Track 25

An IRT member enjoys the open-air platform at the back of the current Belmond Andean Explorer train. IRT photo by Eleanor Hardy

Las Vegas, NV — Just back from Virtuoso Travel Week, and here’s the scoop:

• It’s “one-week-and-counting” for the launch of Ireland’s Belmond Grand Hibernian;
• May, 2017 sees the opening of Japan’s ultra-modern Train Suite Shiki-Shima;
• Also in May: Peru’s enticing Belmond Andean Explorer luxury overnight service debuts;
• The Golden Eagle Danube Express’ exciting new Venice-Sicily tour runs next September.

IRT’s Rachel Hardy and I learned much during our whirlwind meetings with the world’s top luxury travel professionals: in formal sit-downs, hallway talks — even an interview with a Wall Street Journal reporter.

Our summary:

• The Belmond Grand Hibernian debuts Aug. 30 with a sold-out train, chartered by yours truly: The Society of International Railway Travelers®! It’s sold out the rest of the year as well. Click here for 2017 dates.

• 

  Train Suite Shiki-Shima bedroom. Photo courtesy of JR East.

  Beginning service next May, the Train Suite Shiki-Shima departs Tokyo’s Ueno station to Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island. Sporting a totally modern, almost space-age look, it’ll be a stark contrast to Japan’s Cruise Train Seven Stars in Kyushu, a veritable rolling display of the island’s natural beauty and traditional crafts.

• The Society of IRT is constructing a dream tour comprising both of Peru’s luxury trains: the Cusco-Macchu Picchu Belmond Hiram Bingham and the Cusco-Lake Titicaca / Arequipa Belmond Andean Explorer. Click here to get on the wait list.

• Just one Sicily trip next year: Sept. 14-25. But it will be memorable. Running along the Adriatic coast, the Golden Eagle Danube Express will offer guests an awe-inspiring, panoramic view of Mt. Vesuvius. More info, click here.

Other news:

South Africa: The classy Blue Train makes luxurious overnight trips between Pretoria and the famed Kruger National Park, one of Africa’s largest game reserves. There’s one more round trip this year; three next year. Click here.

Switzerland: Attention all beer-lovers: the Appenzell Railway offers the new Quöllfrisch-Express service. It runs every Sunday next month, Gossau-Wasserauen. The beer car serves specialties from the Quöllfrisch brewery. The first glass is on the house.

Also: the world’s longest rail tunnel, the Gotthard, is scheduled to open this December. Plus a new end-point to end-point luggage service makes it easier than ever to ride Switzerland’s rails. Click here.

Finally: We think Ecuador’s Tren Crucero looks fabulous, and our clients have raved about it. We at IRT hope to ride it in November. The four-day trip — including a ride across the acclaimed “Devil’s Nose” — is part of our 11-day Ecuador package. Click here.

The Seven Stars’ Deluxe Suite A. Photo courtesy of JR Kyushu

Big news: now you can step to the front of the line to secure a spot on Japan’s Cruise Train Seven Stars in Kyushu.

Since it began service in 2013, the Seven Stars has been so wildly popular that it’s held lotteries to see who gets to ride.

But the Society of International Railway Travelers® recently secured a total of 10 cabins for departures this October and December.

Details remain to be finalized, but we’re opening the gates for people to get on our “first notification” list. To do so at no obligation to you, please email us or call: (502) 897-1725 or (800) 478-4881.

• • •

When I test-rode Japan’s Seven Stars last November, little did I know that my reviews would create such demand.

The result? We created a one-off journey using both the Seven Stars train — newly named as one of our World’s Top 25 Trains® — and the adorable Sweet Train — both of which I highly recommended. The tour sold out in six weeks. Details of the journey are here.

JR Kyushu’s beloved “Sweet Train” Photo courtesy JR Kyushu

As the first travel agency in the Western Hemisphere to charter the Seven Stars, we are honored to be chosen by our friends at JR Kyushu to book a limited amount of space.

Besides passage on the Seven Stars and Sweet Train, our package includes all transfers, hotels and sightseeing. You can take this as one couple — or take it as a group of friends.

We will have an English-speaking guide with you all days except when you are on the  Seven Stars and Sweet Train. On those days, the English-speaking staff on board the trains will take excellent care of you.

We are working out all details and pricing now. But please get back to us as soon as possible to get on our “first notice” list for these departures. We will send you the complete itinerary and pricing when they become available.

Dinner in the Seven Stars’ elegant diner. IRT Photo by Owen Hardy

Note that if you want the longer Japan journey that we offer on our sold-out trip, we can certainly organize that for you, too.

You won’t have to win the lottery to ride the Seven Stars. If you call us and book, you already have!

• • •

Again, to be put on our “first notification” list to receive details about our Seven Stars / Sweet Train itinerary, please email us or call: (502) 897-1725 or (800) 478-4881. There is no obligation to you.

View from the Golden Eagle as it travels from Georgia to Azerbaijan. IRT Photo by Angela Walker

This just in: You still can experience the remarkable and culturally diverse countries of the Caucasus this year aboard the Golden Eagle private luxury train.

The dates are Oct. 14-22.

 Metekhi Church sits high on a cliff in Tiblisi, Georgia  IRT Photo by Angela Walker

Joining part of our Caspian Odyssey tour, this 9-day journey through Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan is an ideal opportunity to explore this captivating region.

            Baku Princess blows a kiss. IRT Photo by Angela Walker

Those who have previously visited the sights of the Silk Road, but would still like to discover this fascinating region, will find the tour especially welcome.

We only have a few cabins remaining, so contact us promptly for further information. Call (800) 478-4881, (502) 897-1725; or email tourdesk@irtsociety.com.

IRAN

There also is still space available to explore the captivating sites of Persia aboard the Golden Eagle on the Heart of Persia tour. The dates are Nov. 24-Dec. 7.

Next year, the tour runs April 6-19 and Nov. 13-26.

Here’s a tour for those who seriously love trains and believe in their future — as I do.

It’s an intensive, 13-day look at everything on Japan’s rails, from ultra-high speedsters to trams. It runs Sept. 27-Oct. 9.

High-speed train departing Fukushima. Photo by Rick Harnish

A quick perusal of the 18-page brochure (get a PDF copy by clicking here) sets my heart aflutter.

Consider:

1. A trip on the world’s latest high-speed train— the Hokkaido shinkansen — through the Seikan Tunnel to Hakodate
2. Express and local train rides through the countryside of Yamagata and Akita prefecture
   

   Hakodate tram. Japan National Tourism Organization

3. Hiroshima streetcar and interurban train rides
4. Behind-the-scenes bullet-train tours: a factory, maintenance facility and control center
5. Precision cleaning-crew “ballet,” as it turns around a just-arrived shinkansen in 7 minutes

The IRT Society operates the tour on behalf of the Midwest High Speed Rail Association — a great organization.

Cruise Train Seven Stars in Kyushu. JR Kyushu Photo

In the past, we’ve run similar MWHSR study tours to France, Spain, France and Spain, Germany and China.

We purposely keep the numbers small, and we have many repeat travelers.

So shake a leg if you’re interested. Call (800) 478-4881, (502) 897-1725; email me at ohardy@irtsociety.com.

P.S.: Our opening photo is a JR Kyushu bullet train – NOT on the tour, but available as an add-on before or after the main tour.

Also available to those interested: VERY hard-to-get space on the world’s latest luxury rail sensation: the Cruise Train Seven Stars in Kyushu. Note: this offer only available to participants on the Japan High Speed Rail tour.