Touring Europe By Rail 2019

G ermany ’ s H anseatic H eritage

N E W T O U R

A brand new tour jam-packed with rail and heritage in a lovely part of Germany. Steam on Germany’s first ever heritage railway, trundle across ‘Devil’s Moor’ on the Moor Express, steam on board Jan Harpstedt and get to know the beautiful Hanseatic city of

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

DAY 1 Depart London by Eurostar to Brussels then onwards to Bremen and the Maritim Hotel, excellently situated in the Bürgerpark area behind the main station, where we enjoy our welcome evening meal together. (D) DAY 2 Today we begin our exploration of Bremen with a guided tour of Bremen by privately chartered heritage tram on a line specially designed to introduce to you the city centre’s main sights. After some free time to get to know this beautiful Hanseatic city, with it’s ornate town hall, impressive cathedral and splendidly preserved medieval Schnoor Quarter, we embark on a harbour cruise . Leaving from a quay close to the Old Town, we pass the Schlachte, Bremen’s old port, venturing out to the city’s impressive modern ports, before returning back to the city centre. (B,D) DAY 3 Today’s excursion first boards the Moor Express . This heritage diesel railcar plies the route at weekends ★ ★ Stay in Bremen, a wonderfully preserved Hanseatic city ★ ★ Steam on the 22 kms long Jan Harpstedt line ★ ★ Private vintage tram tour of Bremen with local guide ★ ★ Harbour boat trip in Bremen ★ ★ Trundle across ‘Devil’s Moor’ to Worpswede on board the Moor Express ★ ★ Return journey by steam at Bruchhausen Vilsen ★ ★ Visit to Bremerhaven and the U-Boot Museum ‘Wilhelm Bauer’

Bremen on a vintage tram ride, before our final excursion to the port of Bremerhaven to visit the submarine ‘Wilhelm Bauer’.

Fares From £949

Bremen

© Bremen

6 DAYS

between Bremen and Stade across Teufelsmoor (Devil’s Moor), a rural idyll of flat moorland. Our destination is Worpswede , an artist colony since the late 19th century. A coach then transfers us to Bruchausen-Vilsen for a return steam journey with the Deutscher Eisenbahn Verein, Germany’s very first heritage railway dating from 1964. (B,D) DAY 4 Our exploration of Northern Germany’s heritage railways continues with another steam journey on the 22 kms ‘Jan Harpstedt’ line between Delmenhorst and Harpstedt. Founded in 1976, the Delmenhorst-Harpstedt Eisenbahnfreunde society preserved this pretty rural line, determined to bring back its heyday from the 1930s of relaxing Sunday steam excursions. (B,D) DAY 5 Today we take the train to Bremen’s sister city, the port of Bremerhaven . Close to the city centre within the impressive, regenerated harbour area, we visit the U-Boot Museum ‘Wilhelm Bauer’ . A Nazi submarine built towards the end of World War II, the vessel was scuttled in the Firth of Flensburg. Raised from the seabed

DEPARTS

Thursday 4 July 2019 Wednesday 14 August 2019

FARE From London St Pancras International: Standard Class rail travel to/from Bremen, including £949 Standard Eurostar First Class rail travel to/from Bremen, including Standard £1249 Premier Eurostar Single Traveller Supplement £110 5 nights’ bed & breakfast and evening meal Rail travel and seat reservations where available (subject to selected rail travel option)

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

HOTELS

Maritim Hotel Bremen A convenient and comfortable 4 star hotel situated close to Bremen Main Station and the green oasis of the City Park, yet within easy walking distance of the Old Town. All rooms boast free wifi and the hotel has a restaurant, bar, indoor pool, sauna and fitness room. in 1957, the submarine now houses a fascinating museum. After some free-time in Bremerhaven, with the German Maritime Museum close by, we return to Bremen for a final night. (B,D) DAY 6 We travel by train from Bremen via Brussels to London St Pancras International. (B)

Jan Harpstedt

© HSB Dirk Bahnsen © Chris Lewis

Bremerhaven U Boot Museum

Bruchhausen Vilsen

© Chris Lewis

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

9