Learning Unit 3: Rail and Sea Transport

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LEARNING UNIT 3: RAIL AND SEA TRANSPORT

Rail terminology and definitions

The following definitions are applicable to rail transport:

Bunk: A bed in a coupe or Berth: A bed or sleeping compartment accommodation on vehicles.

Couchette: Normal seating Catering car: A coach on a train during the day but converts to a reserved for the preparation of bunk for sleeping at night food.

Compartment: A type of Coupe: A type of accommodation accommodation on a train with on a train with either 2 or 3 bunks either 4 or 6 bunks depending on depending on the class and service the class of service.

Dining car: The particular coach Lounge car: A coach used as a used as the restaurant on the train lounge area with a bar service

Sleeping car: A coach comprising Coach: A train consists of a only sleeping accommodation number of coaches coupled together

Wagon-lits: A European term for Motor car truck: A coach used a sleeping car for the conveyance of motor vehicles.

Luggage caravan: A coach used Some tourists prefer to reach for the conveyance of all the destinations by train, because it is passengers’ personal belongings. cheaper and they enjoy seeing the scenery en route or because they dislike flying.

A few operators organise rail transportation packages which may involve booking sleepers for overnight journeys.

Tour Operator TIN-111 2017-06 © MGT Training Solutions

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Name of Train Routing Southern Cape Town – Port Elizabeth via George, southern Cross/Shongololo cross tour encompassing six countries on a route, Vic Express Falls tour and others http://www.shongololo.com/all-tours-glance Shosholoza Pretoria – Cape Town via Johannesburg and Meyl: Kimberley Trans Karoo Shosholoza Johannesburg – Durban via Pietermaritzburg Meyl: Trans Natal Shosholoza Durban to Cape Town via Bloemfontein and Meyl: Kimberley Trans Oranje Shosholoza Johannesburg – Komatipoort/Maputo via Nelspruit Meyl: Komati Shosholoza Meyl Offers safe long distance, city to city, economy Tourist Class sleeper class passenger train travel in South Africa. Tourist Class Shosholoza Meyl trains travel Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, East London rail routes on a weekly timetable at affordable rates dinner. Coaches with single-berth coupes, two-berth coupes, family compartments, communal lavatories and showers.

Shosholoza Meyl Travel on routes Johannesburg - Cape Town and Premier Classe Johannesburg - Durban on a weekly schedule. deluxe trains Included in the fare is bedding, amenities, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Premier Classe trains offer air- conditioned sleeper coaches with single-berth coupes, two-berth coupes, family compartments, communal lavatories and showers. https://www.shosholozameyl.co.za

Tour Operator TIN-111 2017-06 © MGT Training Solutions

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Sometimes the train ride itself is the main feature of the holiday. The Blue Train of South Africa is an example of the (www.bluetrain.co.za) as well as Rovos Rail (www.rovos.com).

Luxury travel by rail

Rovos rail

https://www.rovos.com

Blue train Combines the luxury of the world's leading hotels with

the charm of train travel. It is an all-inclusive luxury rail journey with an opportunity to view South Africa's spectacular landscapes and visit interesting tourist attractions along the way.

http://www.bluetrain.co.za

Reservations for any trains can either be made through a Spoornet reservations office or through a Spoornet approved travel agency. This includes trains such as the Blue Tran. Another

The following information is needed for a rail reservation:

Destination or name of the train Requested date of travel of the outward journey Number of passengers travelling together The passengers’ names The requested date of travel of the inbound journey (if applicable) Payment details (credit card, voucher, etc.) Bedding and meal requirements Any special requirements

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Cruises

Cruising has become a popular holiday with the travelling public. More and more people are discovering the pleasures of cruising. A cruise is an organised holiday journey aboard a pleasure ship.

Ferries on the other hand operate to fixed timetables regardless of how many passengers there are, although the faster hovercraft and catamaran services may have to be cancelled in bad weather.

Traditional cruises are a “holiday-at-sea”. The ship sails from one port and can return to the same or a different port. There may be one or more stopover ports en route. Cruises are categorised as follows:

Mini cruise – duration of between 2 to 5 days

Short cruise – duration of between 5 and 21 days

Long cruise – duration of longer than 21 days.

When docking at a port on long cruises, the passengers make use of a local tour operator in that city to go out on day tours and then return to the ship to sleep – they can dock at a port for a number of days before moving to the next port – hence this is also an opportunity for tour operators.