Ways to explore Cape Town by train
Rick Botha, Director and Operations Manager of the Ceres Rail Company chats about the available train routes to explore the Mother City.
Clarence Ford speaks to Rick Botha, Director and Operations Manager of Ceres Rail Company.
Touring Cape Town by train is becoming increasingly popular for locals and tourists, says Botha.
"People are hungry to experience new routes."
Rick Botha, Director and Operations Manager - Ceres Rail Company
The Ceres Railway track was originally built at the turn of the 20th century, starting in July 1910 and was completed in May 1912.
The line was built using second-hand material and is still running today to give locals and tourists the chance to see parts of Cape Town via tracks and choo-choo's that makes for a life-changing experience with epic scenic views.
Part of Ceres Rail Company’s mission is to help preserve and promote South African Rail Heritage, which involves restoring and refurbishing old locomotives and coaches - they are determined to “Let History Transport You.”
Part of this history comes to life on Heritage Day (21 March) as several commuters will embark on the "Explorer's Train" to Simon's Town which will run for the first time since 2018.
The train is set to travel along Muizenberg and Simon's Town for a slow meander around the coast with stops at iconic places like St James and Kalk Bay in between.
Botha says this route (when it's made available to the public) is always a hit as the Heritage Day trip sold out in 12 hours.
Botha adds that the company is looking to make this route a permanent offering to the public.
In the meantime, another regular running route (on weekends) is a day trip along a steam train to Elgin Railway Market "which in itself is an experience," says Botha.
Pricing...
- R675 for adults
- R500 for kids
- R540 for pensioners over 60 years old
Keep an eye on when these train routes run and book your spots on the Ceres Rail Company's website.
Botha assures future commuters that this experience is set to be "memorable."
"We strive for memorable experiences and things that make you forget about the stress of the world, slow down in life and see the country from a different perspective."
Rick Botha, Director and Operations Manager - Ceres Rail Company