Archive for the 'Rail Travel' Category
Chug along on the Alaska Railroad beer tour
September 13, 2009 10:31am
The Alaska Railroad will offer the “Great Alaska Beer Train” on Oct. 3, a refreshing ride along Alaska’s scenic Turnagain Arm. The 4 1/2-hour round-trip journey between Anchorage and Portage includes six half-pints of microbrew beer and appetizers by Anchorage’s Glacier BrewHouse.
BrewHouse beer menu standards include Brewhouse Blonde and Oatmeal Stout. Also on the railroad’s horizon is the Blues Train, Sept. 26 and 27, which will travel round trip from Anchorage to Seward and include lunch, appetizers, barbecue dinner, two drink tickets and one night’s hotel stay, as well as blues entertainment, of course.
The Great Alaska Beer Train costs $149 per person; Blues Train costs $249 per person based on double occupancy (for hotel). Passengers must be 21 or older for both. Info: (800) 321-6518, www.alaskarailroad.com.
— Leslie Anne Wiggins, Los Angeles Times staff writer
[Photo: The scenic Alaska Railroad will offer beer and blues tours. Credit: Alaska Railroad Corp.]
Save 20% on BritRail train passes for fall and winter
September 9, 2009 5:55am
Traveling around Britain this fall or winter? The train can be a great way to see the U.K. Even better, you’ll save with low-season prices for BritRail passes. But watch your dates: A week can make a big difference.
Deal: BritRail passes are discounted by 20% for travel between Nov. 1 and Feb. 28; the last purchase date is Feb. 15. The discount includes Consecutive Passes, which give you unlimited train travel throughout England, Scotland and Wales for a fixed period, such as four days or a month; and Flexi Passes, which let you travel on a fixed number of days (you pick the dates) within a two-month period.
Tested: On BritRail’s website, I priced an eight-day, standard-class BritRail Consecutive Pass for travel starting Oct. 24, before the deal takes effect, and starting Nov. 1, the first day of the deal. By waiting a week, I’d save $74, paying $285 instead of $359 for the pass.
Drinking bubbly in London: All aboard
August 30, 2009 10:12am
When London’s St. Pancras International station opened for Eurostar rail service in November 2007 after decades of neglect followed by a multimillion-dollar renovation, who knew that it would become the coolest place in London— and maybe in all of Europe — to drink Champagne?
Turns out it’s the home of the St. Pancras Grand Champagne Bar, suspended near the glass roof of the old Victorian train station in the Kings Cross section of the British capital. The elegant bar is almost 300 feet long, surrounded by heated banquettes, with smashing views of incoming and outgoing Eurostar trains and the refurbished station’s smart shopping area. Read the rest of this entry »
Tour the Northeast by rail with Amtrak summer sale
May 22, 2009 10:08am
If you’re planning to spend time on the East Coast this summer, consider doing some touring by train. Amtrak is offering discounts on its Northeast Regional line, which stretches from Boston down to Newport News, Va. Cities along the route offer countless lures — from the must-sample Manhattan museums and Baltimore crab cakes to unique events such as the National Capital Barbecue Battle in Washington, D.C., in June.
Deal: For one-way coach-class fares, get 25% off the lowest available rates through this current sale. Sample fares from New York City include $41 to Providence, R.I.; $48 to Baltimore; and $49 to Boston. Read the rest of this entry »
Pasadena travel bookstore Distant Lands puts trains, ships at your fingertips
April 14, 2009 10:28am
Sure, you can buy books, maps, luggage and other travel gear at Distant Lands in Pasadena, but why stop at that? Now you can book your trip and get rail tickets for Europe too.
The travel bookstore recently began marketing Rail Europe tickets and passes and also added an American Express travel agency outlet, which sells tours, cruises and customized itinerary planning.
“We wanted to make a commitment to be a one-stop travel shop,” said Angel Castellanos, manager of the nearly 20-year-old store.
Roundup: Japan’s plans for 310 mph trains; Obamas going to Caribbean for Summit of Americas
March 24, 2009 11:57am
Train news | Only 16 more years until there’s a high-speed train traveling 310 mph in Japan. They’re working on a network of magnetically levitated, or maglev, linear motor trains to be the new bullet trains connecting major cities in Japan. But you don’t have to wait until 2025 for speed. An E-5 series of train is scheduled to take to the rails in 2011 promising speeds of nearly 200 mph. Read: Japan: Blurring the line between bullets and trains
Washington, D.C. — Amtrak’s special ticket policy for Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, 2009
January 18, 2009 7:02pm
If you are traveling by train in and out of Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20, 2009, make sure you check Amtrak’s website for a list of news, tips and ticket policies specific to Inauguration Day.
Amtrak: Inauguration Day Travel Information
Items to note:
> Amtrak will not honor MARC Train or Virginia Railway Express (VRE) tickets on Jan. 20.
> Amtrak Multi-Ride tickets will not be honored for travel to the Washington area during the morning, or for travel from the Washington area during the afternoon and evening of Jan. 20. See the Jan. 20, 2009 Multi-Ride Ticket Policy for specific restrictions. Tickets will be honored for certain routes, while some trains will require a normal-fare, reserved ticket.
> Washington Union Station will be limited to Amtrak, MARC and VRE passengers. Food and retail shops will be closed in the afternoon.
>Heightened frontline and behind-the-scenes security measures will be taken in stations and aboard trains, and may include:
Roundup: Malibu’s shrinking beach; cost increases at LAX; Amtrak train fire
December 31, 2008 8:20am
The New Year’s Eve celebration wave has begun its journey around the world. Sydney, Australia, as the first major city to ring in 2009, hosted a huge fireworks show that drew a reported record number of spectators.
But with the financial, and other, storms that the past year has wrought on many, moods are somewhat tempered. Sydney’s crowds celebrated with “cheers, beers and a sense of relief,” according to the Associated Press.
Malibu | It turns out its name is no longer so fitting: Broad Beach, whose sands have drawn battles between public beachgoers and wealthy property owners, is shrinking. Read “Malibu’s vanishing Broad Beach a sign of rising sea levels, experts say,” and have a look at this short video about this beach at risk. Read the rest of this entry »
Northwest storms snarl flights, roads and Amtrak trains
December 22, 2008 9:22am
If you’re traveling to or from Seattle, Portland or other Northwest U.S. areas today, Dec. 22, prepare to wait or make alternate plans. Winter weather, which has included snow, freezing rain and high winds, is causing major flight delays and cancellations and slowing other transit this morning.
Seattle/Tacoma International Airport (SEA): At this key hub, where a snowstorm stranded hundreds of fliers Sunday, scores of departing flights were canceled between 7 and 8 a.m. this morning, according to Flightstats.com. Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, which suspended service Sunday afternoon out of Seattle and Portland, said they would resume a limited schedule today. For updates, visit the Seattle airport website.
The 12 books of Christmas: ‘Sacred Places’
December 16, 2008 12:10pm
If you want something a bit more in tune with the vibe of the season, think “Sacred Places of a Lifetime” (National Geographic, $40).
Its subtitle, “500 of the World’s Most Peaceful and Powerful Destinations,” tells you it’s a big ride, but its really the organizing principle that is fascinating.
