| 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 | |
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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 railway stations. Some are in very small, off-the-beaten-path towns. In most cases we are staying in good tourist class hotels. Maximum group size will be 28.
DAY 1 SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 18: (L-D) Independent morning arrival at Zurich airport. Your guide, Dr. John Kirchner will meet the group at the Zurich airport at 10:00AM for the transfer into the city. The first point of interest to be visited will be the Tramway Museum, and we will get there by chartered historic tram over portions of the city's extensive street railway system. Overnight at the tiny mountain railroad town of Realp, at the Post Hotel, with welcome dinner after check-in.
DAY 2 SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 19: (B-D) Today we ride all day on the fantastic 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 Realp, Post Hotel.
DAY 3 MONDAY SEPTEMBER 20: (B-D) This morning we journey by meter gauge MGB (Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn) via the 9.5 mile Furka Base Tunnel, en route to Brig and Zermatt, including a spectacular ride to Gornergrat by GGB cogwheel railway (10,135 ft above sea level). Then back to Brig at the Hotel Ambassador.
DAY 4 TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 21: (B) Early risers will find Brig's two stations of interest. We depart town on SBB and soon enter the famed 12.5 mile Simplon Tunnel, emerging in Italy at Domodossola, where we switch to FART, a meter gauge electric for the scenic run to Locarno. Time for lunch and a ride on the funciular, and then we are off by SBB for the fast trip north to Luzern, including the 9-mile Gotthard Tunnel. Overnight Luzern, Hotel Drei Koenige.
 DAY 5 WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 22: : (B) Morning takes us to the Pilatus Bahn rack railway, the world steepest, and then, in the afternoon, we cross Lake Luzern by steamboat to Vitznau, where we board the Vitznau-Rigi-Bahn rack line to Rigi Kulm. Dropping down the other side of the mountain, we transfer at Arth-Goldau to return to Luzern. Hotel Drei Koenige.
 DAY 6 THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 23: (B-D) Today we head by meter gauge to Interlaken Ost, continuing on to the ultimate climb on the Jungfrajoch rack line, to its spectacular "Top of Europe" station inside a mountain (11,322 ft.). Then down, via an alternate route, to Interlaken Ost. Carlton Hotel.
DAY 7 FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 24: (B) Today's main goal is the fantastic steam powered Brienz Rothorn Bahn rack railway. We return by boat to Interlaken Ost. Overnight at the Carlton Hotel.
DAY 8 SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 25: (B-D) We head west today to Zweisimmen, where we transfer to the famous meter gauge "Golden Pass" route to Montreux. From there we continue on to Aigle and Bex, with their local interurban lines, and finally arrive in the Rhone Valley town of Martigny. Overnight Hotel Forclaz-Touring.  DAY 9 SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 26: (B) Visit Monteux this morning or ride local rail lines. And then, in the afternoon, our adventure takes us by steam over the Blonay-Chamby museum railway. Return to Martigny. Hotel Forclaz-Touring DAY 10 MONDAY SEPTEMBER 27: : (B-D) We head west along Lake Geneva to Lausanne, and change there for the fast run north to Bern, where we board the Bernese steam tramway for a ride over parts of the city tram system. In the afternoon we travel by train from Bern 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 Auberge de la Gare.
DAY 11 TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 28: : (B-L-D) A fantastic day of steam today on the CFJ with tank Mallets. Our special will include a diner. Many great photo opportunities, including street running behind steam in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Overnight Pre-Petitjean. Auberge de la Gare.
 DAY 12 WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 29: (B-D) A fun day of train riding takes us first to the beautiful city of Basel where we will have several hours for tram rides. Then it is on across Switzerland via Zurich to Chur, and then by meter gauge to Samedan. Hotel Terminus.
 DAY 13 THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 30: (B-L) Our adventure takes us into Italy to Tirano over the spectacular Bernina Railway (7,391 ft above sea level). Overnight Sameden. Hotel Terminus.
DAY 14 FRIDAY OCTOBER 1: (B-D) Transfer Samedan - Chur and St. Gallen to the Appenzellerbahnen. Overnight in Herisau at the Hotel Herisau. (farewell dinner) DAY 15 SATURDAY OCTOBER 2: (B) Independent transfers via fast 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. OPTIONAL PLANS If you wish to stay one or two additional days (or longer) in Switzerland you may do so at additional cost. Your 15-day Swiss Pass will still be good for travel all day today (Oct 2), so we recommend taking the Voralpen Express to Luzern, visiting the Swiss Transport Museum, and overnighting there, or continuing on to Zurich/Zurich Airport.
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PRICES PRICES ARE PER PERSON DOUBLE ROOM OCCUPANCY............................$3998 SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT...........................$1098 DEPOSIT TO HOLD SPACE WHEN TOUR IS A SURE-GO.....$1500 FINAL PAYMENT DUE JUNE 18, 2010 TOUR INCLUDES *26 MEALS *28 TRAIN RIDES *ALL ROAD TRANSFERS *AMERICAN AND SWISS GUIDES *14 NIGHTS LODGING IN TOURIST CLASS HOTELS *ALL ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS LAST LIST PER THE ITINERARY |
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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.
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.
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