Train Travel

Train trips in the snow

Travelling by train through the snow is magical. Crossing frozen rivers, seeing fields of snow sparkling in the moonlight is something everyone should experience.

Here a few ideas to get you started on your voyage of discovery.

The Glacier Express

This journey takes you through Switzerland and gives you the opportunity to see some of the world's most picturesque landscapes.

To travel on the most famous of the several rail journeys that cross the Alps, ensure you book on the Glacier Express. This journey takes nine and a half hours to travel between St. Moritz and Zermatt, two wintersports centres. The train climbs above 6,500ft, crosses 291 bridges, negotiates 91 tunnels as well as crossing frozen rivers and snow filled chasms. It passes the huge glaciers of the Valais region and from this train you will be able to see the Matterhorn.

Booking information: Great Rail Journeys has a two centred escorted trip for ten days which starts at . There are discounts of for children up to the age of 12 if they share with their parents, for ages 12-15 sharing with parents and for children up to 15 years of age in a single room. This includes flights from Heathrow and accommodation. For more up to date information telephone 01904 521940 or click on-line www.greatrail.com. A similar package is available starting from Cologne, this uses the Jungfrau railway and the north face of the Eiger. Prices start from .

You can book tickets independently by contacting www.glacierexpress.ch. or telephoning 00 41 27 927 7777. The train operates daily and a one-way trip costs for first class and in second class, children under 6 travel free and those aged between 6 and 16 years are given a 50 per cent discount. Or you can contact Switzerland Travel Centre. This operator sells tickets for the Glacier Express, The Jungfrau, the Bernia Express etc. All these offer views of mountain peaks covered in snow. For more information telephone020 7292 1550 or on-line www.switzerlandtravelcentre.co.uk.

For a seven night Across the Swiss Glaciers package which includes the Glacier Express contact Inntravel on 01653 617906 or on-line at www.inntravel.co.uk. The price starts at per person with a discount for children under 12 years of age. The price includes flights from Heathrow, bed and breakfast and some dinners. This company also offers spectacular rail trips through the Pyrenees.

The Vigezzina

The small train or the Vigezzina travels through the mountains to Locarno from Domodossola, in Italy.

This is a different train journey as it is a local commuter service that luckily passes through some of the most beautiful scenery in Italy. The Vigezzina travels to the villages of the Vigezzo Valley and then climbs into the Alps. You can choose whether to return by train or a steamer to Italy. The journey is 35 miles and takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes. You can get to Domodossola by trains from Stresa or by car( a 90 minute journey).

Booking information: Buy tickets from the station in Domodossola, a one way ticket coats children aged 4-12 years of age cost ut they travel free if they are with two adults. More information can be found at the tourist office, telephone 00 39 0324 482541.

The Trans-Siberian Express

This takes you east from Moscow via Lake Baikal and Ulan Bator to Beijing.

This journey enables you to see the snow landscapes of Siberia. The train crosses the Volga and allows you to view the the snow drifts on the mountains. This journey stops in the capital of Manchuria, Harbin. In Harbin the locals celebrate the winter weather by having an ice festival. People come from allaround the world to take part in carving the giant ice sculptures.. The trip will take twelve days and includes a night in Moscow and two nights in Harbin,

Booking information: Regent Holidays features the Trans-Siberian Express, for more information contact them on 0117 921 1711 or on-line www.regent-holidays.co.uk. Alternatively, the Russia Experience has departures in December and January. The price is a land only price so you will need to get a flight. Prices start from per person or for two sharing. For more information contact them by telephone on 020 8566 8846 or on-line at www.trans-siberian.co.uk. To find the best flight deal try Trailfinders, this has open jaw tickets which fly from Heathrow via Frankfurt.Prices start from . For more information telephone 020 7938 3939 or on-line www.trailfinders.com.

The Roof of the World

This journey travels from Oslo to Bergen in Norway

This is northern Europe's highest railway. The Bergen Line travels across what the Norwegian State Railways calls 'the roof of the world', as it crosses the mountains between the two cities. The train travels past ski rsorts, ridges, alpine pastures, cable cars and the Aurland Fjord. Passengers get glimpses of this fjord as the train comes out from the spiral tunnel that has been cut into the mountain. This trip takes about seven hours.

Booking Information: Taber Holidays offer a four night stay, spending two nights in Oslo, two nights in Bergen and the train ride to link the two. The price starts at per person, children aged 2-11 years and infants under 2 years . The price includes bed abd breakfast in three star hotels, open jaw flights from London and second class rail travel. For more information contact them on-line at www.taberhols.co.uk or telephone 01247 594656.

You can book train tickets directly through RailEurope, telephone 0870 837 1371 or on-line at www.raileurope.com or on www.nsb.no. Prices start at for a single adult, for children under 12. Flights can be booked direct with Nor-wegian Air Shuttle, they fly from Stanstead to Oslo and return from Bergen. Prices start at per person. For more information telephone 00 47 21 49 0015 or on-line at www.norwegian.no.

The Canadian

This journey will take you across the Rocky Mountains between Vancouver and Toronto.

In recent years, the Canadian has been rennovated. It now has viewing cars, cocktail bars and good sleeping compartments. The track was laid in the 19th century, it crosses rugged countryside and the train twists and turns through it. The whole journey takes three days but can you break the trip if you choose to. Take the 16 hour option which is from Vancouver to Jasper. It passes the raft logs tumbling down the Fraser River and into the winter sports area of the Rockies.

Booking information: For a nine day Canadian Snow Train tour that leaves in February and includes Toronto, NIagara Falls, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Jasper and Vancouverand costs from 95per person try the Travel Bureau on 01902 324343 or on-line t www.thetravelbureau.co.uk. The price includes flights from Heathrow, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds/Bradford or Bristol. They can also arrange tailor made trips.

You can book tickets for Via Rail through 1st Rail. The ticket prices that follow are one way fares and are for land only. A three/four night trip from Toronto yo Vancouver starts at per person for a seat only, for a double bedroom with meals and beverages prices start at per person. Flights can be booked through a range of agents but Ebookers offers an open jaw ticket from Heathrow, flying into Toronto and out of Vancouver for a price starting at per person. For more information contact them by telephone 0870 814 6024 or on-line www.ebookers.com.

A double bedroom return on the Vancouver to Jasper train price starts from per person or per person for a seat only return.

You could also look at the Rocky Mountaineer, this is a tourist train that runs winter specials into the mountains. Trips include two day excursions east bound from Vancouver to Banff on December 19th and 27th, and west bound from Banff to Vancouver, December 21st and 29th. Coach transfers are available to and from Calgary.The train has a coach with entertainers for children and a bar coach with live jazz for the adults. The prices includes overnight accomodation, breakfast and lunch on both days, overnight and dinner in Kamloops. Prices based on two sharing start at per adult and per child. For mor information contact Rocky Mountaineer by telephone 01622 832244 or on-line www.winterrailvacations.com or book through Travelpack by contacting them on 0870 121 2020 or on-line www.travelpack.co.uk

The Rocky Mountaineer also offers packages of two to ten days and these offer throughout the winter.