Monday, May 2, 2011

Journey South Pacific Train Australia

The South Pacific Express Train


Introduction

Until newly, no train existed that enclosed the length of the eastern seaboard. Now there is Great South Pacific Express, Australia's own Orient-Express and the first ever train to go the distance from Sydney - with its incomparable harbor - travelling northwards via sun-baked wine country and thundering rivers to Brisbane, locked in permanent summer. And onwards to Cairns, the meeting place of two designated World Heritage sites.
Whether you experience the GSPE for all or part of the route, you will have traveled aboard the only train of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.
Travel on the GSPE allows you to plan an itinerary as varied and informal as Australia itself. From Brisbane's sparkling beaches to the tropical paradise of one of the seventy-four Whitsunday Islands, your trip includes everything from an excursion to the Great Barrier Reef to a cable car ride over the tree tops of a tropical rainforest.
 

Journeys of Distinction can design your holiday to take you even further , both across Australia and beyond.
In a country in which the railway was responsible for opening up so much uncharted territory, this luxurious travelling hotel combines the highest standards of Australian engineering with opulence and comfort.
Air-conditioned throughout, Great South Pacific Express pays tribute to Australia's early railway heritage. Walls are in solid red cedarwood and myrtle, roof panels are fitted with intricate stained glass which reflects the light, creating richness and atmosphere.
Your en-suite compartment is cool and luxurious with plenty of room to stretch out and relax. A steward is on hand twenty-four hours a day.
Long-distance rail travel has its own kind of heady romance. Add to this the sight, sounds, even the scents of an awe-inspiring landscape and you will begin to understand why Great South Pacific Express is the only way to discover Australia.
 

You can smell the fresh morning air as you wander out onto the Observation Platform. Listen to the sounds of rushing waterfalls, the calls of tropical birds and exotic animals carried on the breeze as the train travels onward and the landscape unfolds. Back inside, sink into a soft chair in one of the train's airy lounges. Explore the smart boutique. Prepare for evening and civilized pleasure of good conversation in the Bar Car. There, a piano plays as the train moves on through the velvet night and you sip a smooth cocktail, prepared flawlessly by the barman. The Dining Car awaits with its white linen, sparkling crystal and heavy silverware. The menu is as fresh and inspiring as the landscape itself. The wines - pure Australian nectar.


luxurious hotel on wheels.

Enjoy the passing scenery and view the spectacular wildlife and panoramas from the open sided viewing carriage at the end of the train. After a leisurely day's travelling, retreat to the dining car for world class cuisine and sublime wines. Bedtime is something else to look forward to as you enter your spacious compartment which converts into a rich and luxuriously appointed bedroom complete with your own private bathroom.


What to Wear.

The atmosphere on board is one of relaxed refinement. During the day smart casual clothing is most appropriate. In the evenings, gentlemen will feel comfortable with a minimum of jacket and tie with a similar standard for ladies. The ambience of the train provides a great opportunity to display glamour and dressing up is welcomed.


SERVICES ON BOARD
In short, dedicated. Your Steward is responsible for your carriage on the Great South Pacific Express. He will be available at all times and may be called by the bell in your compartment. He will also change your compartment from day to night configuration and serve your breakfast, afternoon tea and other refreshments as required.The Maitre D' will come to your compartment to take your lunch and dinner reservations.The Train Manager is on hand throughout the journey to help with any queries.
Any gratuities you wish to give are entirely at your discretion. 


DINING INFORMATION

Table d'hôte meals are included in the fare, while an á la carte selection is also available. All meals are freshly prepared on board by top Australian chefs using the finest ingredients. Menus reflect modern Australian cuisine while the service equals that found in the world's finest restaurants

 

Journey The Copper Canyon Train Mexico


The Copper Canyon

Identification

Mexico's Copper Canyon is actually a set of half a dozen distinct canyons in the state of Chihuahua. The overall system of canyons is longer and in places deeper than even the Grand Canyon of the United States. The only railway running through the Copper Canyon is the Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico. The train itself is usually known as "El Chepe," from the train's reporting mark, CHP.
The Copper Canyon railroad line, “the most dramatic train ride in the Western Hemisphere” (Reader’s Digest), begins in Ojinaga and continues, via Chihuahua, to Los Mochis and Topolobampo. The railroad was started in the 1870s to enable produce grown in southern Texas to be exported via a Pacific port. Simultaneously, the twin settlements of Los Mochis and its port Topolobampo were developed on the other side of the Western Sierra Madre. The railroad project floundered and successive attempts to complete it all failed. Some innovative engineering finally led to the line being completed in 1961.

The Journey

The Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico runs between the cities of Chihuahua and Los Mochis, on the Sea of Cortez. This route extends for over 400 miles, with the middle third spent in the Copper Canyon. Traversing the canyon makes a trip on El Chepe one of the world's most breathtaking train rides. Imagine staggering cliffs akin to those of the Grand Canyon, but instead of rocky, dusty desolation, a landscape fringed in deep green. The engineering of the railway also contributes to the excitement of the journey, as El Chepe must pass over 37 bridges and through 86 tunnels along the way.

 

Train Features

El Chepe has trains offering two different levels of service, Economic Class and First Express. The Economic Class cars have reclining seats and air conditioning and are serviced by a snack car. First Express cars are similar, albeit with better appointments, and are serviced by a full dining car with a bar and a la carte menu. All cars on either train are attended by their own porter, and smoking is prohibited everywhere on the train.

 

Time Frame

The full journey on El Chepe takes about 15 hours, and depending on whether the trip started in Los Mochis or Chihuahua, reaches the outer fringe of the Copper Canyon in five or six hours. El Chepe's route usually ensures it spends the entire afternoon in the canyon area. As of 2010, Economic Class trains run from Los Mochis on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday and from Chihuahua on Monday, Thursday and Saturday, and do not operate Wednesdays. First Express trains depart both cities every day.

Canyon Stations

Frommer's glowingly praises the Copper Canyon for its wildlife and as a place to pursue outdoor activities and experience the culture of the indigenous Indian population, so it is not surprising many tourists get off the train in the canyon in search of adventure. El Chepe stops at Creel, Barrancas and Bahuichivo inside the Copper Canyon. Of the three, Creel is probably the best place to stop for a side trip to pursue adventure sports in the canyon or see something of the local Indian culture.





Journey Bernina Express Train


Bernina Express

Introduction/History:
The huge Bernina line was completed in 1910 and is run by Rhaetian Railways. Start in Chur, St. Moritz or Davos, it passes the glaciers of Piz Bernina, making this the highest railway crossing in all of the Alps. It travels over 39 miles, uphill grades of up to 7%––without rack and pinion––to more than 7,391 feet at the Bernina Pass summit, and drops down to just 1,408 feet at Tirano, Italy. One minute, it seems, you’re above the tree line in a frozen wasteland; the next, you’re zooming to a landing, like in an airplane, into a subtropical Italian paradise.

The combination of remarkable scenery and engineering prompted the World Heritage Committee on July 7, 2008 to add this line (and its sister line, Albula) to the UNESCO World Heritage list. This makes the Rhaetian Railway one of four railways worldwide to be considered “universally outstanding” by UNESCO.


Accommodations

Bernina Express trains have spacious first- and second-class Panorama cars. All seats require reservations. You won’t be sitting long, however. The train passes over viaducts as high as 295 feet, twists through the Albula Valley, up past rock formations and glaciers, then plunges into Italy on a famous corkscrew viaduct. This is a daytime only train; there are no overnight accommodations on board.


Dining

Bring a picnic or eat lunch in a neat café once you get to Tirano.


Lounge Cars

“Railbar” with drinks and snacks are on the following routes: Chur-Tirano; Bergün-Tirano; St. Moritz-Tirano and vice versa.


Twitter Delicious Facebook Digg Stumbleupon Favorites More