The Great Train Race Brings More Spectacles to Heidelberg This Heritage Month

This event has been postponed due to emergency infrastructure repairs at Heidelberg Railway Station. All ticket holders and paid vendors will receive full refunds, which are being processed immediately. A new date will be considered once the infrastructure repairs have been completed and the site has been confirmed as safe and ready to host the event.

The Great Train Race, one of South Africa’s most unique heritage spectacles, returns to celebrate classic automotive spectacles once more on Saturday, 26 September 2026 at the Heidelberg Railway Station in Gauteng. Here’s what you need to know.

The Great Train Race | What's on in Joburg — Image by James Atwell

What to look forward to at The Great Train Race 2026

More than 100 vintage cars, motorcycles, aircraft, and a majestic steam locomotive will take centre stage at the 10-year anniversary of the event, with a live re-enactment of the iconic 1930 race between Woolf Barnato’s Bentley Speed Six and Le Train Bleu being the main highlight. Audiences experience the rare thrill of seeing the battle between steam and combustion engine once again.

More event highlights include:

Bentley vs Steam Train re-enactment
150+ Vintage cars, motorcycles and aircrafts
Period parades
Bagpipes and drum entertainment
Live music
VIP experiences
Food trucks
An artisan market
Best Dressed Vintage Competition
Kids’ Zone with crafts and mini train rides
First-ever train rides

Keeping history alive

Event founder and historian Christopher Van explains: “The Great Train Race is about more than machines, it’s about keeping history alive for the next generation. Every collector plays a part in preserving a piece of our motoring heritage.”

Event patron and co-owner of Paysure Brokers, Yuvi Jasti, says: “For us, the Great Train Race is about stories that connect people, the journeys our grandparents spoke about, the machines that defined an era, and the chance to relive that history today.”

Need to know before you go

In addition to general entry tickets, The Great Train Race is also offering attendees the chance to elevate their experience with VIP packages.

For those seeking exclusivity, VIP packages include access to the exclusive VIP Lounge, a luxury seating area, food and drinks, priority access to exhibits and premium viewing area for all performances.

Extra experiences including heli-flips, mini-train rides, highwheeler rides, and first-ever train rides can be booked at an additional price.

Cost: R130 per adult; R80 for kids aged 13 to 18 + pensioners; kids aged 2 to 12 enter free; R2000pp for the VIP experience. Book via tixsa