Amtrak Winter Park Express 2019 Season Has Begun

THE third season of the "Amtrak Winter Park Express" started with its first departure from Denver Union Station on January 4, arriving at Winter Park Resort and delivering 300 happy skiers and riders directly to the slopes.

The train will continue to run every Saturday and Sunday as well as the first two Fridays of every month through March 31. New this year is a sightseer lounge car complete with food and beverage service.


Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Day trips on the Odakyu line

THE Odakyu Electric Railway, established in 1948, is one of Japan's major private railway companies. With the Shinjuku central transportation terminal in the capital of #Japan, Odakyu lines extend to Hakone, one of Japan's foremost hot spring tourist destinations, and Enoshima-Kamakura, the historical seaside town close to the city center, and they are used not only for sightseeing but also by two million commuters traveling to work every day.

Four types of day tours allow travelers from abroad to enjoy the tourist attractions in areas along the Odakyu lines.

1) Yoyogi Uehara near Shinjuku and Shibuya in downtown Tokyo;

2) Shimokitazawa well known for young people's subculture;

3) Nature-rich, sacred mountain Oyama also known as a historic site; and

4) Odawara, which is the gateway to Hakone and where there is a station on the Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train line.

All four tours are day trips requiring advance reservations. On all these tours, guides provide detailed information in English on local tourist attractions in these four respective areas. Reservations for these tours can be made online as well as at INBOUND LEAGUE and Odakyu Sightseeing Service Center Shinjuku West for foreign tourists, both situated in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward.


Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Celebrate with The Ghan in 2019

2019 marks 90 years since The Ghan embarked on its inaugural journey cementing its place in Australian history and its reputation as one of the world’s best train journeys. To celebrate this momentous occasion you can travel in The Ghan’s 90th year and be part of the birthday celebrations. With a dedicated anniversary train, 90 days of celebrations and six signature packages featuring The Ghan.

For a truly memorable experience, board The 90th Anniversary Train, which will depart Adelaide for Darwin on 4 August 2019 – 90 years to the day since the original ‘Afghan Express’ left for Alice Springs. This one-off journey will include unique on-train experiences and off train excursions, plus a birthday party like no other in the outback.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK
Picture Credit: By Roderick Eime from Australia - The Ghan, commons.wikimedia.org 66107221

Ultimate travel adventure

INSPIRED by five of David Attenborough’s most popular TV series, eShores have created the ultimate wildlife-lover’s holiday. Using locations from both series from Planet Earth and Blue Planet, plus the single series of Frozen Planet, we’ve retraced as many of Attenborough’s steps as possible to to create the #travel adventure of a lifetime.

To emulate the feats of Attenborough and his team from each episode of the five series, you’d have to embark on 175 flights across the world over at least 1034 days, along with several car journeys and a train journey across Siberian Russia.

Totalling £402,220 and lasting at almost 3 years (1034 days), the complete journey also includes several excursions to re-enact the adventures in the series as closely as possible. Included is a trip to Mount Everest from episode one of Planet Earth and an eight-day dogsledding expedition in Greenland, as seen in episode one of Frozen Planet.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

On the rails . . .

VIRGIN Trains has named one of its trains after one of Scotland’s most famous cultural icons in celebration of its role in serving #Glasgow.

The Charles Rennie Mackintosh Express will depart Scotland’s biggest city today (Monday, March 19) in support of Mackintosh 150, a year-long programme of events throughout 2018 celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of Glasgow’s renowned artist, architect and designer.

The 390008 Pendolino train is adorned with Mackintosh’s trademark moustache on the front and his name displayed in his own lettering on plaques on either side.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

On the rails in Colorado

A symbol of a bygone era, Colorado’s historic railroads have been lovingly restored and expertly maintained so riders can relish access to jaw-dropping landscapes and a steady supply of family-friendly fun. As if spectacular views of the Royal Gorge weren’t enough, Cañon City’s Royal Gorge Route Railroad invites you to soak up the splendor of spring while sipping craft brews paired with chef-created appetizers during Ales on the Rails, from mid-March to late May. 

In springtime, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad sets a course for Cascade Canyon, a 26-mile journey through the San Juan National Forest along the Animas River. Opt for a Historic Narration Coach to hear tales of what it took to build the rails, or combine the trip with a Snowmobile Adventure Package for two hours of thrills around Molas Pass. 

Scenic wonders are revealed around every curve as the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad’s century-old steam engine takes you on a relaxing, four-mile round trip past the old Midland Terminal Wye, historic mines and Echo Valley, all set to an educational narration. 

Departing from Alamosa with a stop in Fort Garland, the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad chugs toward Fir Summit on weekends June through September, where an outdoor amphitheater awaits at the top of La Veta Pass. This one-of-a-kind concert venue is home to the Mountain Rails Live concert series, an occasion to see how the West was sung. 

Another way to connect with Colorado’s railroad culture is through a visit to the Colorado Model Railroad Museum which hosts themed events throughout the summer season, starting with Dinosaur Days (June 8-9) bringing dinosaur-related activities into the railroad space.


Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Travel support for those with communication difficulties

GOVIA Thameslink Railway (GTR) is introducing sets of innovative rail travel access aids to support passengers who need help with communication, such as those who are hard of hearing or have language or learning difficulties.

The Accessibility Communication Guide, the second aid, is a pictorial guide that makes it easier for GTR customer service staff and passengers with communications support needs to understand each other. 

Customers can simply point to photographs or pictograms to explain what help they need: getting onto their train, catching a bus or taxi outside the station, finding a toilet or a public phone.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Rail journey through the Serra Do Mar Mountains

THE Serra Verde Express between Curitiba and Morretes in southern-eastern #Brazil offers magnificent views of mountain canyons, tropical green lowland and the Atlantic Ocean. 

The luxurious ‘litorina’ #train starts from Curitiba before travelling to the Morretes – a picturesque coastal city – where you can feast on a traditional Brazilian lunch of “barreado”, a type of slow cooked meat prepared in a clay pot. Then take a tour of Antonina – a city which was recognised as a National Artistic Heritage Institute (IPHAN) in 2012. 

The train departs Curitiba daily at 8:15 returning at 19:15. A round trip on the train is priced from £44 per person based on travelling in standard economy.

www.serraverdeexpress.com

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

All aboard for the KTX train to the 2018 Winter Olympics

TRAVELLERS visiting #Korea for the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic & Paralympic Games will be easily able to make their way between Seoul and the Winter Olympic venues when the new KTX Gyeonggang Line opens at the end of December just in time for the #WinterOlympic Games next February (9-25 Feb). 

The new line from Seoul to Gangneung on the east coast will service the main Olympic transport hubs of Pyeongchang, Jinbu and Gangneung making it very easy for athletes and visitors to the Games to travel smoothly and quickly to their destinations.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Panoramic view on the rails

TRAVELLERS venturing to Machu Picchu will have more choice of train travel from December 2017 following the inauguration of a new service by Inca Rail, the #MachuPicchu Train; Peru’s first scenic #train with dome-like panoramic windows. 

The train will boast taller and wider scenic windows stretching up into the dome of each carriage as well as an open-air observation carriage from which passengers can take photos as they pass through the Sacred Valley. Two return tickets in standard economy are priced from £238. 

www.incarail.com

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

JR East and JR Hokkaido to launch new rail pass

JR East and JR Hokkaido are launching the "JR Tohoku-South Hokkaido Rail Pass," a discount pass for travel in Tohoku and South Hokkaido from February 2018.

The JR Tohoku-South Hokkaido Rail Pass gives you unlimited rides on the Shinkansen and Limited Express trains in the Tohoku and South Hokkaido areas, including Sendai, Aomori, Sapporo, Hakodate, and New Chitose Airport.

It costs 20,000 yen (About £135.00) and is valid for 5 flexible days with reserved seats.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

World first solar train arrives in Byron Bay

FOLLOWING six years of planning, restoration of a 1949 heritage train and 3km of railway line, the construction of two platforms and a train shed and the upcycling to produce the world’s first solar train, the two carriage rail motor has arrived in Byron Bay. 

The monumental project comes from not-for-profit heritage rail organisation Byron Bay Railroad Company. Their Byron Bay train will take locals and visitors between Byron township and the burgeoning North Beach precinct incorporating the Byron Arts Estate, the Sunrise residential community and Elements of Byron resort. The 3km journey along the coastal track will cost just $3 for adults with some concessions provided for children.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Travel by Panda Rail

WEST Japan Railway Company introduced its "Panda Kuroshio Smile Adventure Train" in August. This special train is "wrapped" in a panda design and operates as one of the "Kuroshio" express trains connecting Kyoto, Osaka and Shingu - site of the famous theme park "Wakayama Adventure World." The front of the train is covered by a panda face while there are various animals depicted on the sides as well. This train will run until November 2019 but you will have to be a little fortunate to see it; it operates daily but not always at the same time!

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Picture Credit: Pintrest

Enjoy a cocktail while you wait

EUROSTAR, the high-speed rail service linking the UK and mainland Europe, will be treating Business Premier passengers to a new range of winter cocktails to enjoy whilst relaxing in the Paris lounge.

Designed by the London Cocktail Club, the bespoke cocktails encapsulate Eurostar’s heritage, reminiscent of both British and French cultures. Featuring a range of French spirits such as pastis and Côtes de Provence rosé and typical British ingredients such as cucumber juice and fresh rosemary, the drinks are sure to suit tastes on either side of the Channel.Designed by global architects, Softroom, the Paris lounge has transformed the travel experience for Business Premier passengers. 

Situated on the top floor of the original 19th century building, and featuring high ceilings, marble fireplaces, a cocktail bar and intimate snug spaces, the lounge captures the spirit of a Parisian apartment.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Trains to keep on running during strike action

SOUTHERN is planning to run a normal service on most of its routes during the RMT’s strike on Tuesday 3 October and Thursday 5 October, with a limited service on the West London Line, although the train operator is asking passengers to check before they travel for updates on the day.

Passenger Services Director Angie Doll said: “We are aiming for business as usual on most of our routes during the RMT strikes next week.

Southern and Gatwick Express run over 2,200 services on a non-RMT strike day and most services will operate to the normal timetable.

Gatwick Express will operate a full service between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport / Brighton. Thameslink will also run a full service between London Blackfriars / London Bridge and Brighton.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Thameslink trains now three times longer at Brighton, Gatwick and London Bridge

PASSENGERS travelling between London Bridge, Gatwick Airport and Brighton now have brand new Thameslink trains that are up to three times longer giving more space and more seats.

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) has withdrawn the last of its older trains from this off-peak service, replacing them with cutting-edge Siemens Class 700 carriages.

The 12-carriage trains replace the mostly four-carriage (weekdays) and eight-carriage (Saturdays) twice-hourly service, creating 9,000 extra seats each weekday and much more space for passengers at Gatwick and families heading for the coast.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Virgin Trains smashes its records for travel between Liverpool and London

VIRGIN Trains has broken new records for passengers travelling on its west coast route between #Liverpool and London.

As the intercity operator celebrates 20 years of operating the west coast route, new figures show it carried 1,765,874 customers between Liverpool and London in 2016/17, an increase of 11.2% compared to the same period the previous year (1).

The new figures have coincided with punctuality reaching its highest ever level since privatisation and the introduction of Virgin’s revolutionary new onboard entertainment streaming service, BEAM.

The growing availability of £17 fares between Liverpool Lime Street and London Euston has played a big part in encourage more customers to leave the car at home and travel by #train, both for business and staycation trips.

The increase in journey numbers has also coincided with the growing appeal of Liverpool as a destination. For the first time ever, more Virgin Trains carried more passengers to the city than the capital (889,000 in 2016/17, 13,000 higher than the number of journeys made from Liverpool to London).

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Accessible trains in Russia

THE Federal Passenger Company, a subsidiary of OJSC Russian Railways, has equipped more than 1,400 carriages on 47 branded and international and 7 express trains with removable gangways.

The removable gangways are very strong and have been installed to improve passenger safety and convenience when boarding train from the platform.

These gangways will allow passengers carrying a lot of luggage, families with children, elderly travellers and low mobility passengers on wheelchairs to board and leave the train without difficulty and overcome easily the gap between the train and the platform.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

New journeys on the Napa Valley Wine Train

THE Napa Valley Wine Train recently launched new experiences, including the expansion of its inaugural and most successful tour to date, Quattro Vino, as well as new Twilight Private Tours that allows guests to enjoy an evening train journey and an exclusive dining experience. 

The Quattro Vino now includes four new tours—Legacy, Estate, Collective and a fourth tour to be announced soon—that offer an exciting culinary and wine adventure featuring stops at three of Napa Valley’s most renowned wineries aboard beautifully renovated 1915 Pullman railcars. 

The Twilight Private Tours launched July 22 and includes gourmet appetizers and wine tastings onboard, dessert and coffee upon return, and transportation to an exclusive evening dining experience at Raymond Vineyards or Grgich Hills Estate.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Grab a bargain with half a million discounted tickets on Virgin Trains

WHETHER you fancy a late summer break, an autumn staycation or are even thinking about exploring Christmas markets, look no further than Virgin Trains’ half price seat sale. Between Tuesday August 22 and Sunday August 28, you can bag huge discounts on selected advance tickets for travel between September 11 and December 20* to destinations along the east coast.

With half a million tickets up for grabs, there’s never been a better time to enjoy a trip to Britain’s vibrant east coast. From the cobbled streets of Edinburgh, to the bustling nightlife in Leeds, you can get to these and many more destinations along the route in style and comfort for half the usual price.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Picture Credit: macspite 49767717@N00/1260864460 Penrith station with Virgin Pendolino via photopin.