and disembark again 8 days later at the same station. 5 - 17 Nov 2009 R 3990 pp Fully booked
Cherry Festival – Pretoria & Jo’burg to Clarens & Ficksburg Bus tour to visit the Cherry Festival, Clarens, Fouriesburg, Golden Gate and beautiful mountainous Eastern Free State. 20 – 22 Nov 2009. 4 Spaces available. R2350 pp More info
Durban stylish weekend – Jo’burg to Durban – Travel on the Premier Classe (return trip) and sleep one night in a hotel in Durban. 6 – 9 Nov 2009 R2995 pp Fully booked
Cape Town stylish weekend – Jo’burg to Cape Town – A well known company’s centenary celebrations. They’ve booked the whole Premier Classe train, sleep one night in a hotel in Stellenbosch & fly back. 12 – 14 Nov 2009 Private tour
Cape Town stylish weekend – Jo’burg to Cape Town – Travel on the Premier Classe, sleep two nights in a hotel in CPT & fly back. 19 – 22 Nov 2009 R5700 pp More info
December 2009 TOURS
Cape Town - Jo’burg to Cape Town These 7-day tours, hosted during the December holiday period, are very popular and every year fully booked well in advance. Visit the Mother City and pay a visit to Robben Island, Table Mountain, Cape Point, ‘Groot Constantia’ Wine Estate, the Castle of Good Hope, Hout Bay and much more. Various dates.Six of the 8 tours scheduled for December are already fully booked. Only space left on the 29th Nov to 5th Dec and 6th to 12th Dec 2009 tours. R3950 pp More info
Cape Town - Durban to Cape Town These 8-day tours, hosted during the December holiday period, are very popular and every year fully booked well in advance. Visit the Mother City and pay a visit to Robben Island, Table Mountain, Cape Point, ‘Groot Constantia’ Wine Estate, the Castle of Good Hope, Hout Bay and much more. Get your details from us now. Only three tours. R3700 pp More info
Durban & South Coast - Jo’burg to Durban A 4-day tour, hosted during the December holiday period, traveling on the Trans Natal Tourist train to the sea and returning on the luxurious Premier Classe train. 2 Nights at a holiday resort on the South Coast of KZN. 3 – 7 Dec 2009. Fully booked
Note: It’s always better to book early to avoid disappointment. Complete the Booking Form for the tour of your choice NOW, pay your deposit and your place is secured.
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 |
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| 2010 YEAR PROGRAMME |
| Click Here
Notes:
Bookings on the 2010 Argus Cycle race train tour from Jo’burg to Cape Town in March 2010 are pouring in. Entries for the cycle race have opened in September. Visit http://www.cycletour.co.za for more info on the race. If you would like to tour along, book NOW. Various cycle clubs have enquired and done their train tour bookings already. This train tour is fully booked every year. Passengers overnight in a top hotel in Cape Town close to the starting line. More info
Die besprekings vir beide die twee treintoere vanaf Johannesburg na die KKNK in Oudtshoorn in April 2010, vorder ook fluks. Bespreek NOU. Meer inligting
Entries for the 2010 Two Oceans marathon (56 km & 21.1 km) open on 1st November 2009. Visit www.twooceansmarathon.org.za Bookings for the train trip over the Easter weekend from Jo’burg to Cape Town to this marathon have opened already. Overnight in CPT in a top hotel. More info
Regards/Groete
Johan Badenhorst
& the Team
JB Train Tours (Since 1975)
P.S. We host train tours to various destinations, sporting events and occasions in Southern Africa |
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