Tripping Along: Tram and a few drams

26 November 2014 - 02:51 By Adél Groenewald
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WINE DOWN: The tram meanders through vineyards
WINE DOWN: The tram meanders through vineyards
Image: SHELLEY CHRISTIANS

There is something undeniably luxurious about a train ride.

Metrorail apart, trains conjure a sense of class, of being driven, of folding your arms and staring across the passing countryside.

The pleasure of a train ride often lies in the act of travelling. The ride is the experience, the destination secondary.

This is certainly the case with the wine tram of Franschhoek. Visiting a string of farms along the journey is an attractive secondary motive, of course.

Modelled after England's 1890s Brill Tramway, the small green and gold single carriage won't get you anywhere fast. But fast is not the point. It moves on the narrow tracks at a lazy pace.

The sides of the tram are open . A sturdy wooden frame and bright yellow handles are there if you need to hold onto something.

The trip starts in Franschhoek's main road, where you will board a bus with a slightly overhanging roof, green and gold paint and open sides. It's a bit of letdown to realise you won't spend the entire trip in the tram.

The tram tracks were originally built in 1904 to provide an alternative to ox-drawn carts, so farmers could get their produce to the market.

Steam engines operated along the route until diesel locomotives took over in the 1970s.

In the 1990s, the need for rail transport decreased and service along the railway line vanished.

For more than a decade this line remained dormant, then two years ago the wine tram took to the tracks. Driving into Franschhoek from Cape Town you're likely to see it from the main road.

While the tour takes you to seven wine farms, the tram gets you to two - La Provence and Rickety Bridge - but where the tram can't take you, the bus will.

The church-style benches flip over so you can face forward going in both directions.

You can choose to visit five farms in the hills to the south of town, like Mount Rochelle and La Bourgonge, or to visit five popular farms like Leopard's Leap, Dieu Donné and Maison.

Jiggling through the vineyards, mountains towering in the distance, the 40-minute farm stops are about enjoying yourself, but they feel rushed, especially on a busy summer weekend.

Your ticket includes a tasting at each stop. If you prefer a slower pace, you can stay a while longer. Your ticket allows you to hop on and off as you please and the bus and tram arrive every 40 minutes.

  • Avoid drinking and driving by booking a transfer to and from Cape Town. If you want to spend the night in town, the transfer can be booked over the period of a few days as well.
  • The tour alone costs R200 per adult and R85 per child under 17. Kids younger than two ride for free. www.winetram.co.za
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