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



Australian Steam Explorer
Railfan Tour
April 20-May 3, 2012
Operated by Rail Tours
SURE GO

Enjoy eight days of steam, including exclusive charters, plus some memorable rail journeys on the XPT, Tilt train and the renowned "India-Pacific". Our fifth tour to Australia will cover new territory, as well as the regular visit to the incredible Maitland Steam Festival - an event not to be missed.

DAY 1 FRIDAY APRIL 20: Arrivals into Adelaide, stay four nights at the Mercure Hotel situated near the rail station. If arriving in the morning then take a relaxing afternoon excursion by tram to the beach at Glenelg.

DAY 2 SATURDAY APRIL 21: Depart by private coach from the hotel travelling north to Port Augusta for a ride over a remaining portion of the old 3'6" gauge "Ghan" railway. Hauled by one of the original "Ghan" steam locomotives our 39km trip takes us to the outback town of Quorn where there is time for lunch in a typical "pub" and a visit to the workshop. After photographing the train heading back to ort Augusta we depart by private coach to Adelaide.


DAY 3 SUNDAY APRIL 22: By private coach to Goolwa for a morning two-hour exclusive charter along the mighty Murray River on board the 1908 wooden paddle steamer "Oscar W" followed by a steam train ride over the broad gauge (5'3") line to Victor Harbour plus a horse drawn tram ride over the causeway and bridge.



DAY 4 MONDAY APRIL 23: Travel by local rail service to National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide where . you can see engines from thee gauges. We also have a special charter train using 3'6" gauge steam locomotive "Peronne" of 1919. Enjoy some free time in Port Adeliade - perhaps visit the adjacent Aviation Museum, the Maritime Museum, take a cruise on the river or relax over a drink at one of the historic hotels.

DAY 5 TUESDAY APRIL 24: Transfer to Adelaide Parklands rail station and board mid morning departure of the classic and famous "Indian-Pacific" train bound for Sydney. Travelling in Gold Class includes two-course lunch and three-course dinner in the stylish Queen Adelaide Restaurant and access to the Outback Explorer Lounge. Twin cabins feature en-suite toilet, shower and wash-basin (single cabins have a washbasin but toilet and showers are at the end of each car)



DAY 6 WEDNESDAY APRIL 25: After full cooked breakfast in the restaurant car we arrive into Sydney mid morning. Our hotel is just across the square from the station. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore Sydney - Circular Quay and the Bridge, Darling Harbour and much more.

DAY 7 THURSDAY APRIL 26: Morning Countrylink diesel railcar from Sydney to Canberra for a special standard gauge steam charter train to Queanbeyan and return using 4-6-0 No. 3016 of 1914. Return by diesel railcar later in day to Sydney

DAY 8 FRIDAY APRIL 27: By local electric train service into the Blue Mountains to Valley Heights for another excusive charter of the superb 1891 steam tram engine and the Stephenson 0-6-0T. There is a "ladies" option to visit Katoomba for the Sky-Rail cable way offering incredible views over the Blue Mountains (Sky-rail payable locally). Later in the day return to Sydney for our luggage and continue over another scenic rail route to Wickham near Newcastle for three nights stay.


DAY 9/10 SATURDAY/SUNDAY APRIL 28-29: Two full days at the Maitland Steamfest with even more action. At least three engines in steam with regular runs over the main lines to Branxton and Paterson plus we shall be on board one of the steam trains on the amazing chase on Sunday morning over the four track mainline to Maitland. We have included a return steam ride and the chase in the tour cost. In addition there will be a vintage railmotor providing trips, traction engines in action, stands, exhibits, excursions to the Richmond Vale steam line and much more over the two day event.


DAY 11 MONDAY APRIL 30: Morning departure by XPT train from Broadmeadow north through New South Wales to Casino, then coach connection to Brisbane in Queensland.. Overnight at the Holiday Inn, right at the station.

DAY 12 TUESDAY MAY 1: Travel by local train to Ipswich for a visit to the steam restoration workshop and museum before taking the afternoon 3'6" gauge Tilt train to North Gympie - a three and a half hour run. Stay two nights at the Royal Hotel.

DAY 13 WEDNESDAY MAY 2: A full day 80km ride behind steam on the "Mary Valley Rattler" travelling via outback towns and villages (opportunity to sample the local cheeses and wines or a look in at the Wednesday markets) til we reach Imbil where the engine is turned. We arrive back at Gympie later in the afternoon.


DAY 14 THURSDAY MAY 3: Early morning Tilt train from North Gympie to Brisbane connecting onwards by rail to the airport for flights home.

PRICES                            ALL PRICES ARE PER PERSON
Double room .........................................$ 4798
Single room supplement...............................$ 1098
Deposit..............................................$ 500
Final payment due by January 20, 2012

TOUR INCLUDES

*Breakfast daily
*3 steam charters 
*12 nights lodging
*All road transfers
*Paddle Steamer Charter   
*All tickets per the itinerary
*Fully escorted by a tour manager
*Indian Pacific passage in Gold Class



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.



02420  visits since September 8, 2011.

Last modified: Monday, 25-Feb-2013 13:53:12 PST