 | |
 A Shosholoza Meyl train at Johannesburg Park station in 2015 | |
| Industry | Rail transport |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Braamfontein |
| Products | Long-distance passenger rail |
| Website | shosholozameyl.co.za |
Shosholoza Meyl is a division of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) that operates long-distance (intercity) passenger rail services. It operates various train routes across South Africa,[1] carrying approximately 4 million passengers annually.[2] Before 2009, Shosholoza Meyl was a division of Spoornet, but it was transferred after the formation of PRASA.
"Shosholoza" is the name of a popular South African song about workers on a train and it therefore means moving forward. "Meyl" is a word that is related to a South African word for "long distance train", according to the Spoornet/Shosholoza Meyl website. The company's name prior to change was "Mainline Passenger Services".
In August 2010, Shosholoza Meyl suspended services claiming either contract difficulties (between Transnet and Prasa) or unreliable trains. Some services began to resume in November 2010.[3][4]
Shosholoza Meyl services were suspended by PRASA following a fatal crash with a goods train on 12 February 2020. A revised service was introduced from 27 November 2020,[5] which due to Covid-19 restrictions limits seating capacity and passengers need to supply their own food, drinks, and bedding.[citation needed]
- ^ Spoornet. "Our Routes". Shosholoza Meyl. Archived from the original on 17 February 2007.
- ^ "Detail of Division - Spoornet". Transnet. Archived from the original on 4 March 2006.
- ^ ""LEANER" SHOSHOLOZA MEYL SERVICE". Railways Africa. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
- ^ "SHOSHOLOZA MEYL SERVICES REINSTATED". Railways Africa. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
- ^ "Shosholoza Meyl is finally back. Here's how much you will pay for long-distance trains".