TRAINS & TRAVEL
P.O. BOX 312
PORTOLA, CALIFORNIA 96122
Chris@traintrips.biz Rail Tours Manager. For questions regarding tour itineraries and details.
1-800 359-4870 USA
1-800 752-1836 CANADA
1-800 266-8751 FAX
(530) 836-1944
OFFICE HOURS 10AM TO 3PM MONDAY-THURSDAY
PACIFIC WEST COAST TIME
CLOSED FRIDAY-SUNDAY



TYPES OF TOURS WE OFFER

  • RAILFAN: These tours cater to the dedicated railfans and railroad photographers and are NOT suitable for the general tourist.
  • RAILFAN/TOURIST: These tours will cater to the railfans and tourist with a great mix of rail photography, train riding, sightseeing , scenic locations and sightseeing.
  • TOURIST: These tours will cater to the general tourist and their families.
  • PRIVATE RAIL CAR: These tours are suitable for everyone and include riding on private rail cars.




Private railroad cars allow travelers to step back in time and recapture that romantic era of train travel that Amtrak cannot provide. You can travel on these luxurious private railroad cars, dining on fine china and crystal and being pampered by the onboard staff. Sip on cocktails and nibble on hors d' oeuvres while sinking into deep leather sofas in lounges and vista domes and relax by the rhythm of the train wheels rolling down the track. All meals are prepared fresh onboard and made to order by the onboard gourmet chefs. We are offering six tours in 2013 that will use private rail cars.

SPECIAL $550 DISCOUNT OFFER
BY WAYS OF CALIFORNIA AND OREGON
JUNE 4-9, 2013

TRAVEL THROUGH THE FEATHER RIVER CANYON
AND OVER THE ENTIRE BNSF INSIDE GATEWAY
KEDDIE WYE TO THE COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE

If you can take over a reservation on short notice we will give you a $500 discount off of the price for this outstanding private charter train tour. We have had some last minute cancellations and we would like to fill these spaces.



2013 RAIL TOUR OFFERINGS
CLICK ON A TOUR NAME FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND PRICES


PANAMA AND COSTA RICA RAIL ADVENTURE
Tourist/Railfan
January 18-27, 2013

SURE GO SOLD OUT

WINTERAIL EXPRESS
Railfan/Tourist
March 10, 2013

CANCELLED

HISTORICAL AND EDUCATIONAL TRAINS OF CUBA
Tourist/Railfan
April 27 - May 11, 2013

SURE GO
BOOKINGS MUST BE CLOSED BY MARCH 8

GOLDEN EAGLE TRANS-SIBERIAN EXPRESS
8 departures between May & September -Tourist
ALL DEPARTURES SURE GO

SOUTHERN AFRICA RAIL SPECTACULAR
May 3-31, 2013 -Railfan
SURE GO

DINNER AT HEARST CASTLE
Private Rail Car
May 9-10, 2013

CANCELLED-REFER OCTOBER 3-4 TOUR

BY WAYS OF CALIFORNIA AND OREGON
Private Rail Car
June 4-9, 2013

SURE GO

ENGLAND TRAINS AND TREASURES
Tourist/Railfan
June 8-23, 2013

SURE GO

THE NAADAM FESTIVAL
Tourist
July 1-13, 2013 Eastbound
July 10-22, 2013 Westbound

SURE GO

CROSS COUNTRY EAST
Private Rail Car
August 2-9, 2013

SURE-GO


CHINA STEAM TWILIGHT
Railfan
September 5-23, 2013

SURE GO
THE SILK ROAD
Tourist
Sept 20-Oct 10, 2013 Eastbound
Sept 24-Oct 14, 2013 Westbound

SURE GO

SWITZERLAND BY RAIL
Tourist/Railfan
September 23-October 7, 2013

SURE GO

DINNER AT HEARST CASTLE
Private Rail Car
October 3-4, 2013


NEW ENGLAND TRAINS AND FALL COLORS
Tourist
October 5-14, 2013


STEAM IN ENGLAND AND WALES
Railfan
October 12-23, 2013

SURE GO

COLUMBUS DAY WEEKEND FLYER
Private Rail Car
October 13, 2013


PACIFIC COAST DOMES SOUTH
Private Rail Car
October 15, 2013


NATIONAL PARKS OF THE WEST
October 17-25, 2013 - Private Rail Car

ERITREA-STEAM IN THE MOUNTAINS
Railfan
October 18-26, 2013


INDIA - SIGHTS AND STEAM
Tourist/Railfan
November 16-30, 2013




WE RECEIVE LETTERS


October 11, 2011
Hi Chris

Just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for a fantastic tour. I know that the weather is outside your control, but it was just stunning and the charters and facility access was just amazing. In 25 years of rail trips all over the world, I can honestly say that this was the best tour that I have done. Even with the day out of action on the D&S, I took nearly 1800 images - now all I need is some time to actually look at them :)

Cheers from Down Under, and thanks

Grant

October 11, 2011
Good afternoon Chris,

Yes it's late afternoon here in Germany, even though still early morning in California.

I want to say a cordial "Thank You" for the excellent tour you had organized, I feel it was a great success. Especially for me who had been often in the States from the late 1960's to the early 1980's, but had not returned since 28 years now, it was a nostalgic "One generation after" experience. What I also had to experience was, sorry to say, that I have indeed become 28 years older in those 28 years, and also 10 years older than in Peru 2001, you may have realized that I was sometimes a bit short of breath when climbing up hills.

Please give my best regards and a hearty "Thank You" also to Arnie who was a competent leader for the tour. He returned home early on Friday Oct. 7 when I was still asleep (the first day of the tour where I could do a luxurious healthy long sleep!), so could not say "good bye" to him.

I will prepare a report of the tour for CRJ Continental Railway Journal and if you are interested I can send you a copy. In this context, I have a question regarding the present situation on the Virginia & Truckee RR. I understood you saying that we travelled to the present end of line from Virginia City, and that there is still an inoperable section of several miles between there and Carson City, is this correct? (It appears that in the Internet other reports have been appeared saying the whole line could be travelled again). Also, did I get it correctly that the organisation building from Carson City is different from the V&T RR Co? If so, who is it, is it the Nevada State RR Museum, or who else?

Thanks again for this excellent tour,

Gunter

September 8, 2011
Hi Chris,

We are commendin' you for a TERRIFIC travel arrangement for fun an' adventure regardin' the Feather River Express III on August 19th, 2011 durin' the "Portola Railroad Days" weekend celebration. My wife; Marci an' my folks; Tony Sr. an' Laura truly enjoyed the entire trip. The sights an' scenery were fabulous. The staff was very friendly. The Plaza Santa Fe Dome Car was remarkable. Chris we are quite appreciative for sharin' your stories an' experiences of facts an' history of the canyon an' the remarkable engineerin' feats undertakin' to make the passage through the canyon via rail possible. I was the feller wearin' the black Tom Mix Stetson hat an' the beard. With HIGHEST Regard,

Tony an' Marci Argento Jr.

August 25, 2011
Hi Trains & Travel Staff:

Your Feather River Express was just perfect. What a wonderful excurison and experience. Everything was just perfect from the scheduling, the private cars, onboard service and the Portola Railroad Days Festival. It was a flawless weekend. We will be back for more. You folks really know how to run an excurison.

Tim and Karen S

August 22, 2011
Thanks again Chris!!!!! What a great show and train trip!!!

We had the time of our lives, and a blast of a good time. The service was great and all the band members will talk about this performance for a long time to come. Your staff was the best.

Patrick Michael Karnahan- Black Irish Band

August 20, 2011
Chris,

I don't know how to thank you for one of the most extraordinary trips of my rail-faring life. I had been wanting to travel through the Feather River Canyon since the summer of 1982 when I rode the D&RGW from Denver to Salt Lake City during its last year of operation over the full length of its route. The Plaza Santa Fe is the nicest dome car I have ever traveled in and the company was just superb. I very much hope to be able to travel with you again in the not too distant future.

Best wishes,

Bill Wood

July 28, 2011
Hi Chris: Just a quick after action report on the the trip. I must tell you that you picked a winner in Geoff Cooke. The trip was well coordinated we saw everything that was advertised in the brochure and any special needs were promptly dealt with with zero hassle. He was extremely knowledgeable from a touring and a railfan perspective. Barbara and I feel that thanks to Geoff we have received a wonderful introduction to the UK.

Barbara and Don



TOUR BOOKING CONDITIONS

TOUR PRICE: All tour prices are corrected to November 1, 2012 and are subject to change without notice, at any time. All prices based on double room occupancy. We reserve the right to change tour prices if necessary.

PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE: Personal items, meals not listed in the itinerary, laundry, phone calls, excess baggage charges, rental cars, side tours, insurance, passport fees including visas, vaccinations, gratuities, medical costs, tips to train or motor coach staff, extra tour costs due to unanticipated changes in the itinerary for reasons beyond our control, including weather, travel conditions, or cancellations, government intervention, sickness, political disputes, and failure of transportation or other causes beyond our control.

TRAVEL AND HEALTH DOCUMENTS: A valid passport is required for our international tours. In some cases a visa is also needed. Consult your health professional for the recommended immunizations and documents. Trains and Travel International , here on referred to as TTI, assumes no other responsibility if a client is refused entry into a country. Cost and cancellation fees will be paid by the client in the event they do not have valid documents.

CHANGE OF ITINERARY: We reserve the right to substitute, alter or modify the tour if any unexpected and unforeseen conditions beyond our control preventing the completion of such. Conditions can include weather, train schedules, equipment, motive power, revision of train consist, train delays, labor strikes, political disputes, derailments, closure of a rail line, break down of railroad or motive power equipment, railroads not honoring contracts and bus equipment problems. We will always endeavor, in each case, to provide substitutes, if any changes take place. TTI is not responsible for canceled trains, delays, hotel rooms, route changes or missed connections, for any reason whatsoever. We will not give refunds if such conditions or cancellations take place.

TRAVEL INSURANCE: TRAVEL INSURANCE: Travel insurance is mandatory and is required, but you can opt out. The Decision to Opt-Out or Decline is Mandatory. Insurance will cover and give tour members many benefits and protection. Benefits include baggage loss, accident, life, trip cancellation, sickness, bankruptcy, strike, weather conditions, employer termination or layoff effecting you or a person sharing the room with you, terrorist incident in your departure city or city of destination, jury duty, you are subpoenaed, hijacked, or quarantined, your residence or traveling companion residence is rendered uninhabitable, emergency military duty, traffic accident, single supplement upgrade when your traveling companion cancels their trip, trip interruption, trip delay, missed connections, itinerary change,emergency medical benefits, medical evacuation, pre-existing medical conditions if enrollment is within 21days of your invoice date, assault of you or your traveling companion before departure, burglary of you or your companion before departure 24 hour hotline emergency assistance, emergency cash transfer and more. We will supply you with a travel insurance brochure with rates and application when we mail you the invoice after your bookings. Travel insurance protects your vacation investments. US law allows us to offer this insurance to all persons worldwide. We will accept a "refusal of travel insurance wavier" if you do not wish to purchase any travel insurance.

RESPONSIBILITY AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: Accepting your payment represents an agreement that you understand all the conditions, to be a member of our tours. TTI gives notice that they are acting agents for the owners, contractors and suppliers, providing the transportation and all related travel services and assume no responsibility for injury, sickness, damage, loss, additional expenses accidental delay or irregularities which may be caused through willful or negligent acts or omissions on the part of the companies providing or engage in transportation, accommodations or services related to the accomplishment of the tour. Nor do we assume responsibility for natural disasters, social or political upheaval, acts of terrorism or acts of nature. TTI reserves the right to substitute hotels, tour leaders, equipment, motive power, trains, onboard accommodations, routes and to alter the itinerary when deemed necessary without notice. The right is also reserved to cancel any trip or train prior to departure for any reason . TTI is not responsible for expenses incurred by tour members in preparing for the tour, including non-refundable airline tickets, visa fees, planning, phone calls, or any other expenses. TTI reserves the right to decline to accept, or ask to leave a tour, any person whose actions impede the daily operations of a tour, welfare or enjoyment of other tour members. TTI cannot give any refunds for any unused services. The terms contained herein shall serve as a waiver of liability to TTI. Assumption of risk on behalf of the client, their heirs, executor, administrators, successors, and assigns for any and all known persons injuries

RESERVATIONS: A deposit is due in our office within 14 days after you make your bookings. Full payment is due 90 days before departure. You will receive an invoice, reservation form and current tour bulletins with your confirmation and travel insurance forms. No notice for final payment will be sent to you. It is your responsible to make the final payment on-time.

CANCELLATIONS: TTI does not accept cancellations on the phone. Cancellations must be received by postal mail, email or fax before any refunds will be considered. Allow enough time if sending your written notice by US mail postal system. When a written cancellation is received in the Trains and Travel office this will be the effective date of the cancellation. Please take note that it can take up to 60 days to to process some refunds. Cancellation refund rules: 100 days prior to the start of any tour you will receive a full refund less a $100 per person administration fee. 99 to 61 days before the departure of any tour there will be a 80% cancellation penalty based on the full cost of the tour. Cancellations received 60 or less days before the start of any tour will not receive any refund. GW Travel Ltd has their own cancellation rules and these will apply. If booking on GW Travel Ltd ask for cancellation rules.

PRE-DEPARTURE TOUR BULLETINS: Tour bulletins will be sent to clients that have booked on tours operated by TTI. Bulletins include travel info related to the tour. Final documents will be sent out about two to three weeks before a tour begins. We offer tours operated by other companies and they may or may not send out tour bulletins and updates and most send out final documents only one to two weeks prior to the start of their tours.

PAYMENTS: Payments can be made with personal check drawn on a U.S. Dollar account, money order for U.S. Dollars, bank wire transfer, or credit card. We accept Visa, Master Card or Discover. Final payment for all tours is due 90 days prior to departure. If final payment has not been received 7 days after the due date, a late fee of $50 per week will apply.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: All prices are based on double room occupancy. We will try and match you with a roommate if one is available. If not, you may be charged the single room supplement listed for the tour you are booked on. Single rooms may not be available in some remote locations and on some trains.

TOUR REFUNDS: If for any reason tour members amend or delete any arrangements during travel, and leave the tour on their own, we cannot give any refunds on unused portions of the tour. If buses and trains are cancelled by the carrier or there is a labor strike or they go out of business, we cannot be held responsible and we cannot give refunds. Travel insurance will protect you for any of these reasons. If TTI needs to cancel any tour everyone will receive a full refund. Please take note that in some cases refunds can take up to 60 days to process.

PARTIAL TOURS: We will allow passengers to join or leave a tour at certain points. It will all depend on the tour and the conditions. Give us a call and we will try and work up a custom option for you.

MILEAGE COLLECTORS: Mileage collectors please take note that TTI does not cater just to mileage collectors. We cater to all folks that enjoy trains and Rail journeys. We give strong warning that itinerary and route changes do happen and this is totally beyond our control when it does. If the only reason that you would want to book a tour is to collect the rare mileage, you need to understand that possible route changes do happen.



 

 

1831261    visits since November 7, 1997.

Last modified: Thursday, 16-May-2013 12:39:38 PDT