The article in the October 2010 Newsletter lead to several enquiries from concerned travellers about the future of train tours in South Africa. We at JB Train Tours are still very enthusiastic about Rail Tourism, but whether Shosholoza Meyl shares this view is doubtful. Not only Rail Tourism, but the running of long distance trains, is in jeopardy.

The contradictive statements made and the lack of information supplied by Shosholoza Meyl, make it virtually impossible to plan for the future. A recent press release stated that "trains are running normal again', but if one goes to any station there is no Tourist Class train ticket to be bought nor any train! Recently a senior manager at Shosholoza Meyl informed us that NO Tourist Class train will run for the rest of 2010 - including during the peak period. After we've changed all eleven of our December 2010 train tours from Jo'burg to Cape Town to luxury coach tours, affecting about 1300 people, the same manager denied that he ever said it!! (No, they did not put anything in writing).

Currently our company is playing a 'wait and see' game. JB Train Tours is Shosholoza Meyl's biggest client, booking annually the most number of passengers on their trains, but we are not treated accordingly. All this is affecting YOU, the client, because we can't communicate correct up-to-date information to you.

However, we are STILL committed to Rail Tourism and we trust that the authorities will get their act together and serve the country as a whole - very soon. The good news is that the Premier Classe train between Jo'burg and Cape Town is still running regularly.

It seems that we have helped many 'red faced' grooms-to-be with our new Honeymoon-by-Train tour packages from Jo'burg to Cape Town (and vice versa). The response was VERY positive and quite a number of newly weds will travel soon on the Premier Classe train on either the very affordable 4-, 7- or 8-day packages. See below more info about these packages.

Did your honeymoon plans fall flat? Are you in dire straits about what to do now? Have you run out of ideas? Out of pocket? JB Train Tours host very affordable week-long (and shorter) packages by luxurious Premier Classe train and upmarket accommodation in Cape Town and Johannesburg. See our packages below for Nov & Dec 2010. Or contact Jolene at our offices NOW!

Note: Fortunately the Premier Classe train still runs twice per week between Jo'burg and Cape Town. All three the other Premier Classe routes (JHB to DBN, JHB to Hoedspruit & CPT to PE) have been suspended permanently.

Looking for honeymoon ideas in South Africa with a difference? Yet affordable and classy. Travel with us on the upmarket Premier Classe train.

JB Train Tours offers 3 different Honeymoon train tour packages - couples can choose according to their needs and budget available.

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

More info about one of our Upmarket Honeymoon/Anniversary train tour Package #1:

Cape Town Stylish HONEYMOON & ANNIVERSARY holiday – from JHB
4-Day Train & Flight Tour Package

Included in package:

• One way overnight train trip from JHB to CPT on the upmarket Premier Classe train
• All meals (5-course dinner, breakfast, lunch & high teas) and use of bedding and towels on the train
• Two nights B&B in a 4-star hotel (The Fountains Hotel www.fountainshotel.co.za or the Strand Towers Hotel http://www.strandtowerhotel.co.za or a similar hotel)
• One dinner in CPT at the Hotel
• One hop-on-hop-off 1-day ticket with www.citysightseeing.co.za
• Transport between hotel and CPT Airport
• One way economy class flight from CPT to JHB
• 1 FREE bottle of wine per couple

From R4 599 pp (R9 198/couple)

Neil Diamond (singer, performer, icon, idol and world star) is coming to South Africa in April 2011 to host 4 shows in 4 different cities: JHB, DBN, PE & CPT. JB Train Tours will be hosting again 'all inclusive' bus tour packages from Pretoria, Centurion & East Rand (various departure points) to the FNB stadium in Jo'burg on Saturday 2nd April 2011. The show is sold out & starts at 20:00. Our stadium tickets are in Block 142 (See stadium plan below)

http://www.computicket.com/web/event/neil_diamond/247030847/0/19579447

Book your places now for this once off event. Companies or groups can book a whole bus (44 places) and you will be collected at your place of departure (in Gauteng). Only R899 per person.

Note:    A company from Vereeniging has already booked a whole bus. They treat this trip as one of their annual excursions.

• That entries for the 2011 Comrades marathon have opened on 1st of September 2010. Visit www.comrades.co.za for more info. The number of entries will be limited to 18000 and the closing date is the 30th November 2010. We are again hosting bus tours from PTA & Jo’burg to DBN for the ‘up’ run. More info Luxury Bus or More info Semi-luxury bus
• That we will be at the Bridal Africa Expo on the weekend of Friday 6th & Saturday 7th November 2010. JB Train Tours will have a stand at the annual Expo. Visit us at Stall # H9, Exhibition Hall # 2 in the Sandton Convention Centre. Come and ask all your questions about our train tours and meet Jolene in person.

TWO OCEANS MARATHON 2011 - ENTRIES OPEN 1 NOVEMBER

We open entries on Monday 1 November and are extremely excited about all on offer for the 2011 event. This year (2010) over 27 000 participants took part in the various distances including the fun runs, making it the biggest running event in Africa. Our flagship race, the ultra marathon, attracted 9 000 competitors, while the half marathon saw 11 700 runners take part – a limited field in the interests of runner safety as per advice from the City's Disaster Management team, but it still remains the biggest half marathon in Africa. Entries had to close off four weeks prior to the scheduled closing date, which meant that we turned away about 3 000 disappointed runners. Remember to enter early, particularly for the half marathon, to avoid missing out.  http://www.twooceansmarathon.org.za See our Ad on their website

As for the past 10 years, the annual Two Oceans train tour will be running over the Easter Weekend from Jo'burg to Cape Town for runners and supporters to be able to attend this momentous occasion on the running calendar. More info See our Ad on their website as well as on the Entry Form.

Baie van ons lesers het altemit al die paradoks gehoor van 'n lemoen wat in twee helftes gesny word. Dit word dan vir twee verskillende mense gegee. Die een persoon sê dat dit 'n heerlike sappige en soet lemoen is, terwyl die ander een sê dit is suur en droërig!

So gaan dit ook met ons toere. Sommige mense beskryf 'n toer as' fantasties, lekker, goed georganiseerd, uitstekende gids, smaaklike kos, ens.' terwyl 'n ander persoon op dieselfde toer weer net die teenoorgestelde sal sê. Hieronder is twee voorbeelde van e-posse wat ons ontvang het van twee toergangers wat op dieselfde bus na vanjaar se Huisgenoot Skouspel by Sun City gereis het.

Die ou vraag is weer: "Hoe kan ons elke persoon al die tyd tevrede stel?!" Feit is, ons maatskappy doen ons bes om die meerderheid mense se reisbehoeftes die meerderheid van die tyd te help bevredig.

"Hi daar,

Ons was gister die eerste keer na Skouspul met jul busdiens. Dit was onverbeterlik, gids en busbestuurder ingesluit. Alles was seepglad gereël, en dit was ‘n onvergeetlike dag.

Baie dankie daavoor."

EN

"Geagte JB Train Tours

Wat ons gedink het 'n heerlike uitstappie sou wees, was toe nie. Die busrit vanaf Pretoria na Sun City was te lank, die musiek in die Superbowl te hard en die vertoning futloos. Ons sou ook verkies het om heel voor in die saal te sit.

Julle sien ons nie weer nie."

This 4-day package is a romantic & AFFORDABLE way to treat your loved one on a Valentine’s weekend!

Go and spend your Valentines weekend in one of the MUST SEE places in South Africa, Cape Town – the Mother City.

Included in the tour package:

• One way overnight train trip from JHB to CPT on the upmarket Premier Classe train
• All meals (5-course dinner, breakfast, lunch & high teas) and use of bedding and towels on the train
• Two nights B&B in a 4-star hotel (The Fountains Hotel www.fountainshotel.co.za or the Strand Towers Hotel http://www.strandtowerhotel.co.za or a similar hotel)
  
• One dinner in CPT at the Hotel
• One hop-on-hop-off 1-day ticket with topless bus www.citysightseeing.co.za
• Transport between hotel and CPT Airport
• One way economy class flight from CPT to JHB
• 1 FREE bottle of wine per couple!

This 2-day package is a romantic & AFFORDABLE way to treat your loved one on a Valentine’s weekend!

Included in the tour package:

• One way overnight train trip from JHB to CPT on the upmarket Premier Classe train
• All meals (5-course dinner, breakfast, lunch & high teas) and use of bedding and towels on the train
• Transport between station and CPT Airport
• One way economy class flight from CPT to JHB
• 1 FREE bottle of wine per couple!

Limited spaces available – BOOK now with jolene@jbtours.co.za.

This 2-day package is a romantic & AFFORDABLE way to treat your loved one on a Valentine’s weekend!

Included in the tour package:

• One way overnight train trip from CPT - JHB on the upmarket Premier Classe train
• All meals (lunch, 5-course dinner, breakfast & high teas) and use of bedding and towels on the train
• Transport between station and JHB Airport
• One way economy class flight from JHB - CPT
• 1 FREE bottle of wine per couple!

October 2010 TRAIN TOURS

Budget Tours:

Upmarket Tours:

November 2010 TRAIN TOURS

Budget Tours:

Note:     Any person who is interested in traveling to Cape Town may book on the above Cape Town Stylish train tours.

December 2010 TRAIN TOURS

Budget Tours:

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