There are actually twin Blue Trains; two identical carriage sets. One has been out of service while being refitted for its inaugural journey on September 26, 1997. The second, refurbished, Blue Train started it's first commercial trip from Pretoria to Cape Town on 5 October 1998!

Refurbishment of both sets has been effected at a capital figure of R70-million.

The Blue Train is owned by Transnet Limited, a South African public company in which the state is the only shareholder. A division of Transnet called Spoornet, which is in charge of South Africa's railway lines, operates The Blue Train.

A set of commemorative stamps on The Blue Train has been issued, one stamp for the overseas airmail rate and five for air postcard rate, which will also be available to buy on the train.

Hospitality planning consultants on the new Blue Train project included Trisha Wilson, chief executive officer of Wilson & Associates, a world renowned interior design company responsible for hotels such as the Grand Floridian in Disneyworld and The Palace of The Lost City at Sun City.

Ninety per cent of The Blue Train patrons are international visitors, divided into country of origin as follows:

Germany: 20%

Rest of Europe: 33%

Japan/Far East: 5%

Australia/New Zealand: 10%

USA: 17%

African continent: 24%

The Blue Train travels between Pretoria and Cape Town three times a week. It operates between Pretoria and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe once a month. Pretoria is The Blue Train's central departure station. From 1999 The Blue Train will also operate between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth once a month (Garden Route) and between Pretoria and Hoedspruit (Valley of the Olifants) once a month.

The Pretoria-Cape Town journey is 1 600 kilometers (994 miles) long; guests spend one night on the train.

The Pretoria-Victoria Falls journey is 1596 kilometers (991 miles) long; guests spend two nights on board.

The Cape Town-Port Elizabeth journey is 1068 kilometers (663 miles) long; guests spend two nights on board.

The Pretoria-Hoedspruit journey is 530 kilometers (329 miles) long; guests spend one night on board.

Over the next 25 years, the two new Blue Trains are expected to cover approximately 12 million kilometers (7,5-million miles).

The Blue Train travels up to a speed of 110 kilometers per hour (68 miles per hour).

The first new Blue Train accommodates 84 passengers, while the second accomodates 76.

The two new Blue Trains are 380 meters (416 yards) long and have 18 carriages.

From coupling to coupling the coaches are 21,168 metres (68 feet, 8 inches) long, 380 millimeters (I foot, 3 inches) longer than the standard stock.

The Blue Train coaches are 2,9 meters (9 feet, 5 inches) wide, 50 millimeters (2 inches) wider than the standard South African passenger train rolling stock. With thinner body sides, there is an interior gain of 88 millimeters (3,5 inches). This was invaluable to the interior designers who, given extremely confined spaces to work with, valued every extra millimeter.

The first new train has 11 guest coaches and the second 10. Each compartment has its own en-suite bathroom with either shower or bath. Two coaches with three compartments have bathrooms with tubs; the other nine coaches each have one compartment with a bath and three with showers.

The beds have been custom-designed for The Blue Train. A butler pulls them out ready-made from a space in the compartment wall, converting the lounge into a comfortable bed-room. White cottons sheets and duvets are standard throughout. 11 compartments feature double beds on the first train and 9 on the second new Blue Train.

Guests receive a complimentary clock, kimono and slippers.

There is a first-aid worker on board and a contingency medical plan should an emergency arise, as well as doctors on standby en route.

There are facilities for mailing letters.

The Dining Saloon provides seating for 42 people. There are two sittings for each meal. Lunch is smart-casual, dinner is jacket and tie for men and elegant for ladies.

The two new Blue Trains have two lounges: the Lounge Car in which High Tea is served each afternoon, and the new Club Car, where guests can relax over a post-prandial cognac. The club car is the only public car available to smokers. The second new Blue Train has a third lounge, which can be used as observation car or be transposed from a lounge to a 22 seater conference facility with laptop computer, overhead projection, video and slide facilities.

Each train carries 31 000 litters (6 820 gallons) of fresh water for guest consumption.

Luxury compartments have hi-fi, CD and video systems.

Fax facilities are available in the train manager's office.

A camera mounted on the front of each train gives guests a driver's-eye view of the scenery ahead. The unfolding journey is shown on a giant screen in the Club Car and on one of the TV channels for private compartment viewing.

Each Blue Train will carry some 27 hospitality staff including the train manager, head chef, catering manager, 14 butlers, six waiters/barmen and five kitchen staff. Staff are accommodated in carriages in the middle and end of the train.

Two technicians ride on the train to perform maintenance and service functions en route.

The Blue Train has a central intercom system which is rarely used in case it intrudes on guests' privacy.