A journey aboard Rovos Rail is a unique adventure, where every detail reflects the golden age of leisure travel. Central to this experience is the Rovos Rail workshop refurbishment team, whose expert craftsmanship works tirelessly behind-the-scenes to bring these classic trains back to life.
Having vintage coaches travelling thousands of kilometres each year requires a dedicated crew of electricians, plumbers, carpenters, painters, welders, air-con specialists and general handymen to keep them in good, working order. To ensure their hard work is sustained, an energetic maintenance crew join the trips and see to any rattle, leak or wobble that might occur.
Coach painting, polishing and carpentry works are ongoing so the workshops are buzzing which is music to our ears. The precision, care, and craftsmanship that go into maintaining and refurbishing each coach is a testament to their exceptional work and devotion.
Overseen by workshop manager Marko Aucamp, the workshop crew comprises 60 workmen who are all experts in their fields.
Their hard work and skills ensure that the fleet of plush vintage trains are functional works of art able to safely and reliably traverse thousands of kilometres across Southern Africa.
Rovos Rail’s private train station, Capital Park in Pretoria is home to the in-house workshop which is always a hive of activity, continually expanding and upgrading its fleet with numerous coaches being reconstructed at any one time.
The headquarters is about 60 acres in extent and in addition to the workshop it houses 16 different departments that all work busily behind-the-scenes so that every beautifully renovated train is perfectly equipped for each trip.
The seamless operation of Rovos Rail is a direct result of the unwavering commitment from every department and individual, each one contributing to creating and running a luxury hotel on wheels. From the skilled workshop team to the meticulous front-line staff, each person is a cog in the wheel of the Rovos operation, playing an integral role in delivering a world-class experience. It is this dedication to excellence that ensures every journey aboard Rovos Rail is nothing short of extraordinary, reinforcing its reputation as the premier luxury train service in the world.
If you’re the type of traveller who enjoys the journey as much as the destination and prefers to experience every detail of your trip at a relaxed pace, then “slow travel” might be just the thing for you.
According to the Journal of Travel Research, “Slow tourism is characterized by reducing mobility and by taking time to explore local history and culture, while supporting the environment – the traveller’s main goals are relaxation, self-reflection, escape, novelty seeking, engagement and discovery.”
It’s about more meaningful travel experiences, pausing to reflect, and savouring the journey, rather than rushing to tick off bucket list items. This tends to create a more fulfilling experience, longer lasting memories, and the feeling of being revitalised and refreshed once the trip is over.
With modern life now busier than ever, the constant information overload, packed schedules, and enslavement to technology, travellers are choosing to slow down, escape, relax and reconnect. It’s often quality as opposed to quantity, valuing what’s truly important – real human connection and the beauty of the world that surrounds us.
Slow travel encourages more leisurely modes of transport which is why train travel is becoming increasingly popular. And luxury train travel in particular takes travellers to a bygone era when slow travel was the norm with journeys being as much about the experience as the destination. Rovos Rail offers a genuine experience of slow travel by merging opulence with an unhurried pace, and I recently had the pleasure of experiencing this firsthand on a trip from Victoria Falls to Pretoria. It truly was more than just a journey, it was an indulgent adventure blending the luxury of the train with the thoughtfully planned stops to create authentic local experiences and an insight into the nature, cultures, and history along the route.
Embarking the train at The Victoria Falls Hotel, (as well as the disembarkation at Rovos Rail’s head office Capital Park) was in itself a charming throwback to a bygone era, and stepping onto the train is like stepping into a different world — where time slows down and elegance reigns.
Rovos Rail’s interiors embody the essence of slow travel by offering spaces where relaxation and extravagance are paramount – plush furnishings, polished wood panelling and the ultimate in comfort and attention to detail – it’s not about reaching a destination, but rather about luxuriating in the journey itself.
One of the highlights of the Rovos Rail experience is the exquisite dining. Meals are served in the elegant dining car, which exudes a refined atmosphere with old fashioned décor, cut glassware, beautiful silverware, and freshly starched linen. Mealtimes are not just about eating, it’s the entire experience from dressing up for dinner to savouring each course, and all of one’s senses are fulfilled. The menu highlights the best of Southern African cuisine from tender venison steaks to succulent seafood and freshly baked pastries all paired with fine wines from the region’s top vineyards. Afternoon tea, another cherished ritual, features a variety of teas accompanied by an array of decadent savoury and sweet delicacies.
One of the highlights of luxury train travel is the opportunity for unique connections with fellow travellers which enables one to meet interesting people from around the world. The communal areas, such as the lounge and observation car, are perfect for engaging conversations with other passengers, and the bar after dinner sees guests sharing stories and experiences, and often forging lasting friendships.
The journey from Victoria Falls to Pretoria spans approximately 1600 kilometres meandering through some of Southern Africa’s most stunning scenery. Rovos Rail passengers are fortunate to be able to appreciate the changing landscapes whilst relishing all that the train has to offer and being attended to by the attentive staff who are always on hand to cater to every want or need.
Yet the Rovos Rail journey is not just about the onboard experience, it also includes carefully curated excursions that allow passengers to explore the regions the train passes through. We had the opportunity to disembark and enjoy game viewing in leading Southern African reserves and learn about the local flora and fauna, including close up encounters with the endangered rhino.
Educational forays into the regions rich history are conducted by passionate and knowledgeable raconteurs who hold their audiences captive regaling stories ranging from the culture of the ancient San tribes – Africa’s original inhabitants, to the intriguing life of Cecil John Rhodes.
The journey from Victoria Falls to Pretoria on Rovos Rail was more than just a trip, it was an escape from the treadmill of life and technology, into a world where time moves at a more leisurely pace and every moment is a celebration of elegance and discovery.
Slow travel is not just a trend, it’s a mindset that encourages one to rediscover the joy of the journey – the leisurely pace, true escapism and relaxation, deeper connections, and a more meaningful appreciation of the world around us.
For a travel experience that combines exploration and opulence, Rovos Rail offers an unparalleled slow travel adventure – it’s an invitation to escape the humdrum of normal life, step back in time, revel in the ultimate of luxury, explore beautiful landscapes, and forge genuine connections with fellow travellers.
Belinda Rakoma is one of Rovos Rail’s unsung heroes working behind the scenes for 31 years! From humble beginnings as a casual cleaner at Pretoria Train Station in 1993, her journey with Rovos has carried her to the current position of Store Supervisor, a testament to her ambition.
Belinda’s primary responsibility is to prepare the beverage stock for all trips. Every Monday, she checks the schedule to determine the number of journeys, how many carriages are on each one and how many passengers are travelling. She also accounts for the menus, special requests and the guests’ nationalities because, for example, Germans often consume more beer. She is proud of this attention to detail.
Belinda and her strong team load a full bar onto each train for every trip. The carefully curated selection of local and international beverages – with a proud focus on South African offerings – includes wine, brandy, gin, rum, vodka, whisky, spirits, digestifs, grappa, liqueur, beer, cider, non-alcoholic options, mixers and a cocktail menu. Rovos Rail maintains its commitment to sustainability by sourcing water from Cape Town using plant-based bottles. All beverages on board are included while special requests may be ordered at an additional cost.
Belinda’s time with Rovos has not only taught her practical skills such as mixing drinks and understanding wines, she credits the company with invaluable lessons in communication and teamwork. She believes in letting go of grudges, avoiding gossip and communicating honestly, which is reflected in her grounded approach.
The highlights of her job extend beyond the bar from her first trip outside South Africa to the experiences of meeting new people and exploring new places. Her favourite Rovos destination is Victoria Falls.
Belinda lives in Soshanguve but her heritage is Eswatini where her mother was born, and Lesotho, her father’s origins. She enjoys cooking, walking and spring cleaning but her priorities lie with her three children and three grandchildren. Her goal is to ensure they all receive a quality education and can take care of themselves.
In Belinda Rakoma, Rovos Rail has a dedicated team player. Her passion, attention to detail and commitment to customer service are qualities that contribute to the company’s mission to provide luxury train travel.
So, the next time you’re on board, raise a glass to the hard work and dedication of Belinda and her team.
Written by Linda Sparks • Edited by Bianca Vos-Lynch
For nearly three decades, Mariëlle Wynbergen has been an integral part of the Rovos Rail family serving as the Reservations Manager for short trips. She has seen the company grow and adapt to many challenges and has learned invaluable lessons about the importance of caring for her team and embracing change.
She is inspired by the owner and founder Rohan Vos who she describes as being full of new ideas and constantly wanting to improve the guest experience. Mariëlle believes that a company’s success is deeply intertwined with the well-being and dedication of its staff, and the fact that so many employees can boast decades of service indicates that they must be getting this right.
Her journey with Rovos began soon after she fell in love with a ballroom dancing teacher who had family members working at the company. “My father-in-law, Oom Wyny, was the CFO for the Victoria Hotel, and my brother-in-law and his partner were the first IT employees who installed our first computers and also wrote the first reservations programme for Rovos.” After a tip-off that there was a job available, she followed their footsteps and was appointed PA to the Reservations Manager who became her mentor. She quickly learned the ropes and found her calling in promoting and selling the train.
Mariëlle’s daily routine involves a variety of tasks from answering booking enquiries and product-interest phone calls to confirming bookings, invoicing and following up on payments. She fields many interesting and sometimes humorous questions from future guests. As she aptly puts it, her job is about “putting bums in beds” – a phrase coined by one of her previous colleagues.
Beyond the administrative tasks, Mariëlle Wynbergen takes pride in guiding and training her reservations team in the Pretoria and Cape Town offices and instilling in them the passion and dedication that is synonymous with Rovos Rail. She enjoys her job, the camaraderie among her colleagues, the interaction with guests from around the world, and the privilege of being part of an extraordinary story.
Many staff have said they could write a book about all their experiences and the interesting people they have met, and Mariëlle concurs. Two guests stand out in her memory…a couple who travel the world without luggage! Their PA packed their brand-new clothes into the cupboard on the train and, when they arrived in Cape Town, the clothes were donated. “Despite their privilege, they were one of the nicest, most unassuming and down-to-earth couples I have ever met!”
Outside of work, Mariëlle’s priorities lie with her home and her family, especially her two teenagers, her husband, and caring for her mother. She feels the words patience, consideration and compliance define her personally and professionally and shape her relationships and her approach to life.
As Mariëlle Wynbergen looks to the future, she hopes to continue contributing her skills and knowledge while learning from the remarkable individuals she has had the privilege to work alongside. “When it’s my time to leave Rovos I hope to have been as generous as Sandy Ingram, as charming as Peter Winterbottom, as vivacious as Beatrice Colon, as kind as Christine Roberts, as knowledgeable as Joy Strydom, as confident as Estee Badenhorst, as funny as Daniela Greyling, as determined as Rohan Vos and of course will always attempt to be a workhorse like Heike Gerntholtz,” she laughs.
Mariëlle’s dedication and commitment embody the spirit of Rovos Rail – a special company that enriches the experiences of guests and colleagues alike.
Written by Linda Sparks • Edited by Bianca Vos-Lynch
For nearly three decades Dianah Vukeya has been a committed member of the Rovos Rail family. As the Senior Laundry Assistant, she has become an expert in maintaining the impeccable standards of the train.
The three suite categories on board each have their own bed size and linen requirements including everything from robes and slippers to pillowcases and towels. The public cars include tablecloths, napkins, antimacassars and even curtains, which are made by the onsite upholstery team. Dianah is part of an 18-member team responsible for washing, steaming, ironing, pressing, folding and preparing all laundry for each journey. Her daily routine involves checking the schedule and rooming lists for upcoming journeys and guests’ requirements to ensure all stock items are available. A 15-night Dar es Salaam journey can have about 2000 items, for example. Dianah and the team methodically count and pack every item into large laundry bags for each suite and public car to maximise the limited space on board. And when the train returns, they count it all back into stock to repeat the process.
Dianah first encountered Rovos Rail when she was a clothing vendor at Pretoria Train Station. She joined the company as a passage lady and hostess on board, no mean feat when a train can be ±350m long. She held for 12 years before joining the laundry team on site. Her favourite Rovos destination was Dar es Salaam as it marked her first trip outside South Africa. Another highlight was Victoria Falls made even more memorable by her bravely taking the plunge with a bungee jump off the iconic bridge!
When asked what she loves most about her job, Dianah responded with: “Everything!” She is proud of the invaluable skills she has learned during her time with Rovos and describes it as a journey of personal and professional growth. These include learning to work with a diverse range of people, respecting others, transparency and teamwork. She has also learned skills in hospitality and healthcare and has completed courses in First Aid, Firefighting and Empathy Training.
Home for Dianah is Midrand where she enjoys spending time with her large family, which includes her husband, five children and four grandchildren. She enjoys cooking for her family, taking them to church and spring cleaning! She describes herself as strong, brave, kind, respectful, hard-working and proactive – qualities that shine through in her work and interactions with coworkers and guests. Dianah’s dedication to her work is inspiring and she is a much-valued member of the team.
Written by Linda Sparks • Edited by Bianca Vos-Lynch
In the heart of Rovos Rail’s bustling operations, a stalwart figure has been present in the Accounts department for nearly three decades. Karin Whitaker fulfils the role of debt controller responsible for managing and allocating outstanding payments and addressing queries regarding the financial side of train bookings. It is a post she’s grown into over the years and one that she has become extremely skilled at through hands-on experience. “You learn as you go,” she quips with a knowing smile.
Karin’s association with Rovos Rail dates back to a chance opportunity in 1995 when she heard from a friend that the company needed extra staff to work as train hosts over the New Year’s weekend. Little did she know that weekend stint would evolve into a lifelong career spanning various positions within Rovos Rail, including front office manager and eventually finding her niche in finance.
Despite the demands of her job, Karin approaches it with a light-hearted spirit. “Asking people for money is my favourite part,” she jests. Beneath the humour, it is clear that Karin is passionate about Rovos and that it’s rewarding for her to play a role in helping the company thrive financially. “It is an honour to be a part of Rovos’ history seeing the company grow from just one train and 17 coaches when I began to six trains and 140 coaches today.”
A job with Rovos is always full of surprises, and Karin has had many memorable moments. “So many,” she laughs, “I think most of us could draft a book!” One of these saw the entire team on a comical chase down the train tracks at Capital Park wrangling Betty the ostrich back into the yard after she had escaped.
Beyond the numbers, Karin’s time at Rovos has been a journey of personal growth. Interacting with colleagues and passengers from diverse cultural backgrounds has instilled in her a deep sense of compassion and understanding. “Kindness and a smile can have an enormous impact on others,” she reflects. Close bonds have been formed with her colleagues over the years and they all have a deep fondness for Karin. “We really are family,” she explains, “and we have had so much fun together along the way.”
Of all the destinations Karin has travelled to during her time with Rovos, Namibia holds a special place in her heart for its breathtaking landscapes and natural beauty.
Karin is a devoted animal lover, volunteering at rescue groups and dedicating time to reuniting lost pets with their owners. At work, she watches over the resident animals, most of which are rescues: donkeys Romeo and Juliet, Tori the horse and the Nguni cattle, Camilla and Mia Bella as well as the late ostriches and alpacas. At home, she enjoys her own furry companions, a large collection of black cats. Another interesting tidbit is that Karin has an identical twin and boasts of being five minutes older than her sister!
Confident, strong and independent: Karin’s three-word self-portrait that aptly describes her character and approach to life. She takes pride in her ability to adapt to change, a skill that has served her well in the often unpredictable South African railway industry. As for her future, she simply aspires to find happiness in all facets of life.
With her dedication to her job and her vibrant personality, it is clear that Karin’s contribution is integral in keeping Rovos Rail on track. And her almost 30-year journey with the company is a testament to Rovos’ commitment to fostering long-term relationships with its team.
Written by Linda Sparks • Edited by Bianca Vos-Lynch
All hail International Wine Day! In his departure speech, our CEO Rohan often jokes about how seriously we take drinking here at Rovos Rail so we thought we’d pour ourselves a glass of bubbly and tell you a little about the bar staff on board and how they can often be the toast of the train.
Operating a luxury product can come with some tough customers so, as we are not positioned to employ qualified sommeliers, we provide regular bar, wine and cocktail training for our bartenders and ensure they know about our incredible South African offerings. The two-year pandemic gave us pause to revisit our menus and include more local produce wherever possible. In the last decade, it has been wonderful to see young entrepreneurs creating interesting wines, spirits and mixers and, with South Africa being one of the top 10 traditional wine-producing countries in the world, we have a brilliant selection to choose from. See our wine and spirit stories below.
Preparation for each journey begins in our beverage store where a dedicated on-site team pre-packs the stock required on board. This includes wine, brandy, gin, rum, vodka, whisky, spirits, digestifs, grappa, liqueur, beer, cider, non-alcoholic options and mixers. The bartenders check, count and load the stock into cages, which are trolleyed to the train. Then it’s off to the kitchen store where they check out their glassware, swizzle sticks, olives, Maraschino cherries and all the other goodies they need, which are also trolleyed to the train. Once on board, they unload and pack the bars to their liking as it is their domain for the duration of the journey. When the guests arrive, the fun begins.
Out of our whole crew, the bartenders are the most recognised and sought after as they not only serve all the guests but sit up late into the night chatting away with them. They sometimes make long-lasting connections, especially on our long journeys. We’re fortunate that we haven’t had too many raucous parties but there have been many dawns met with strong coffees and Bloody Marys at breakfast.
Our teams work hard and deserve the lovely feedback they regularly receive about their service. During one of our recent video shoots, Tristan – one of our young barmen – happened to be available so we followed him around for a while. Listening to him talk about his passion for South African wine and our selection on board left an impression on us. To see a young man so eager to learn and do his job well, and leverage the education and opportunities received at Rovos Rail, feels hugely rewarding.
So, as it is International Wine Day – and our 35th birthday – let’s raise a glass to our stellar team and all the sommeliers, connoisseurs and winemakers around the world. Cheers!
Another clickety-clack around the sun! We can hardly believe it. Happy birthday, Rovos Rail! 35 years. What an achievement.
Some of you are familiar with our story but, for those who aren’t, we’re a small family-owned and operated business that launched our first overnight journey on 29 April 1989. When we celebrated our 30th birthday in 2019, we produced a short film where you will meet the family and team members who narrate the Rovos Rail tale and now, five years later, we have so much to add to our story.
Since resuming our services post-pandemic, we introduced the new 15-night African Trilogy journey. We have now operated this trip four times and on the last sojourn we sent a film crew to capture its magic (click here). We’re proud of this adventure because we feel the African Trilogy shows our guests a true cross-section of Southern Africa from its east coast to Namibia in the west.
We also sent trains all the way to Angola and back on our Trail of Two Oceans and Copper Trail trips. And wow, what a challenge these journeys are to operate given that water, electricity and any kind of formal tourism are in short supply. But we succeeded and our brave band of intrepid travellers had a good time, which is all that matters.
Unfortunately some of you reading this would have experienced delays and other obstacles due to infrastructure failures within South Africa. Transnet (national railway authority) and Eskom (national electricity provider) are in a bind, which has presented problems for all trains on the railway network. To combat these issues, our formidable CEO, Rohan, and his problem-solving COO daughter, Tiffany, treated the company to its biggest birthday presents ever by purchasing combination electric and diesel locomotives. Should there be power outages or other challenges, we can seamlessly switch from electric to diesel for the journey to continue. This has not been an inexpensive endeavour and the business of hauling our trains with our own locomotives is not something we ever wanted but, with South Africa currently navigating significant crises, we figure the less reliant we are on parastatals the better it will be for our passengers and our team.
Rohan and Anthea Vos with Rohan’s late mother, Marjorie, and Brenda, Bianca, Shaun and Tiffany.
Since we last celebrated a significant milestone, we have said farewell to long-serving staff who either moved on or retired. We have also welcomed many new members to our team who took up key positions in human resources, sales, marketing, reservations, finance and in our workshops. We had to rebuild our staff complement after the pandemic and it finally feels like we once again have a robust team in place.
Over the past five years, our incredible workshop team has built two new train sets in between renovating and repairing existing stock, so we now have six full train sets! There have been some moments over the past few years where our yard at Rovos Rail Station has been empty of carriages because they have all been out on various journeys; these moments have felt rewarding and certainly made us feel proud.
We remember back in 1988 when we first put the word out that we were launching a vintage luxury train in South Africa, many people thought Rohan was crazy and didn’t believe he would succeed. We don’t blame them; sometimes we feel the same but, here we are, 35 years on, and we have Rohan and his wife, Anthea, to thank. Working at Rovos Rail is a wild ride with no day ever the same. To not be bored or feel stuck on a hamster wheel is a gift and, although the stress can feel overwhelming at times, there is never a dull moment and for that we are grateful. We are a quirky and eclectic bunch who care deeply about Rovos Rail and who genuinely love our beautiful trains!
A heartfelt thank you to our industry colleagues and the media who have supported us over the years. And to our guests, especially our Rovos Club members, we would not be here without you and it is our privilege to have welcomed you on board. Thank you for travelling with us.
Congratulations to Rohan, Anthea, Tiffany and the rest of the family and a very big happy birthday to Rovos Rail!
From all of us we say, happy birthday Rohan! To his grandchildren he is “Papa Choo Choo”, to his children he is Dad or Pops and to his team, he is Rohan. And today marks another gallop around the sun for this determined young man.
For as long as any of us can remember, Rohan has never been in South Africa to celebrate because for the past three decades he has always travelled to Berlin to attend the ITB travel trade show which falls over his birthday. And this year is no different as he flew to Germany a few nights ago and is deeply entrenched in his Rovos Rail sales hustle!
There have been a few guests in the past who have been curious about the man who dared launch a vintage luxury train in a time where political restlessness was reaching its inevitable boiling point. With South Africa’s post-apartheid era on the horizon, there were many who packed their bags for Perth and those who loudly predicted outright civil war. So who would start a luxury train company during a time of so much uncertainty and especially a business whose success would, for the most part, be heavily reliant on international travellers?
We’re not sure that Rohan’s late mother, Marjorie, knew what she was in for when she birthed a lanky, big-eared babe on 7 March. We remember anecdotal tales of him entering the world with ferocity on his face which, 78 years later, is still very much there. Even at a young age, Marjorie knew that being a solo act would be the only option for her extremely intelligent, can-do young man. Given that he never appreciated being told that he couldn’t do something, there was certainly anxiety over how he would fare at school.
Born in Cape Town in 1946, Rohan attended Western Province Preparatory School before completing senior school at Bishops Diocesan College where one or two of Rohan’s teachers identified his genius but also recognised that if his restless energy wasn’t correctly channeled he might fail high school or pursue naughtier adventures (which he already had plenty of). So in his senior year he was made captain of the first rugby team and head of his boarding house leaving him no option but to focus, lead and thrive.
Rohan began his professional career selling encyclopedia’s and also opened the doors to a discotheque in Witbank (situated in the former Transvaal) called Zorba’s Beat. Being interested in classic cars, boats, trains and planes, he started Witbank Auto Spares and also dabbled in commercial property ownership. His triumphs in Witbank lead him to a railway auction where he was the successful bidder on an old South African Railways coach. His intention was to renovate the carriage that could hook onto a regular commuter train so that he and his family had a “railway caravan” to explore South Africa. His application to the Railways was denied and it was suggested that he sell tickets and create a commercial venture.
Over a double Red Heart rum and Coke one evening in May in 1988, Rohan pondered his options and decided to take the risk of launching a vintage luxury train experience in South Africa. He and his wife, Anthea, travelled the country acquiring a train set and locomotive and the first overnight journey was launched in April, 1989. Fast forward 35 years and Rovos Rail not only has its own private railway station and headquarters in Pretoria but also houses its own six train sets, steam locomotives as well as its own fleet of diesel, electric and combination locomotive units. The company now offers 11 journeys ranging from three to 15 days with trains that traverse South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola and Namibia.
At the tender age of 78, Rohan is not slowing down. Operating trains across Southern Africa certainly keeps you on your toes as does his family which is made up of mostly women – it seems to be Rohan’s fortunate lot in life to be surrounded by independent ladies who are not afraid to put him in his place or throw the occasional eye roll his way.
Rohan also likes to keep active and fit so on Saturday mornings one might spot him and his pack of dogs hiking the mountain ranges of Cape Town. Or you might see him in his plaid shirt and oversized sun hat on the golf course on a Sunday. And if you’re really “lucky”, you might see him atop his bicycle, clad in all his glorious spandex, tackling the steep hills and undulating curves of the Cape.
In fact, this Sunday, Rohan will once again participate in the Cape Town Cycle Tour where he will aim for another personal best by cycling it in under four hours. And after he has cycled 109kms, he will be attending his granddaughter’s fourth birthday party where he will undoubtedly be tackled by his grandchildren but where he will also finally get some birthday cake.
Rovos Rail is unique amongst private train lines, with the Capital Park Pretoria railway station serving as their very own historic headquarters. This beautifully restored 1948 station in Pretoria offers guests a rare and luxurious departure point, setting the stage for unforgettable rail journeys.
The magnificent old building in Capital Park is a historical gem close to Pretoria’s CBD. Its renovation is part of the Rovos Rail story and a piece of South Africa’s railway heritage.
This busy hub is world-class in terms of efficiency and attention to detail and is in keeping with the style and luxury that is synonymous with the Rovos Rail standard.
Capital Park serves as the departure or arrival point for most of the train journeys and also the headquarters of Rovos Rail’s entire operation. It houses the luxurious departure lounge, offices, meeting rooms, a lecture room, a repair and maintenance depot, laundries, state-of-the-art kitchens, carriage and locomotive sheds, and well-stocked storerooms.
Stepping into the station building is like entering a bygone era, even before setting foot on the luxury train itself. The station lounge has an old-fashioned elegance and is the place where friendships between passengers are first formed or where farewells to new friends are said.
It was a massive undertaking to bring the site to its current level of excellence. Rovos Rail gave the station a full renovation to restore it back to its former glory and to preserve what little is left of the golden era of steam rail travel.
Built in 1948 it first belonged to South African Railways but when they moved their operation to another depot the station became dilapidated. When Rovos took over the site in 1999 the tracks were covered in thistles, the buildings were deserted and vandalised. The area had been earmarked for development but a comprehensive proposal from Rovos Rail’s founder Rohan Vos highlighting the economic and tourism benefits of a renovation persuaded Transnet to grant him a long lease.
The main station, a magnificent low red-brick building, was gutted, and an elegant balcony overlooking the platform was added to the façade. A new 300m platform was constructed and an authentic signal box and clock tower were erected to further enhance the ambiance.
The vast carriage and locomotive sheds were renovated to house teams of dedicated personnel who keep the stock in perfect order. This roofed workshop of 10 000m2 straddles 15 railway lines with concrete inspection pits below and is the ultimate repair and maintenance facility for any train operation.
Around the refurbished buildings, hundreds of new shrubs and over 3 000 trees were planted, to provide a lush garden setting. And to complement this a miniature farmyard with horses, donkeys and peacocks was created.
The entire renovation project was envisaged and directed by Rohan Vos himself who embraced it with the same enthusiasm he has for the trains, supported by his wife Anthea who shares his vision and passion.
Initially the site was 12 acres, but over the years it has grown steadily to the current 60. As tenants around the original site moved out, Rovos Rail negotiated leases on those properties, which then had to be rebuilt or rehabilitated. This activity, although costly, was executed with a view to Rovos Rail eventually acquiring the property from Transnet. Therefore, no corners were cut and as it stands now, the buildings and grounds are in top-level operating condition.
The property is also home to a museum with an ever-expanding collection of rail memorabilia. As custodians of a rich part of South Africa’s rail history it is the Vos family’s goal for the Rovos Rail Station to become the leading working train museum globally.
The museum is small and quaint and takes passengers back to their childhoods with an original phone box, parking meter and old trains, as well as special collector’s items that have been beautifully kept. A superb model-railway display complete with semaphore signals and a footbridge, recreates the atmosphere of a fully-fledged railway system.
A visit to the museum and a site tour of the property gives guests a glimpse into the behind the scenes nuts and bolts of the company. Passengers are encouraged to build time into their travel schedules if they would like to experience these offerings.
Capital Park has become an added highlight to a Rovos Rail journey – boarding or disembarking the train in this unique and historic atmosphere creates an element of excitement where lasting memories are made.
