TRAINS & TRAVEL
P.O. BOX 10625
RENO, NEVADA 89510-0625
Chris@traintrips.biz
Jane@traintrips.biz
Deborah@traintrips.biz
    1-800 359-4870 USA
1-800 752-1836 CANADA
1-800 266-8751 FAX
(775) 453-1004
   
OFFICE HOURS 9AM TO 5PM MONDAY-FRIDAY
PACIFIC WEST COAST TIME


TOUR 34
RAILFAN/TOURIST TOUR
SEPTEMBER 19-OCTOBER 3, 2009
This Excursion Is Limited To 35 Railfans Only.
CANCELLED ACCOUNT OF THE RECESSION


TESTIMONIAL FROM THE 2008 TOUR

October 6, 2008
Swiss precision is amazing! All trains on time, all amazing for one reason or another-a fantastic trip!!. Great itinerary, Peter and Theo indispensable. Swiss rail took very good care of us. Highly recommend this trip!!!

Janet Westbrook
Ridgecrest, CA



Our Swiss Rail Adventure tour is an in depth look at Switzerland by Rail. Each traveler will receive a first class Swiss Rail Pass for use during the tour. This is a tour aimed at the railfan traveler, train rider, and mileage collector. General tourism is limited, but the trip does include some of the most famous tourist rail experiences. We have chosen the hotels for this tour because they are close to the railway stations in most cases. Some are in very small towns far from the usual tourist areas. In all cases we are staying in good tourist class hotels. Maximum group size will be 35.

Saturday September 19: (L-D) Independent morning arrival at Zurich airport. Your guide, Dr. John Kirchner will meet the group at the Zurich airport at 10:30AM for the transfer into the city. The first point of interested to be visited will be the Tramway Museum, followed by a ride on a chartered tram over portions of the city's extensive street railway system. Overnight in Andermatt at the Hotel Monopol and welcome dinner after check-in.

 Hotel Monopol in Andermatt


Sunday September 20: (B-L) Today we ride the Furka Bergstrecke steam rack train, powered by an 80-year old cog locomotive, along a scenic route that takes us into alpine scenery, well above the tree-line. Overnight in Andermatt.









Monday September 21: This morning we join the famed Glacier Express Andermatt - Zermatt line, including a spectacular ride to Gornergrat by cog wheel railway (3089 meters above sea level) Overnight in Zermatt at the Hotel Gornergrat. B-L


Hotel Gornergrat in Zermatt



Tuesday September 22: (B-L-D) The day starts with a Swiss Rail train ride from Zermatt to Berne using the old or new Lötschbergtunnel. We then board the Bernese steam tramway for a ride over parts of the city tram system. In the afternoon we travel by train from from Berne to Pré-Petitjean, switching en route to a 1913 electric railcar on the meter gauge Chemins de fer du Jura. Overnight in Pre-Petitjean at the Hotel Gare.







Wednesday September 23: (B-L-D) Today it's all-day steam action with chartered double-headed tank Mallets over the scenic rails and grades of the CdefduJ. Overnight Pré-Petitjean.









Thursday September 24: (B-L) Transfer from Pré-Petitjean to Locarno via Gotthard tunnel, a relaxing day of train riding and great scenery. Overnight in Locarno at the Hotel Garni Montaldi. B-L



Friday September 25: (B-L) The wonderful Centovalli Railway takes us from Locarno, in Switzerland, to Domodossola in Italy. We then continue from Domodosssola to Montreux, on beautiful Lake Geneva, via the famous Simplon tunnel. Overnight in Montreux at the Hotel Helvetie.






Hotel Helvetie in Montreux


Saturday September 26: (B-L) Our adventure today takes us by steam over the Blonay-Chamby museum railway. Overnight Montreux.

Sunday September 27: (B-L) Next is Montreux - Interlaken - Brienz via the Golden Pass There we connect with the Brienz Rothorn Bahn steam railway. Overnight in Interlaken at the Carlton Hotel.


Carlton Hotel in Interlaken






Monday September 28: (B-L) Today we enjoy one of the continent's most famous rail trips-Jungfraujoch to the "Top of Europe." 2nd night at the Carlton Hotel in Interlaken.




The above photos were taken in the Interlaken area


Tuesday September 29: (B-L) Transfer from Interlaken via Brünig to Lucerne, followed by a steam boat ride on Lake Lucerne to Vitznau. There we join the Rigi Railway rack line for the steep climb into the Alps. Transfer back to Lucerne. Overnight in Lucerne at the Hotel Drei Konige.




Hotel Drei Konige in Lucerne


Wednesday September 30: (B-L) It's off on the Voralpenexpress from to Pfäffikon. We then transfer Pfäffikon - Chur - Samedan. Overnight in Samedan at the Hotel Terminus.






Above photo of the Terminus Hotel in Samedan


Thursday October 1: (B-L) Our adventure takes us over the Bernina railway (2253 meters above sea level) Overnight Sameden.





Friday October 2: (B-L-D) Transfer Samedan - Chur - St. Gallen - Herisau to the Appenzellerbahnen. Overnight in Herisau at the Hotel Herisau. (farewell dinner)

Saturday October 3: (B) Independent transfers via high speed train from Herisau to the Zurich airport. Trains take 1 hour to make this trip and they depart from Herisau every 30 minutes starting at 5:37AM.


PRICES                               PRICES ARE PER PERSON

DOUBLE ROOM OCCUPANCY................................$4398
SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT...............................$1098
Deposit to hold space due when tour is called a sure-go
FINAL PAYMENT DUE JUNE 12, 2009

TOUR INCLUDES

*32 MEALS
*22 TRAIN RIDES
*FULLY ESCORTED
*14 NIGHTS LODGING IN TOURIST CLASS HOTELS

TOUR BOOKING CONDITIONS

TOUR PRICE: All tour prices are subject to change without notice at any time.

CHANGE OF ITINERARY: We reserve the right to substitute, change train routing, alter or modify the tour if any unexpected and unforeseen conditions beyond our control occur. As almost everyone knows, in the railroad industry last minute changes do occur.

RESERVATION CHANGES: A $50 per person charge will apply for any changes made to a reservation. This will also apply for any changes in credit cards usded.

DEPOSITS AND FINAL PAYMENTS: The required deposit is due in our office within 14 days of making a booking. For most tours the final payment is due in our office 90 days before the start of the tour. Due dates are posted for each tour and will also be on your invoice and in some cases we will vary the due Date depending upon the tour in question.

MILEAGE COLLECTORS: Mileage collectors please take note before you book! Trains and Travel does not cater just to mileage collectors. We cater to all people that enjoy the railroad hobby. 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 with us is to collect the rare mileage, may we suggest that you be prepared for possible route changes.

RESPONSIBILITY AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: We 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 engaging in transportation, accommodations or services related to the accomplishment of the tour including Trains and Travel. We have no control on the timings of our charter trains and indeed passenger trains and charters can and do run late most of the time. Nor do we assume responsibility for natural disaster, social or political upheaval, acts of terrorism or acts of nature. The right is reserved to substitute hotels, tour leaders, equipment, motive power, trains, routes and to alter the itinerary when deemed necessary without notice. We are not responsible for expenses incurred by tour members in preparing for the tour.

CANCELLATIONS: Trains and Travel does not accept cancellations on the phone. Cancellations must be received by postal mail, e mail or fax before any refunds will be processed. Be sure and allow enough time if sending your written notice by the very slow 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 process some refunds in but most cases refunds will be issued in half that time. Cancellation refund rules: 100 days prior to the start of any tour you will receive a full refund less a $200 per person administration fee. 99 to 75 days before the departure of any tour there will be a 80% cancellation penalty based on the full cost of the tour. Any cancellations received 74 or less days before the start of any tour will not receive any refund. These cancellations rules apply to everyone and will be enforced.

RIGHT TO REFUSE SERVICE: Trains and Travel reserves the right to refuse service to anyone we deem necessary, to insure that all of our clients will have the best possible tour.

PRE-DEPARTURE TOUR BULLETINS: Tour bulletins will be sent to clients that have booked on our tours. Bulletins include weather, packing tips, food, health, updates and much more. Tickets and a detailed itinerary booklet will be sent out about three weeks before the tour begins.

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 may 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 TU needs to cancel any tour everyone will receive a full refund. Please take note that 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.



04119  visits since September 16, 2008.

Last modified: Thursday, 03-Sep-2009 16:15:23 PDT