Railtrail Annual Brochure 2021

R hine V alley R ailways M ore I nclusive

NEW INCLUSIONS

Back and even better in 2021! Railtrail’s popular Rhineland Railways tour is now even better value with lunch and selected drinks included. This popular tour features scenic branch lines through vineyards, Germany’s oldest rack railway, a steamboat along the Loreley Valley and the Vulkan Express train, plus vineyard visits with wine tasting and we’ve even timed this trip to coincide with a local village wine festival!

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

DAY 1 Railtrail departs London St Pancras by Eurostar, speeding across Kent and towards France. Our Eurostar terminates at Brussels, where we change onto a highspeed train into Germany. Our hotel for six nights is the Hotel Pinger in the Rhine riverside village of Remagen . (D) DAY 2 After breakfast we take the train along the Rhine to Brohl, where we join the Brohltalbahn . Otherwise known as the Vulkan Express , the line meanders up through the Brohl Valley into the Eifel Hills, whose dramatic rock formations were created during a period of volcanic activity. The line leads us to the village of Oberzissen and onwards to Engeln. (B,L,D) DAY 3 Thismorningwe head for the opposite bank of the Rhine by ferry and railway, travelling first to Königswinter . Here we take a return trip on Germany’s oldest rack railway, the Drachenfelsbahn , from the valley station up a height difference of 220 metres to the top station, where you will find the ruined Drachenfels (‘dragon’s cliff’) Castle and great views across the river and the Siebengebirge hills. At Linz-am-Rhein we join the heritage diesel Kasbachtalbahn Railway , whose 1950s ‘Roter Brummer’ Uerdinger Railbus transports us from the bottom station to Kalenborn over 9 kms of track that rates amongst Germany’s steepest. (B,L,D) DAY 4 Today we enjoy a day at leisure and are spoilt for choice with excursion options. We can relax and explore Remagen during the wine festival weekend Also included in your Tour Fare: ★ ★ Dinner every evening, plus 5 lunches and free bar drinks 18.30-21.00 (including house wine, beer, tea / coffee and soft drinks) ★ ★ Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager ★ ★ Great value rail holiday with inclusive lunches and drinks ★ ★ Relax at the Remagen Wine Festival ★ ★ Ride on Germany’s oldest rack railway Drachenfelsbahn ★ ★ Visit to Königswinter ★ ★ Return journey on the Kasbachtalbahn Railway ★ ★ Return journey on the Vulkan Express ★ ★ Exploring the Ahr Valley branch line, with vineyard visit and wine tasting ★ ★ Marvel at the UNESCO World Heritage Loreley Valley aboard the Steamship Goethe ★ ★ Explore Rüdesheim and visit the famous Drosselgasse

Fares From £975

Brohltalbahn – Vulkan Express

7 DAYS

© Brohltalbahn

and enjoy a drink or two at the wine village on the market square. Alternatively, we can take a train takes southwards to Boppard, a beautiful riverside resort and wine town or visit Koblenz where the Rhine meets the Moselle and see the hilltop medieval fortress and impressive Romanesque buildings. (B,L,D) DAY 5 We explore the local region by scheduled service through the scenic Ahr Valley, an enclave of red- wine production in a predominantly white-wine area. Guided by our hotelier, we stop first at the lovely town of Altenahr before heading back down the valley to the pretty walled-town of Ahrweiler. During the day we also visit Germany’s oldest wine co-operative in Mayschoss , with a buggy ride through the vineyards, followed by a tasting of the local wines. (B,L,D DAY 6 Railtrail’s final excursion heads southwards, the whole way hugging the right bank of the Rhine Gorge , with protective castles guarding steep-sloped vineyards at every turn. Our destination is the famous wine village of Rüdesheim , where we allow free time to explore the Drosselgasse. During our visit we have the option of a ride on the town’s cable car, which leads up through the vineyards to the Germania Monument. We leave Rüdesheim on board the Steamship Goethe , gently sailing in nostalgic fashion along the UNESCO Rhine

DEPARTS Saturday 18 September 2021

FARES From London St Pancras International: Standard Class rail travel to/from Remagen including Standard Eurostar £975 Supplement for Standard Premier Eurostar upgrade return £199 First Class rail travel to Remagen including Standard Premier Eurostar £1275 Join & Leave at Remagen £815 Single Traveller Supplement £135 6 nights bed, breakfast & evening meal, 5 lunches (including packed lunches) and free bar drinks 18.30-21.00 each evening (including house wine, beer, tea /coffee and soft drinks) Eurostar and rail travel to and from Remagen in the class of your choice

All transfers, excursions & admissions as detailed Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager GUARANTEED FARE

Gorge to the Loreley Rock , before continuing by train to Remagen. (B,L,D) DAY 7 Leaving Remagen, we change trains onto the highspeed line in Cologne. In Brussels we join the Eurostar service to London St Pancras. (B)

HOTEL Hotel Pinger, Remagen

Conveniently situated for Remagen’s centre and its railway station, yet just a short stroll from the Rhine Promenade, the family-run Hotel Pinger is very much the hub of this small Rhineland town. The hotel boasts a traditional restaurant, bar and coffee shop. The Pinger brothers are the third generation to manage the hotel, which was bought as a restaurant by their grandfather and converted into a hotel after WWII.

Boppard

Selected drinks included

© Shutterstock

© Shutterstock

Book now – online at www.railtrail.co.uk or telephone: 01538 382323

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