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Winner of the British Travel Award for ‘Best Small Travel Company for Rail Holidays 2021/22’, The Railway Touring Company applies over 25 years expertise to create a varied, and often innovative, choice of rail-themed tours.
“Each tour is based around key highlights for those pursuing their interest in railways, but these are combined with stunning scenery and super destinations to appeal to companions along for the ride,” says MD Kelly Osborne.
June’s ‘Flying Scotsman Centenary Tour’ is a 2023 UK highlight. On this one-off tour, you will travel with the 100-year old loco over a long weekend, June 30 – July 4, on its former London Edinburgh route.
Other UK choices stretch the length and breadth of Britain. Tours include The Heart of Scotland (July 12–20) with The Jacobite and Strathspey Railway. The Isle of Man features the Manx Electric Railway, Groudle Glen Steam Railway plus the Isle of Man and the Snaefell Mountain Railways (July 7-13). The Emerald Explorer (July 27- August 4) takes in the Waterford Suir Valley and West Clare Railways.
The Railway Touring Company’s European tours offer plenty for devotees of history and rail. Railways & World War II History in Poland (July 15-24) visits the Great Escape Stalag Luft Camp and Schindler’s factory matched with journeys on the flagship Express Intercity Premium (EIP) high speed train and a Wroclaw vintage tram.
Swiss itineraries capitalise on spectacular scenery and include ‘peak-hopping’ on rack railways, funiculars and aerial cableways and the amazing BLS ‘Blue Arrow’. Tour choices also include Alsace, the Black Sea, Germany, Ireland and Venice and Northern Italy all feature.
Further afield, the ‘Colorado and the Rocky Mountains Steam Tour’ (August 25-September 10) takes in the Rocky Mountains, frontier towns, Colorado Springs and the California Zephyr, one of North America’s greatest routes.
Also, check out Canada by Rail & the Alaskan Inside Passage Cruise (September 4-25) and February 2024’s Sri Lanka – The Viceroy Special.
