Shosholoza Meyl

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Shosholoza Meyl
Type of Company
Founded
Headquarters South Africa Braamfontein
Industry Train transport
Products Passenger transport service
Employees ~
Website /
Shosholoza Meyl routes
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Shosholoza Meyl routes

Shosholoza Meyl is the long-distance passenger services unit of Spoornet, the South African main-line railway operator. Shosholoza Meyl operates many train routes across South Africa [1], carrying approximately 4 million passengers annually [2].

Meyl is a word that is related to a South African word for "long distance train", according to the Spoornet/Shosholoza Meyl website. The company's name prior to change was "Mainline Passenger Services".

Contents

[edit] Routes

Shosholoza operates three types of trains:

Semi - luxury Premiere Classe trains:

Johannesburg - Kimberley - Cape Town(twice weekly)

Tourist Trains (sleeping cars only):

Economy Trains (sitters only on certain routes):

[edit] Track & Equipment

Shosholoza Meyl trains run on the Cape gauge (1067mm) Spoornet main-line track. The trains are locomotive-pulled. Most routes are completely electrified 3kV and 25kV systems, usually class 6E1 locomotives on the 3kV system and class 7E1 on the 25kV system. Diesel is used on the JohannesburgPort Elizabeth trains between Bloemfontein and Noupoort, and on the Durban - Cape Town trains between Bloemfontein and Kimberley. Before 2002 the Pretoria – Cape Town trains were hauled by diesel between Kimberley and De Aar.

The trains are made up of three types of coach:

  • Sleeper 4: six 4-person compartments and two 2-person coupés, plus shower and toilet facilities.
  • Sleeper 6: six 6-person compartments and two 3-person coupés, plus shower and toilet faclities.
  • Sitter: 72 seats, in 18 rows of 4 seats with an aisle in the middle, plus toilet facilities. There are also various older types of carriages with differing levels of comfort used as sitter's.

Since 1 July 2006 Shosholoza Meyl operates its sleepers and sitters in separate trains. As from 1 November 2006 sleeping cars will be re-introduced on selected Economy Trains.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links