Touring Europe By Rail 2019

R hine V alley R ailways U ncorked

A tour with scenic branch lines through vineyards, a rack railway, a heritage diesel ride, two cable cars, a steamboat along the Loreley Valley and the Vulkan Express train, plus vineyard visits with winetasting and we’ve even timed this trip to coincide with a local village wine festival!

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

★ ★ Standard Class travel from London to Germany and return ★ ★ 6 nights at the family-run Hotel Pinger in Remagen ★ ★ Relax either at Remagen or Ahrweiler Wine Festival ★ ★ Excursion to Königswinter and the Drachenfelsbahn rack railway ★ ★ Return journey on the Kasbachtalbahn Railway ★ ★ Return journey on the Vulkan Express by steam or diesel ★ ★ Exploring the Ahr Valley branch line, with vineyard visit and winetasting ★ ★ Soar above the river on Koblenz’s cable car ★ ★ Visit Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, overlooking the river ★ ★ Ride Germany’s steepest standard gauge railway – the Hunsrückbahn ★ ★ Relax in beautiful Boppard ★ ★ Marvel at the UNESCO World Heritage Loreley Valley aboard the Steamship Goethe ★ ★ Free time in Rüdesheim with included cable car rides ★ ★ Dinner every evening ★ ★ Eurostar and rail travel to and from Germany in Standard Class ★ ★ Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager ★ ★ Hotel Porterage DAY 1 We depart London St Pancras by Eurostar, speeding across Kent and towards France. Our Eurostar terminates at Brussels, where we change onto a high-speed train into Germany. Our hotel for six nights is the Hotel Pinger in the Rhine riverside village of Remagen . (D) DAY 2 This morning 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 railway has recently reintroduced steam to the line and we will travel by steam traction if available. The line leads us to the village of Oberzissen and onwards to Engeln. (B,D) Also included in your Tour Fare:

Fares From £849

Drachenfels Railway

7 DAYS

DAY 3 Today we 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,D) DAY 4 Our train takes us southwards to Boppard , a beautiful riverside resort and wine town, but also the terminus of the Hunsrückbahn branch line. We climb from Boppard up Germany’s steepest standard gauge line, running 15 km to Emmelshausen, before returning to Boppard. Later, we halt in Koblenz to soar above the Rhine on the cable car , with a visit to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress included in your ticket. (B,D) DAY 5 Today 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,D) DAY 6 Our 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, plus an included 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

DEPARTS Thursday 6 June 2019 Saturday 21 September 2019

FARE

From London St Pancras International: Standard Class rail travel to/from Germany, £849

including Standard Eurostar Single Traveller Supplement

£135

6 nights’ bed, breakfast and evening meal Eurostar and rail travel to and from Germany in Standard Class All excursions as detailed Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager Hotel Porterage GUARANTEED FARE

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. along the UNESCO Rhine Gorge to the Loreley Rock , before continuing by train to Remagen. (B,D) DAY 7 Leaving Remagen, we change trains onto the high-speed line in Cologne. In Brussels we join the Eurostar service to London St Pancras. (B) **Please note that we may switch around certain days to make best use of visits to the wine festivals in Ahrweiler (June) and Remagen (September).

Hunsrück Railway

© Wiki

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

10