Cape Metrorail launches tourist trains

THE winelands, colonial architecture, botanical gardens, museums and hiking trails are some of the popular attractions which will soon be made available to Western Cape railway passengers thanks to special Tourist Trains to be launched next month by Metrorail.
Wellington, Stellenbosch and Paarl are expected to prove top spots for sightseers preferring the convenience and value of local trains to tour buses or hire cars.
Starting November 16, minimum groups of 20 passengers can book coaches from Cape Town between Mondays and Fridays with Metrorail buses shuttling passengers from the destination train station to selected tourist sights.
Metrorail Area North spokesperson, Felicia Temmers, said tour operators are invited to book guests to travel with a chaperone. "Advance booking is recommended because we expect a lot of interest in season. Wine farm visits and tastings are easily arranged. We invite locals and tourists to explore the beautiful areas around them," she said.
Families, senior citizens and school groups are also invited to make group reservations.
In other news, a special squad will enforce new no-smoking rules on Metrorail routes from January, 2001. Offenders lighting up in coaches or on platforms face on-the-spot R200 fines in line with the new Tobacco Product Control Amendment Act and station hawkers who sell tobacco to under-16s face up to R10 000 fines, said Metrorail Protection Services' Eugene van Rhyn. "It is for the convenience of everyone including the many foreign tourists who have long been used to smoke-free public places."


(Simon Farrell)