Shosholoza Meyl (tel: (021) 774 4555 or 0860 008 888; www.spoornet.co.za) operates all mainline railway services, while Cape Metrorail (tel: 0800 656 463; www.capemetrorail.co.za) operates the suburban services (see Getting Around). While national travel is easy and comfortable suburban services are unreliable, not very extensive and can be dangerous, especially after dark. Rail enquiries should be directed to the Metro Transport Info central toll-free number (tel: 0800 656 463; www.mti.co.za); inter-city train reservations are also available.

Cape Town Station, Adderley Street, services both national and suburban lines. The station is in a vast, vaulted building that houses an array of shops and kiosks. Other facilities include information desks, security lockers for hire, a restaurant and even a doctor and dentist.

Rail services: Standard train services going to mainline destinations include daily services to Johannesburg, via Kimberley and Worcester (journey time - 26 hours 30 minutes), and a weekly service to Durban via Kimberley and Bloemfontein (journey time - 37 hours). Trains to Johannesburg and Durban offer a sleeper service and are relaxing alternatives to flying, with dining cars for fast food and serviced compartments, though journey times are slow. There's also a more upmarket service known as Premier Classe (tel: 0860 008 888; www.premierclasse.co.za) that goes to Johannesburg twice a week.

The premier luxury train in South Africa is the world famous Blue Train (tel: (021) 449 2672; www.bluetrain.co.za), with deluxe services between Cape Town and Pretoria (journey time - 27 hours). They arrange occasional trips from Pretoria to Pilanesberg National Park and trains can be chartered from Pretoria to Victoria Falls and Nelspruit/Hoedspruit. This is one of the world's premier rail experiences and must be booked well in advance.