The new Premier Classe train that will run from Johannesburg to Cape Town was launched by Transnet group chief executive Maria Ramos at Park station in Johannesburg on Thursday.
Addressing a press conference, Ramos said the Premier Classe is scheduled to make its first official journey on May 11.
”This is a very important time for Transnet and Shosholoza Meyl. Besides being an important part of the economy, trains get people’s passions up. It is studded with romance, drama and some interesting figures,” said Ramos.
The purple train seats 84 passengers and has six coaches. It was first introduced six years ago. The first Premier Classe had only four coaches and seated 28 passengers, said Ramos.
”The new train is a fine piece of engineering with in-built locomotives and coaches.
”It provides an affordable yet luxurious journey and we are hoping to attract the middle-class market back to the rail mode of transport with this train,” she said.
Ramos added that the train is a product of Shosholoza Meyl, and the new Premier Classe has been launched because of the demand for the service.
”With this we are also trying to make rail transportation a much more important part of the economy and we envisage that the train will be used by tourists during the 2010 Soccer World Cup more than any other mode of transport,” said Ramos.
The new Premier Classe is about to leave Park station on its maiden trip to Potchefstroom with media and prized clients, before its first official trip to Cape Town in two weeks’ time. – Sapa