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Luxury train travel doesn’t come much better than the world-famous Blue Train, which has been running since 1946.

You do have to pay for the privilege and getting a spot on the train will set you back.

Last week, before today’s news, a three-day return trip between Pretoria and Cape Town started from just shy of R29 000 a head.

That’s still a great deal cheaper than a three-day return trip from Pretoria to the Kruger National Park, which start from R42 000 per person sharing.

TimesLIVE with the latest:

…[the] Blue Train has been temporarily suspended due to “safety considerations” after recent “unfortunate incidents”.

Transnet confirmed the decision to suspend the luxury railway service from Monday until further notice.

Image: Blue Train

“Due to safety considerations the business has taken the decision to suspend the Blue Train operations to conduct a full analysis following the recent unfortunate incidents that have befallen [it],” Transnet confirmed in a letter dated February 12 2022.

Those recent unfortunate incidents include a fire that broke out in a coach while the train was in for repairs at the Transnet engineering facility in Koedoespoort, Pretoria last week.

Another TimesLIVE report states that one arrest was made after three people were seen fleeing the scene:

“The coach had been taken to Koedoespoort for repairs after being involved in a derailment last November. Transnet has almost completed the investigation into the cause of the November derailment, and today’s incident will not impact the investigations,” [Transnet spokesperson Ayanda Shezi] said.

Seems fishy that a coach involved in an investigation would be set alight for no apparent reason.

Footage of the fire was shared on social media:

Blue Train coach on fire at the Transnet Koedoespoort facility in Pretoria.

One suspect apprehended, two other still at large.

This is the same train that derailed in November…#SouthAfrica #Burning 🔥 pic.twitter.com/oCtbdZL0Xn

— QAnton (@antonnies) February 8, 2022

No timeframe has been given for when the Blue Train will resume service, with Transnet stating that it will consider “how best to manage the situation” over the next few days.

The Blue Train has won the World’s Most Luxurious Train award on 10 separate occasions and regularly features on lists of the best luxury trains in the world.

[sources:timeslive&timeslive]