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The pride A N D
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With Rovos Rail South Africa has arguably the most luxurious trains in the world. Colin Chinery talks to Rohan Vos, managing director and founder of this scrap yard to champagne and high table railway romance.
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uperlatives, like a fine and wellsavoured Cape Shiraz, roll off the traveller’s tongue – ‘The Most Luxurious Trains in the World’, ‘The Pride of Africa.’ The luxury and the pride are wellauthenticated. With less than 40% usage the South African rail network puffs and clanks short of a well employed asset. But it hosts the world’s most sumptuous trains. And the most evocative.
An Entrepreneur? I imagine so. I have a penchant for developing things Rohan Vos
Creation of businessman Rohan Vos, Rovos Rail is a Blue Chip of rail travel, transporting its passengers in high Edwardian style from Cape to Dar Es Salaam, Pretoria to Durban and Victoria Falls. In this its 21st year, Rovos is the most extensive luxury rail network in the country, operating out of Capital Park Station Pretoria, two classic 20-coach, 72 berth trains, with a third 13-coach, 42-berth Edwardian train available for charter, and living what Rohan Vos describes as “an atmosphere of good food, good wine and good conversation. The soul of Rovos comprises seven reconditioned steam locomotives, snatched from the scrap yards, and a vision to quicken the heart of the rail enthusiast. But for its passengers, the splendours are the coaches – some dating back to 1911 - meticulously restored, and outfitted with 1920s and 1930s-style furnishings - Rohan’s wife Anthea handles the interiors and ‘softs’ mahogany paneling, and in a 1911 dining car, fluted teak pillars and arches. Elegance with world-class comfort. www.southafricamag.com
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Rovus Rail South Africa FEATURE
“I wanted to combine the romance of train travel with accommodation, cuisine and service of the highest standard,” says 64 year old Vos, “Travelling on Rovos Rail is like being in a time warp. We’ve tried to re-create the ambience of an English country club of the early twentieth century but with attention to modern comforts.” This is no boyhood ‘engine drivers dream comes to reality’ story. Vos had no interest in trains – or tourism - until 1986 when asked to help form a steam-preservation group in Witbank, east of Pretoria, where he ran motor-spares and related businesses. Falling for the rail bug, he bought and restored four carriages and a steam locomotive, with the notion of running this private little hotel-on-wheels around the
Travelling on Rovos Rail is like being in a time warp. We’ve tried to re-create the ambience of an English country club of the early twentieth century but with attention to modern comforts countryside for himself and his family. But the costs were beyond his private means, and when South African Railways suggested he sell tickets, the embryonic journey of Rovos started on its first kilometer. It is a remarkable story of one man’s energy, faith and vision. For the next few years Vos flew his airplane, searching the countryside for old coaches and locomotives; rescuing them from scrap yards, purchasing from the railways and individuals who had turned them into restaurants and homes. “Establishing myself in the tourism industry was not easy. If I have lost any money due to my inexperience in this operation, it has been through my lack of knowledge in the tourism department. 4
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“However, when I started I was told that it would take three to five years for the product to mature. Hotels talk longer term - some five to eight years before they become profitable. We broke out of the red after six years. “Our aim was to present the train as a gracious and comfortable home. We call ourselves ‘The Most Luxurious Trains in the World’ and the rationale behind this is that we have much larger suites than other trains. The train has a maximum of three suites per carriage, and some have only two, which is extravagant by other train standards.”
Gracious, sumptuous, nostalgic, Rovos makes no claims to compete with the contemporary facilities and modern suspension of the ‘Blue Train’. “They are a modern convenience. We have an atmosphere, generated by the noise and the sounds and the smells. We have a very different feel, a real soul.” Unsurprisingly and routinely, passengers tell Vos he has an extraordinary product. “But without the staff it wouldn’t be what it is. We do have a specific style, and customer care and we do have a wonderful ambiance. It’s a friendly service I try to
We have an atmosphere, generated by the noise and the sounds and the smells. We have a very different feel, a real soul
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Rovus Rail South Africa FEATURE
give, not necessarily a clicking of heels efficiency, but friendly and discreet. And I think the friendliness is probably the common denominator.” Less compelling for the potential tourist is South Africa’s high levels of violent crime. But Rohan Vos says this is not an issue. “With the people I deal with – tour operators – it’s not a subject even on the agenda any more. “In 2008 we had more visitors coming to South Africa than ever and next year there will probably an even higher number. Even with the crime more people are coming. Obviously tourists are looked after by tour operators and tour operators know where you shouldn’t go at certain times of day.” 2008 was a peak for Rovos, but unsurprisingly the recession that bit in the last quarter of that year has seen business decline. Last year occupancy was well below 50%, leading to a 35% drop in business. But 2010 is looking better, with longer journeys bullish – the Cape to Cairo journey is scheduled to resume in 2012 - and Vos is hoping to break 50% occupancy. A World Cup spin-off? “No, in fact at this moment they are running empty over that period and forward bookings very poor for World Cup. Most of our passengers are not necessarily soccer followers.” In fact 95% of Rovos passengers are from outside South Africa; around a quarter from Britain and a similar volume from the USA. Germany accounts for 15%, Australia 5% and Japan perhaps three%. “There is a continuous pressure to up the tariffs and this puts pressure on us to raise our ticket prices, which in turn of course reduces our traveller potential. But I’m a survivor. And one way you survive is by building relationships with your suppliers and clientele.” If Rovos Rail is unlikely to share in the World Cup three million visitors’ projected jackpot, Vos is looking to a longer term advantage. “I’m hoping the World Cup will
give our economy the injection it needs from a publicity point of view, which will then generate more passengers for us. I’m certainly looking forward to the publicity South Africa will get from the world.” Meantime Rohan Vos keeps his eye far down the track. Last year he bought nine electric locomotives, but with no electrics north of South Africa his next loco investment will be in diesels. “You can’t rest on your laurels, you are always thinking about the next step An Entrepreneur? I imagine so. I have a penchant for developing things. I‘m probably my own worst enemy in that I’m always looking forward to the next challenge. “I bore easily unfortunately and once I’ve mastered something I tend to look for something else. But I’m trying to stop myself now. I’ve just turned 64 and I’m getting too damned old for these games.”END
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