Empty Blue Train derailed at Union station

[Cosmik Debris]

this,
Decolonizing the railways. steal everything and anything not nailed down, and then steal the nails and bricks themselves.

Before:

After:

 

[Cosmik Debris]

Koeberg was in Africa last time I checked...

Run under IAEA protocols. It's the one place that doesn't have BEE, AA and EE. Pelindaba and Valindaba were shut down by the IAEA due to management qualifications and safety concerns.

It's called the Africa disease...

 

[Cosmik Debris]

Stay tuned for a 10 part series presented by iqbal surve wherein he will explain this is the real blue train, and the other is merely a figment of our collective fertile imagination.

Yeah, like Iqbal claims to have been Nelson Mandela's doctor on Robben Island. He would have been 14 years old.

 

[Jet-Fighter7700]

It's called the Africa disease...

and this is why we cant have anything nice in Africa anymore, its stolen or broken or Robbed,
no sense of preservation of the past when Luxury train travel was all the rage,

do remember seeing the blue train trundling past empty and always though to myself,
when the rails eventually get stolen and dont get replaced, guess they can use the coaches as a nice restaurant,
or if things get really bad, a shack for 200 people.

just how far things have gone down the stairs.

 

[Cosmik Debris]

no sense of preservation of the past when Luxury train travel was all the rage,

Still very popular in Europe. I travelled extensively by train for work. It's far nicer to take a high speed train with all the luxuries instead of an aircraft for long distance. The German ICE (Inter City Express). And it is not a luxury train but an express:

 

[Jet-Fighter7700]

yes, but those are high speed intercity trains like the TGV or the Shinkansen in Japan,
here in Africa we used to have the luxury trains that went slower but the view and amenities on board made up for it.
almost like a hotel on Wheels, with a view that changes

now with infrastructure disappearing one nail at a time, slowly and methoidically,
what will be left in say 5 years? shacks covering the place where the train used to go?
the train coaches used as a restaurant?

I mean its sad that all the population is interested in is looting and stealing historic parts of a Country,
for no gains at all, just another nyope fix.

but then again, the writing was on the wall for a long time.

 

[Cosmik Debris]

yes, but those are high speed intercity trains like the TGV or the Shinkansen in Japan,
here in Africa we used to have the luxury trains that went slower but the view and amenities on board made up for it.
almost like a hotel on Wheels, with a view that changes

now with infrastructure disappearing one nail at a time, slowly and methoidically,
what will be left in say 5 years? shacks covering the place where the train used to go?
the train coaches used as a restaurant?

I mean its sad that all the population is interested in is looting and stealing historic parts of a Country,
for no gains at all, just another nyope fix.

but then again, the writing was on the wall for a long time.

Have to agree with you here. When I was in the army in the early 80's I was sent from Pretoria to Cape Town by train. Not the luxury but the usual long distance. It had a restaurant car with silver service and three course meals served by waiters in jacket and tie, beds were made in the evening from the fold down seating used in your compartment in the day. Bedding provided and the bed made for you. There was also a bar car where you could sit and have a drink at tables or at the bar.

You can't get that service anymore when the trains are running at all. You now bring your own bedding and if you can get any drinks or eats it's basic fast food in polystyrene containers.

As you say, the good stuff is disappearing one nail at a time. Decolonisation in full progress.

 

[ForceFate]

Ever travelled on a long distance train in a first world country? The rails and infrastructure as well as the trains are perfectly maintained...

As recent as September, Amtrak derailed. Japan had one in 2019. And a few other countries. Well maintained, but derailments happen.

 

[Cosmik Debris]

As recent as September, Amtrak derailed. Japan had one in 2019. And a few other countries. Well maintained, but derailments happen.

Like aircraft fall out of the sky. But those countries still have a rail service. What does SA have?

And how many million rail kilometres per derailment in those countries compared to SA? You need to compare apples with apples...

 

[Grant]

It had a restaurant car with silver service and three course meals served by waiters in jacket and tie, beds were made in the evening from the fold down seating used in your compartment in the day. Bedding provided and the bed made for you. There was also a bar car where you could sit and have a drink at tables or at the bar.

Soos vir dit

 

[dunkyd]

Have to agree with you here. When I was in the army in the early 80's I was sent from Pretoria to Cape Town by train. Not the luxury but the usual long distance. It had a restaurant car with silver service and three course meals served by waiters in jacket and tie, beds were made in the evening from the fold down seating used in your compartment in the day. Bedding provided and the bed made for you. There was also a bar car where you could sit and have a drink at tables or at the bar.

You can't get that service anymore when the trains are running at all. You now bring your own bedding and if you can get any drinks or eats it's basic fast food in polystyrene containers.

As you say, the good stuff is disappearing one nail at a time. Decolonisation in full progress.

White frogs in a pot....

 

[newklear]

Still very popular in Europe. I travelled extensively by train for work. It's far nicer to take a high speed train with all the luxuries instead of an aircraft for long distance. The German ICE (Inter City Express). And it is not a luxury train but an express:

This was yesterday:


Timing is impeccable and comforting to be able to adhere to agreed meeting times without stress.
My carryon suitcase was a little big compared to the norm, but as long as you can "tragen", the suitcase was allowed! Completely different world when it comes to sensible efficiency.

Wonder how many months until the BlueTrain is up and running, still on the bucket list that needs scratching out.

 

[Cosmik Debris]

This was yesterday:
View attachment 1187824
View attachment 1187826
Timing is impeccable and comforting to be able to adhere to agreed meeting times without stress.
My carryon suitcase was a little big compared to the norm, but as long as you can "tragen", the suitcase was allowed! Completely different world when it comes to sensible efficiency.

Wonder how many months until the BlueTrain is up and running, still on the bucket list that needs scratching out.

Yes. the timing is typical German efficiency. The ICE only stops for 5 minutes to let people off and on in a city. Then it's back to high speed to get to the next city. Silent inside as well. Even an enforced silence coach you can choose to sleep where even headphones are not allowed as the music can be heard from them as the train runs so quietly.

People think the Gautrain compares. It doesn't. That's just a standard British commuter. Mediocrity seen as excellence in Africa.

 

[aleksandar]

As recent as September, Amtrak derailed. Japan had one in 2019. And a few other countries. Well maintained, but derailments happen.

One day when we do not have any trains we can claim that we do not have derailments at all.

I honestly do not understand lengths that you go to defend current situation, you have seen what happened with infrastructure, you know it worked and that it was destroyed for the last decade and you still go on.

 

[Cosmik Debris]

One day when we do not have any trains we can claim that we do not have derailments at all.

I honestly do not understand lengths that you go to defend current situation, you have seen what happened with infrastructure, you know it worked and that it was destroyed for the last decade and you still go on.

Wait till you mention BEE, AA and EE. He'll flat out deny it's racist legislation but will insist apartheid legislation was racist...

 

[ponder]

SA’s luxury Blue Train temporarily suspended over ‘safety concerns’

SA’s world renowned Blue Train has been temporarily suspended due to “safety considerations” after recent “unfortunate incidents”.

www.sowetanlive.co.za

Things are getting better...

 

[ToxicBunny]

SA’s luxury Blue Train temporarily suspended over ‘safety concerns’

SA’s world renowned Blue Train has been temporarily suspended due to “safety considerations” after recent “unfortunate incidents”.

www.sowetanlive.co.za

Things are getting better...

Well maybe there is a silver lining, the Blue Train staff will be deployed elsewhere, and they will generally have a service oriented work culture because of where they worked.

 

[rh1]

If there were even any tracks.

View attachment 1184268

The true meaning of decolonising. Sad but the majority of South Africans rely on Public Transport.

 

[Mekon]

Either too fast, or the tracks are shoddy. In which case thanks Transnet and ANC.

It was those pesky sand miners I tell you.

 

[RaptorSA]

Sad stuff.

I remember doing a project on it in the mid-2000's, trying to get coach-to-coach Wifi working for point of sales since the thing was basically a huge faraday cage so outside antennas wasn't a good idea.

That trip from CPT to PTA was less "work" and more whisky and cigars.
Good times.