A luxury train operated by state-owned Transnet has been recognised as one of the world’s most eye-catching rail journeys in a recent study that used eye-tracking technology to measure passenger engagement with scenic routes.

The Blue Train, which travels the 1 600km route between Pretoria and Cape Town, ranked 14th globally in research conducted by UK-based travel insurance platform InsureandGo.

The study measured how visually captivating train journeys around the world are by presenting participants with images from various routes and tracking their eye movements. Researchers measured two key metrics: the time it took for participants to first focus on an image, and the total duration they spent viewing each scene.

Japan’s Sagano Romantic Train claimed the top position with a score of 91.9 out of 100, whilst Europe dominated the rankings with four of the top 10 routes, including Switzerland’s Bernina Express and Glacier Express.

The Blue Train achieved a cumulative score of 75.5, but notably recorded the second-fastest time to first fixation score of just 1.95 seconds, beaten only by Japan’s Sagano Romantic Train at 1.85 seconds. This indicates that images from the South African route captured viewers’ attention almost immediately.

Other notable routes in the top 15 included the Rocky Mountaineer in Canada, Brazil’s Serra Verde Express, and Australia’s Kuranda Scenic Railway.

The Blue Train has operated since 1923, when it began as the Union Express. Over the decades, it has hosted royalty, presidents, and celebrities, establishing itself as a symbol of luxury rail travel.

The service offers butler service available 24 hours a day, soundproofed and fully carpeted compartments with en-suite bathrooms, many featuring full-sized bathtubs. Passengers can also access elegant lounge cars and an observation car.

The journey between Pretoria and Cape Town takes approximately 27 hours, with a stopover in Kimberley where passengers can visit the Railway Museum and the Open Mine Museum.

Prices for the service range from R21 750 to R41 200 per person sharing, depending on the package selected.

The Blue Train operates under Transnet Freight Rail’s Luxrail division, making it the only passenger rail service in Transnet’s portfolio. Shosholoza Meyl, the long-distance passenger rail service previously run by Transnet Freight Rail, was sold to the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa in 2009.

Whilst the Blue Train continues to receive international recognition, its parent company Transnet has faced challenges in recent years. The state-owned entity’s troubled freight logistics operations have affected South Africa’s economic growth, with the company unable to meet demand.

Investec chief economist Annabel Bishop has stated that if Transnet could improve its capacity and meet demand, the economy could expand by at least 4% year on year. She said private-sector operators are key to restoring Transnet’s capacity.

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