Reefsteamers
South Africa's professional steam train operator


New Year Holiday Train to South Coast
From 26 December 2011 to 02 January 2012
A few compartments are available

Click here to download this brochure in PDF format (339kB)
Click here to download the directions to the depot in Germiston in PDF format (289kB)

Booking details for the New Year Holiday Train to South Coast
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Travel timetable:

26. December00Germiston - Port Shepstone
Departure from Germiston 19:00

27. December00Port Shepstone
Arrival at Port Shepstone during the morning

27. December 2011 - 01. January 2012
Your hotel on wheels is parked close to the beach

01. January 201200Port Shepstone - Germiston
Departure from Port Shepstone 22:00

02. January00Germiston
Arrival at Germiston 16:00 scheduled

Tickets for the New Year Holiday Train must be pre-booked.

Catering:

26. December
The bar car is open

27. December
You will be served with a breakfast and supper

28. December
You will be served with a breakfast and supper

29. December
You will be served with a breakfast and supper

30. December
You will be served with a breakfast and supper

31. December
You will be served with a breakfast and supper

01. January
You will be served with a breakfast and supper

02. January
You will be served with a breakfast and lunch

All meals are buffet style with multiple courses.The Bar Car will be open daily 'til late, come and relax in the lounge car.
Ticket Prices per person:

Johannesburg - Port Shepstone and return

Economy Class Compartment 5 available
The first 2 per compartment 4000 Rand
For the 3rd and 4th per compartment 2000 Rand

Economy Class Coupé: Sold out
Coupé 2 per coupé

Silver Class (ensuite facilities)
Compartment 2 per compartment Sold out
Coupé 1 per coupé 5000 Rand 4 available
Two kids can sleep for free on the floor with their own bedding

Gold Class (ensuit facilities) Sold out
Compartment 2 per compartment
Two kids can sleep for free on the floor with their own bedding

See the compartments

Kindly remember that this is a heritage train, operated by unpaid volunteers, so please don't expect the sort of service that you'll find on the Blue Train and any other luxury train type.

Booking details:

Our booking office
Telepone: ++27 (0)11 025 4363
Fax: ++27 (0)86 629 9024
E-Mail: [email protected]

Payment details
Bank Name: ABSA
Branch Code: 632 005
Account or Beneficiary's Name: Reefsteamers
Account Number: 912 431 8506
You can pay for your tickets via Internet Transfer.
You can e-mail a scanned deposit slip, or you can fax it to us.
When you make your booking you will be given a reference number.  (The 'RFS' number.)  Please use this number as your deposit reference number as the banks often don't provide the depositor's names when reconciling accounts.
The New Year's Special Train tickets must be pre-booked.
Click here to download the brochure in PDF format (339kB)
Click here to download the directions to the depot in Germiston in PDF format (289kB)

The Latest New Year Train News:

The departure of the Reefsteamers Port Shepstone Train draws nearer.
It is becoming quite an occasion.  The following has been organized.


Upon Arrival :

  • On-Platform Flea Market with approximately 84 stalls!  (Open only 27th December.)
  • Pancake Bar.
  • DJ n’ music.  (sponsored by Coca Cola)
  • A Scottish welcome by the Margate Pipes and Drums as the train draws in.
  • We intend inviting the Mayor of the Hibiscus Municipality to the event.

En-Route :

  • Arrangements being made to have a rep from East Coast radio on board the train.
  • A dedicated photographer from Reefsteamers has been rostered to record the event. 
    (Not me – so you get a different, gentler, more feminine style of photography! J )
  • Paul Ash (editor of the Travel Magazine published every week-end in the Sunday Times.) has given the undertaking that if somebody writes a story with pictures of the NYT journey, he  will publish it in that magazine !

Security:

  • Discussions underway with the Hibiscus Protection Services, the SAPS Crime Prevention Unit at P/S Police station and a private security company to be patrolling the station.
  • Passengers’ cars will be under 24/7 fenced security at the Reefsteamers Depot.

Station Clean Up:

  • Arrangements have been made for a clean-up of the Port Shepstone Station by the community living in the caravan park next to the Shark's Den/old Banana Express station (22 & 23 December). This will be sponsored by Coca Cola who will be handing out shopping vouchers.
  • But the station as it stands today, albeit a bit rusty from the sea air, is already in much better and cleaner condition than many of the stations in Gauteng.
  • Arrangements have been made for the upgrading and cleaning of the F/Market shed, subway and platforms at the station.

Individualized Transport:

  • We have engaged Mandla Khawula of Thembela Tours and Productions to arrange for a fleet of Quantum Taxis from the local Taxi Association to transport train passengers to various beaches, tourist attractions, etc.

Support by Transnet:

  • The Transnet Managers, of the Port Shepstone Station  and in Durban have been very supportive of this event and it would be good to recognize that.
  • The train is supported by Alan Meiring, the 2 i.c. of the Transnet Property Division in Durban.  Both Alan and his boss Gerard Rorke, have pledged their full support and assured us that we are welcome to use PSS for all the events mentioned.
  • In Alan’s words - 'The visit of the Reefsteamers' New Year Train will be a success !'

Day Trips 28 December 2011: Oribi Flats

Oribi Gorge  Hotel
www.oribigorge.co.za

Wild 5 Adventures

www.wild5adventures.co.za

Gorge Swing

R380 pp

Zip Line

R220 pp

For best experience, suggest the one at Lake Eland

Abseiling

R300 pp

River Rafting

R495 pp

9km, takes 3 hours

Horse Riding

R200 pp

1 ½ hours


Lake Eland
www.lakeeland.co.za
At Lake Eland, you will discover a wide variety of facilities and activities, catering for the whole family. Game drives/viewing, Suspension Bridge, Oribi Gorge view sites, Horse Rides, Paintball, Hiking, Caves & Bushman Display, Volleyball, etc. Just to name a few.

Entrance Fee

R40 pp

Zip Line

R500 pp

3.6 km over Oribi Gorge/Lake Eland


Day Trip 29 December 2011: uShaka Marine World - Durban
uShaka Marine World

www.ushakamarineworld.co.za

Entrance Fee

R149 / Adults

R110 / Child



Day Trips 30 December 2011: Visit Pure Venom, River Bend Crocodile Farm and Pistols Saloon
Pure Venom Biggest Reptile Farm in Africa
www.purevenom.com
  • Snake Demonstrations Daily, Highly Educational and lots of Fun.
  • Animal Farm – Farm Animals.
  • Amazing Displays of Reptiles & Snakes in Several Areas.

Entrance Fee

R60 / Adults

R40 / Child


Pistols Saloon & Wild West Museum "This is the Best Place on the Planet"
www.pistolssaloon.co.za
  • Have a lunch at Pistols Saloon the wild west style.
  • See the Wild West Museum.
  • The kids must meet Huckleberry, the famous donkey who met Kingsley Holgate on his “Outside Edge” expedition.

Riverbend Crocodile Farm

www.crocodilecrazy.co.za

  • Come visit the crocodile farm and see their crocodiles, snakes and visit the Art Gallery.


Day Trips 31 December 2011: Port Edward Area
Beaver Creek coffee farm
www.beavercreek.co.za
  • Discover and enjoy 100% locally grown, harvested & roasted Arabica coffee. A truly South African product and story.
  • If you would like to know more and can't make it to our estate, then click here to discover how your favorite drink is created from crop to cup!
  • Do you know how coffee is made? Our famous 30min walk-about coffee tour is fascinating and will have you asking lots of questions.
  • A secret recipe.  Free tasting at the estate - no joke.
  • We also import, roast and deliver some of the world's finest beans.

Mac Banana Farm Stall
www.macbanana.co.za
  • Come visit the Banana café & Pancake House and indulge yourself in a wide variety of sweet and savory pancakes.
  • They also have an Art Gallery, Wine Cellar and an Animal farm.  Or go on a banana tour; just do the booking in advance.


To the Beach Every day from 28 - 31 December 2011 & 1 January 2012
Beach Tours

There will be a numbers of busses that will leave in the region of 09:00 every morning to various beaches and return 16:00 the afternoon again.

NB. To justify the bus running there must at least be 10 or more passengers per bus.

Ramsgate Margate Southport Shelly Beach St. Michaels Port Edward

On behalf of Reefsteamers, Andre van Dyk and myself wish to thank J & J for their sterling work into making this less of a train and more of a community event!  (J & J = John Eales and Jan Hulcoop.)  We also wish to thank Transnet for their support for the now-unusual use of the coastal line for a passenger train and for allowing a stop-over and community involvement in their station.

This train booked out quickly!  Start planning to book a place for New Year Train 2012.

Thanks!

Lee Gates
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