| TRAINS & TRAVEL P.O. BOX 10625 RENO, NEVADA 89510-0625 Chris@traintrips.biz Rail Tours Manager. For question regarding tour itineraries and details. Deborah@traintrips.biz Office Manager: Accounting |
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1-800 359-4870 USA 1-800 752-1836 CANADA 1-800 266-8751 FAX (530) 836-1944 |
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A remarkable 12 day journey aboard the China Orient Express Private Train . The China Orient Express is a comfortable Hotel-On-Wheels with Bar Car, Restaurant Car and Sleeping Cars. Modern comfort in an ancient wilderness guarantees you good living even in the remotest places.
Our twin-berth cabins are the perfect private retreat, comfortably furnished and traditionally decorated with the varnished wood and brass reminiscent of a different age. Each includes a 'Pullman' table and deep armchair alongside a large picture window; a perfect place from which to take in China's ever-changing scenery. A state of the art shower car complements the two washrooms/WC's in every sleeping carriage. Meals are served in the train's spacious restaurant cars, where our dedicated chefs serve a western breakfast followed by a wide range of authentic Chinese specialities at lunch and dinner, using only the finest local ingredients. As well as soft drinks, tea and coffee, meals are accompanied by a selection of wines from around the world. Equally special is the unique ambience of the piano bar car, where our resident pianist is always happy to take requests. Staying open until the last person leaves, the bar is the perfect place to get to know your fellow passengers… or simply enjoy some time, reading or taking in the scenery while enjoying your favorite drink.
THE SHANGRI-LA-ORIENT EXPRESS
Visit the last remaining industrial railroads still using steam locomotives and travel behind and have wonderful opportunities to photograph steam over the famous Jingpeng Pass in Inner Mongolia.
Day 1, Sunday 15 November Arrival in Beijing. Time permitting (we have asked for a 1700 departure however this is not yet confirmed), we take a brief city tour and visit Beijing Railway museum before transfer to Beijing railway station to board our private train, the China Orient Express. There is plenty of time to settle into our cabins and have a sociable drink in the bar car. Day 2 Monday 16 November After a relaxing morning on the train we will arrive in Harbin after lunch. The city is well known for its unique, Russian and European-influenced architecture. We will enjoy a city tour including Central Street (Zhong Yang Street) - a veritable museum of European architectural styles, Jewish architectural wonders, little Russian bakeries, French fashion houses and American snack food outlets. We will also visit St. Sophia Cathedral, the Russian Orthodox church located in this central district which has now been made into a museum as a showcase of the multi-cultural architecture of Harbin. Day 3 Tuesday 17 November There are no fewer than five systems here, all serving collieries and using 26 modern ‘SY’ 2-8-2s. You’ll be surrounded by mines, washeries and stabling points. Amid this dramatic industrial landscape steam works to and fro - and very often you’ll have to choose which train to go for as there’ll be more than one in front of you! Jixi is one place where the steam world all still seems in order. As elsewhere though, it is on borrowed time. There’ll be a whole day here to explore this varied area – and as elsewhere our expert guides will make sure we get the best out of our visit. Today we will concentrate on the Didao system which operates five SY’s Day 4 Wednesday 18 November One of the very best of China’s charming narrow gauge rural railways, the Huanan line exists to drag coal out of a remote area near the Russian border. Little ‘C2’ 0-8-0s – sometimes more than one to a train make a wonderful sight as they work hard through unspoilt scenery. This timeless 2ft 6in gauge line is normally a real effort to reach, but using our ‘hotel on wheels’ we should get there in perfect comfort. We’ll have a full day here. Should no trains be running we will have a charter freight for the day over the first 25 kms of the railway where there is a road for the photo buses. Day 5 Thursday 19 November We return to Jixi and today will concentrate on the Chengzihe system, which operates twelve SY’s. We are also trying to arrange a visit to the locomotive repair works located at Jixi Xi yard which is at the start of the Chengzihe system Day 6 Friday 20 November Early this morning we will go to one of the three remaining Jixi systems - Donghaikuang, Hengshan or Lishu, all of which use 3 locos. Lunchtime departure for Tiefa. Day 7 Saturday 21 November The Tiefa Coal Railway has the distinction of still having an intensive steam-worked passenger service. Look over the bridge at Tiefa station where the services converge and you’ll be blown away… steam-hauled passenger trains at every platform! Tiefa is also one of the few remaining places to have a full-blown steam works, which also takes in locomotives from other lines. We’ll spend a full day at Tiefa. As well as being able to enjoy the regular action we’ll take a private special train over the complex network with a variety of engines including ‘YJ’ 2-6-2 No. 269, ‘JS’ 2-8-2 No. 5029, ‘KD6’ No. 487 (China’s only working ‘S160’ 2-8-0) and ‘SY’ 2-8-2 No. 1772. The ‘SY’ is claimed to be the world’s very last steam locomotive ever built for commercial purposes – it’s still not even ten years old! We also aim to turn at least one heavy coal train over to steam – which we’ll have the chance to chase for pictures. Day 8 Sunday 22 November Overnight our train will have transferred to Benxi where we are planning to visit the steelworks in Beitai which we understand operates around 20 SY’s. This is one of the most difficult locations to visit and as this is a replacement for Jingpeng, our application to visit was only lodged on Monday. We plan to spend the whole day here before making the short journey overnight to Fuxin. Day 9 Monday 23 November We spend the whole day visiting the Fuxin coal mine railway. Before 1998 this area was out of bounds to foreigners but since then it has become very popular with visiting enthusiasts due to the intensity of steam operations to be found here and around twelve SY’s in use daily. Day 10 Tuesday 24 November The coal line at Nanpiao still uses three SY’s 2-8-2s on both passenger and goods workings. This 22-mile line is notable for its scenery – a mountainous backdrop, long dramatic bridges and panoramic views of locomotives at work on the line. We’ll have a full day here and have the chance to travel on the passengers trains as well as photograph the freights. Day 11, Wednesday 25 November Arrival to Beijing. Sightseeing at Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. Overnight at the Paragon Hotel. Day 12, Thursday 26 November Breakfast brings in the hotel the tour to an end. Transfer to the airport by hotel shuttle bus for international flights.
Day 11, Wednesday 25 November Arrival to Beijing and transfer to Beijing airport for a flight to Urumqi and on to Hami(the Urumqi to Hami section may be by plane or overnight train, depending on final flight timings). If flying, overnight in Hami. Day 12, Thursday 26 November Transfer by road to Sandaoling (about one hour) for a full day at the huge open cast pit band line to the exchange sidings at Liushuquan. The pit is four miles long, one mile wide and 570 feet deep with coal, spoil and a few miners trains being dragged out of the pit by over 30 JS class 2-8-2’s along with a couple of SY’s. Because there is only one time zone in China and Sandaoling is in the far west, sunrise in November is 0900 but sunset is not until 1845. Overnight in Hami. Day 13, Friday 27 November A second day at Sandaoling. This evening we will either take the overnight sleeper of fly to Urumqi. If flying we will overnight in Urumqi. Day 14, Saturday 28 November Take flight at 1005 to Beijing (arriving 1325). Optional tour to the Great Wall in the afternoon. Overnight at the Sino-Swiss Hotel near the airport. Day 15 Sunday 29 November Breakfast brings in the hotel the tour to an end. Transfer to the airport by hotel shuttle bus for international flight
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PRICES ALL PRICES ARE PER PERSON
Double room occupancy..........................$ 9,995
Single room occupancy..........................$13,295
Additional joining cabin.......................$ 4,000
Deposit to hold space..........................$ 1,500
Final payment due by August 15, 2009
SANDOLING EXTENSION
Double room occupancy...........................$1,700
Single room occupancy...........................$2,000
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CABIN DIMENSIONS Cabin area - 38' 4'' sq ft (3.6sqm) Cabin length - 6' 7" (2m) Cabin width - 6' 2" (1.9m) Lower bed width - 2' 5" (0.75m) Upper bed width - 2' 3" (0.7m) Bed Length - 6' 2" (1.9m) Cabins per car: 8 |
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General Information:
Price includes:
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TOUR PRICE: All tour prices are corrected to November 1, 2010 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 is mandatory for all tours. This insurance will cover and give the tour members many benefits and protection. Benefits include baggage, 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, baggage delay and loss, pre-existing medical conditions if enrollment is within 21 days of your invoice date, burglary of you or your companion before departure, felonious assault of you or your traveling 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 trip deposit is received. Travel insurance protects your vacation investments and is a very good investment for your travel and vacation money. 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. FOR CUBA: Because of the nature of these tours travel insurance is MANDATORY for everyone. We have a special American travel insurance company that will insure all folks going to Cuba on legal US approved tours. This insurance information will be sent to you upon receiving your booking.
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, Discover or American Express. 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.
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