About a month ago I was walking down the train tracks over in Sabana Sur when I thought I heard a train whistle (horn?). Must have been the previous evenings cerveza confusing my hearing as I’d only seen one train in 6 months. I checked behind me and here was a 6 car train bearing down on me at the incredible speed of maybe 35 kph. I stepped off the tracks with plenty of time spare and watched it pass. There were people (old & young) hanging out the windows waving and smiling. Hmmmmm… I thought it would be fun to ride a train sometime. Where would this train be going, and how could I get a ride? I thought I’d done my homework after moving here. Obviously I’d missed something. Finding new experiences in a new land is exciting.

The next weeks Tico Times had a small article about the train I saw. I visited their web page http://www.ticotraintour.com/ and liked what I saw and fired off an Email. I received an almost instant reply in English and they sent 5 or 6 pictures of the train ride which are not on the website. Two small problems with the web page. Page says the train goes to the East coast but it goes to Caldera (west coast) and two of the Email addresses (both RACSA) do not work . The working address is: americatravel@ice.co.cr Anyway, we along with 4 friends took that train ride yesterday (8th of May) and had a good time. This was a spur of the moment decision. I received a phone call around noon on Saturday (7th of May) from a Tico friend asking if we’d be interested in taking the train the next day if he could get tickets? “Of course”, I said. Less than an hour later I received another call saying everything was set and a taxi would be picking us up at 7:15 am at our front door. It was on time and we were off! I had no idea where the train station was in Alajuela but the taxi driver did and when we were dropped off, another group was waiting on the platform at the (seemingly) deserted train station. It’s difficult to describe but everyone on that platform appeared quite exited for the upcoming train ride. I know I was and my expectations were rewarded nicely.

The company has an office in Alajuela in addition to the one at the Pacific train station in San Jose and they claim tickets must be purchased in advance. One of our party joined us at the last minute and purchased her ticket on the train. Since we all reside in Alajuela we really did not wish to go into San Jose to catch that train at 7:00, we asked for another pick up location. The train stopped and picked us (and 6 others) up at the station in Ciruelas (spelling) here in Alajuela at 7:45.

The Islands of the Bahamas lie 50 miles off the Florida Coast; closer to mainland USA than any other Caribbean destination. The Bahamas are a diverse chain of Islands that can be explored over a lifetime.

Cabo San Lucas is famous for golf, fishing, nightlife and a laid back Mexican atmosphere. Pedregal, located in Cabo San Lucas, is the location of the most beautiful vacation rentals.

London has one of the longest historys of train use in the world, and is home to the first subway the London Underground which started in 1863.

The London Underground has a long history and consequently many changes to its rolling stock and operations.

You can visit the London’s Transport Museum in London to see lots of old trains, and discover the history. There is also a depot which has a large collection of buses.

Barcelona Granada Seville Cordoba Madrid

A grand nine day tour by train of the important parts of Spain with an option to continue onto Lisbon, Portugal.

Suggested Itinerary:

Day 1. Barcelona. Fly into Barcelona and make your way into the center to enjoy this historical and delightful city.

Day 2. Barcelona. Spend a full day wondering around Barcelona and take in the sights of the famous La Ramblas, the Gaudi architectural park and, the Olympic stadium.

Day 3. Barcelona-Granada. Time for the first train trip to Granada. Make your way to the station and board the train for Granada, arrive and have a lesiurely afternoon and evening exploring this famous city.

Day 4. Granada. Take time to visit the Alhambra palace and gardens., and spend the rest of the day soaking up the sun and Spanih atmosphere.

Day 5. Granada-Ronda. Time to move onto Ronda. Take the train through some stunning scenery and arrive in time for a relaxing dinner and evening entertainment. Overnight stay.

Day 6. Ronda-Seville. Moving onto Seville take the train in the early morning and travel through the marvellous countryside that adorns this area of Spain. Arrive in Seville and take a leisurely stroll before a late lunch and siestia.

Day 7. Seville. Seville attractions include a visit to the Cathedral and the Reales Alcazares as well as the Santa Cruz Quarter. Afternoon free and another overnight stay in Seville.

Day 8. Seville-Madrid. Rise and shine for an early morning departure to catch the AVE (high velocity train) to Madrid. Plenty of time to enjoy the afternoon in the streets of this heavily Arabic influenced capital city.

Day 9. Madrid. Take a tour of the Old Town. Rest of the day at leisure to explore its museums, etc. Overnight stay in Madrid. Take the train onto Lisbon in Portugal or fly back from Madrid International Airport.

Orient Express to London Paris Venice

Embark on the British Pullman at London's Victoria Station and travel through the Kentish countryside.

If you’re looking for hotels in London then try London hotels website where you can find a cheap hotel in London for your stay before setting off on your Orient Express rail trip.

After crossing the Channel board the blue and gold carriages of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express for your overnight journey throughout France and into Switzerland. Enjoy your day on board as the train travels through the towering Swiss Mountains and Austrian Alps before an early evening arrival in the magnificent city of Venice.

Highlights: 

Day 1 – As you board the gleaming carriages of the British Pullman train at London Victoria station, your steward will show you to your reserved seat. Sit back and enjoy a three-course lunch with wine and a glass of champagne as you travel throughout the Kentish countryside. After crossing the channel board the blue and gold carriages of the Continental Wagons-Lits.

Day 2 – You awake to the magnificent scenery of the Swiss Alps as breakfast is served in your compartment at a time to suit you. Spend the morning in the Bar Car chatting to fellow guests over coffee. While away the afternoon with a visit to the on board Boutique to purchase souvenirs, or relax in your compartment and admire passing scenery as the train travels through the Italian Dolomites. Later, afternoon tea is served in your compartment as you travel through the Brenner Pass.

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An exciting overland journey travelling by First Class rail through France, Spain and the wonderful rural landscapes of Morocco to the Imperial cities.

Day 1 Friday - London to Madrid
Depart London Waterloo at about 1330 by Eurostar for Paris (find a London hotel), with lunch served on board. After crossing Paris by coach, join the Francisco de Goya hotel train for the overnight journey to Madrid.

Day 2 - Madrid
On arrival in Madrid (Spanish hotels), we transfer to the Nacional Hotel (4 star) for a two-night stay. Today's sightseeing includes the Plaza Mayor, the Prado Museum and the magnificent Royal Palace.

Day 3 - Free day in Madrid
Take time to explore Spain's capital with a stroll through the medieval quarter or perhaps enjoy the excellent shopping in Gran Vía and the Salamanca district.

Day 4 - By train to Ronda
We take the train south from Madrid to the wonderfully unspoilt town of Ronda, set in the heart of Andalucía. Your afternoon is free to stroll through this beautiful town and soak up the wonderful atmosphere.

Day 5 - Ronda
This morning's sightseeing tour includes a visit to the Plaza de Toros, the oldest bullring in Spain, as well as the Mondragon Palace, Iglesia Santa Maria la Mayor, and the Puente Nuevo, the bridge over Ronda's famous gorge. 

Day 6 - To Morocco
Our journey continues southwards to Algeciras, where we board the ferry and cross the Straits of Gibraltar. On arrival in Tangiers we have lunch at a restaurant overlooking the beach, before transferring to our hotel for one night, the El Minzah (5 star), situated close to the Medina. 

Day 7 - Tangiers to Rabat
This morning we continue our sightseeing tour of Tangiers, with a visit to Hercules' Caves on the Atlantic Coast. We later board the train for Rabat, arriving early evening after a scenic journey past primitive settlements set amongst rich farmlands.

Day 8 - Rabat and Casablanca
Our morning tour of Rabat includes a visit to the old medina, the Royal Palace of Hassan II and the Kasbah des Oudaïa. We continue to Casablanca, passing the immense Hassan II Mosque, the largest mosque in Morocco.

Day 9 - The Marrakech Express
We depart Rabat in the morning by train and travel inland towards the Atlas mountains and the red rose oasis of Marrakech.  Sightseeing this afternoon includes the magical Jamaa El Fna Square, an ancient meeting point for entertainers, dancers, acrobats, soothsayers, snake charmers and traders.

Day 10 - Exploring Marrakech
Today we discover this captivating city's ramparts, minarets, tranquil gardens and the souks of the medina. Our evening is spent sampling Moroccan cuisine and enjoying a folklore show.

Day 11 - The Atlas Mountains
We learn about the Berber people during a fascinating excursion into the Atlas Mountains which includes a visit to a typical Berber home and the local market where you have the opportunity to buy Berber handcrafts.

 
Day 12 - North to Fez
Today we travel through remote regions, major cities and rural landscapes before climbing into the middle Atlas Mountains to Fez. Situated about the old medina of Fez, the hotel boasts views which have changed little since biblical times.

Day 13 - Sightseeing in Fez
A sightseeing tour of the old guilds, fortifications, souks and spice market reveals an intriguing city where life continues much as it did in medieval times. 

Day 14 - To Roman Volubilis and Meknes
A full day excursion takes us to Volubilis, Morocco's most impressive Roman ruins with fine examples of temples, mosaics and baths, before moving on to the Imperial city of Meknes.

Day 15 Friday - Fez to London
We transfer to the airport in Fez for our return flight to London Heathrow (London hotels), arriving mid-afternoon.

Return by rail option

As an alternative to the flight home from Fez, you may prefer to return from Morocco by rail, enjoying a two-night stay in beautiful Seville along the way.

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One of the highest countrys in Europe Switzerland offers you the opportunity to see fantastic scenery and magnificant sights from the comfort of a modern train. 

On this 7 1/2-hour rail trip over 291 bridges, through 91 tunnels and over the Oberalp pass (2,033m/6,670 ft) you can experience the Swiss Alps in all their breath-taking magnifience from the comfort of your seat in the panorama car.

Unspoilt mountain forests, lush Alpine pastures, rushing mountain streams and mountain valleys with their rich traditions stretching back hundreds of years.

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"The Most Spectacular Train Trip in the World"  Take a two-day journey through the heart of the Canadian Rockies, entirely in daylight. You overnight off the train with hotel accommodations included in your fare.  Travel from Vancouver to either Jasper, Banff or Calgary and vice versa.

The trains operate from April through October with two classes of service offered.  We recommend the deluxe Gold Leaf Service, where every seat is in the private glass-topped dome car for optimal viewing.

Downstairs, the luxurious Gold Leaf dining room features regional cuisine created by onboard chefs. Rocky Mountaineer Railtours offers a variety of vacation packages–both escorted and independent rail/drive–in connection with the train journey.

The packages feature the Canadian Rockies and the Pacific Northwest.

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The Overlander – Auckland to Wellington

Although the word breathtaking is often overused, New Zealand truely has some senery which merits this description. And what better way to see it than from the comfort of New Zealand’s only private railway – Tranzscenic.

The Overlander

The Overlander is a journey through the heart of the North Island, travelling between Auckland – New Zealand’s largest city and home of the Sky Tower, to Wellington – New Zealand’s arts and culture capital.

Along the way you pass the Central North Island ski towns of National Park and Ohakune, popular with young and old alike. You also see fantastic views of New Zealand farmland, the volcanic plateau, Mount Ruapehu, the world famous Raurimu Spiral, and stunning river gorges – all from our panoramic windows or open air viewing decks allowing you the best possible views.

All carriages feature large panoramic windows giving sweeping views of the magnificent North Island.

The Overlander departs Auckland and Wellington daily. Whether you are planning a weekend getaway or a longer trip, tour New Zealand’s North Island by rail and see it all while you sit back and relax.

The TranzCoastal

The TranzCoastal train journey travels between the delightful port of Picton and Christchurch, the South Island’s largest city. This journey is a scenic feast of New Zealand, with the Kaikoura mountain ranges on one side of your train and the rugged Pacific Ocean coastline on the other.

Along the way you pass though the village of Kaikoura, where, if you’re touring New Zealand, you can break your journey to take in the whale watching or dare to get closer and swim with the dolphins.

One of the world’s most scenic train journeys, the TranzCoastal travels through 22 tunnels and crosses 175 bridges, one of them being New Zealand’s only road-rail bridge. As on The TranzAlpine, The TranzCoastal includes an open air viewing carriage where all your senses are awakened with the clean, fresh, sea air.

If you plan to stay a little longer and explore New Zealand then Cheaper than hotels has a great range of places to stay at including Hotels in Auckland, Hotels in Wellington and Hotels in Christchurch

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An African train adventure!

Africa’s vast expanses and variety of scenery, coupled with the luxury of travel authentic original steam trains refurbished to the highest standards and resplendant luxury, will make a journey on Rovos Rail an unforgetable experience.
For many visitors to South Africa, there is no finer way to see the country than on the popular 48-hour weekly journeys between Pretoria and Cape Town.

This 1600-kilometre journey is a perfect illustration of South Africa as a world in one country. Travel the grasslands of the gold rich Highveld to the haunting barrenness of the Great Karoo.

Trundle through the spectacular mountain ranges and scenic wine lands of the Cape. Journey’s end is Cape Town, the Mother City of South Africa, cradled by the imposing bulk of Table Mountain, Devil’s Peak and Lions Head. Highlights of the north and southbound routes include a visit to the historic village of Matjiesfontein.

Step aboard the wood panelled coaches – classics remodelled and refurbished to mint condition – and enjoy fine cuisine in five-star luxury as some of the most varied scenery imaginable unfolds beyond the windows.

About the trains

The five superbly reconditioned locomotives have a distinctive character and charm and they are all named after owners Rohan and Anthea Vos’s children. The oldest and smallest engine in the stable is 439 TIFFANY – one of 40 Class 6 Locomotives manufactured by Dubs & Co in 1893.

Rohan and Anthea Vos first saw this petite loco on the platform of Winburg Station in the Eastern Freestate and it was love at first sight. The loco was purchased in 1987 and Dunns Locomotive in Witbank was commissioned to return the Class 6 to running condition. She is named after their youngest daughter. 2701 BRENDA, 2702 BIANCA and 3360 SHAUN are named after Rohan and Anthea’s other three children.

They are Class 19D Locomotives which were all built during the 1930’s. All three locomotives were saved from scrap metal dealers and, after extensive restoration by Dunns Locomotive and the Rovos staff, were put back into service in 1989. 3484 MARJORIE is named after Rohan’s mother. Built in 1954 by the North British in Glasgow, she is a Class 25NC Locomotive that has been converted from a coal burner to an oil-fired engine.

She can cover a distance of 700 kms without needing to stop for oil or water whereas the steam locomotives have to stop after 100 kms for water and 300 kms for coal. The arrival of an articulated GMAM Garret locomotive which is currently being overhauled, will bring the operating fleet to six.

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A ten day coast to coast train excursion taking in some of the most beautiful and scenic places in the world. This trip combines a variety of sleeper accommodation and hotels along the route.
A fantastic experience for train enthusiasts and others wanting something a little from the usual tour packages.

Discover Canada’s varied geography and fantastic scenery from the bustling commercial centre of the country, Toronto, Ontario to the west coast’s beautiful port city, Vancouver, British Columbia.

Enjoy the journey on board VIA Rail’s legendary Canadian travelling through Ontario’s rugged north and across the peaceful prairies into Alberta, with a stopover in the magnificent Rocky Mountain National Parks.

Explore the charming towns of Jasper and Banff and visit stunning Lake Louise, and then continue across BC’s varied landscapes to Vancouver, BC nestled between soaring mountains and sparkling ocean.

See why people from around the world choose to see Canada by train!

The heritage of Canada’s great railway hotels lives on:

* In 1929 the Royal York Hotel (Toronto) was the largest in the British Empire, a neo-classical style.
* The third and current Hotel Vancouver, built in the Chateau style in 1939, was first constructed in 1887.
* Billed as the Grand Canadian Lodge Experience, the Jasper Park Lodge, originated in 1915 as Tent City
* The Banff Springs Hotel, opened in 1888, a Swiss- style chalet, influenced by the French chateau.
* Chateau Lake Louise, (1890) originally a one-story log cabin, was rebuilt in a Swiss-style chalet in 1893, and circa 1900, architect Rattenbury, redesigned the hotel.

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