03 Mar 2016
EXPLORE SARDINIA BY HERITAGE RAIL
Sardinia has a remarkable 450 miles of standard and narrow gauge railway so what better way to explore its unspoilt inland and coastal beauty than on board a historic steam train?
Heritage rail tour operator The Railway Touring Company has been offering its 'Sardinia and the Emerald Coast' tour for 15 years now and has refined the route to take in all the highlights in a nine day journey around this mountainous Italian island.
In 2016 'Sardinia and the Emerald Coast' will depart on both Saturday, May 21, and later, in autumn, on Saturday, October 15, setting out from London Stansted and flying to the Sardinian capital Cagliari to start a rail adventure on board mainly specially chartered vintage trains.
Overnight stays include: Cagliari; the colourful west coast seaside town of Bosa, which is dominated by hilltop remains of the medieval fortress Castello Malaspina; the island town of Maddalena; the walled medieval city of Alghero; and the port of Arbatax on the beautiful South West coast.
Memorable train journeys include 'Il Trenino Verde', the Little Green Train of Sardinia, mentioned by D. H. Lawrence in his renowned 'Sea and Sardinia', which recounts his 1921 visit with his wife Frieda, with steam on this mainly single track across the plain of Campidano to Oristano.
The Railway Touring Company's tour also travels by narrow gauge train along the spectacular coastal route from Bosa to Tresnuraghes and by special vintage train, complete with first class plush velvet seats, from Palau Marina Station climbing into the hills, through forest and along deep valleys to Tempio Pausania to descend once more, crossing bridges and viaducts, winding down through pretty villages to pause at Nulvi for a local feast.
Routes in jeopardy this time last year also feature in the itinerary. Fortunately, rail company ARST (Azienda Regionale Sarda Transport) secured EU funding to help maintain the stretch of rail which climbs from Arbatax into the mountains to Villa Grande, where travellers will enjoy a typical Italian open-air lunch, and on, steam hauled by 2-6-2T locomotive No. 400 or 402, for the final dramatic climb through the spiral to Gairo.
On the final day of this Sardinian odyssey a steam hauled chartered narrow gauge train of restored wooden-bodied vintage carriages will take you north along the scenic Sorgono branch, a line no longer open to regular traffic, which was also rescued from closure in 2015.
'Sardinia and the Emerald Coast' costs £2155, including flights between London and Cagliari (or £1990 ground only), all rail and coach transport detailed in the itinerary, all transfers, nine nights in 3 and 4-star hotels with breakfasts, seven lunches and eight dinners, transportation of luggage between hotels by road coach and the services of a tour manager.
The Railway Touring Company offers a range of UK heritage rail-based tours, European tours of Austria, Germany, Hungary, Tuscany, the Czech Republic, Alsace and Slovakia, and also ventures further afield to Sri Lanka, Canada, the Andes, Peru and India.
A 'Grand Tour' exploring the stunning lakes and mountains of Switzerland on board historic trains is a new tour devised by The Railway Touring Company for 2016.
Travellers joining this nine day 'Grand Tour of Switzerland' in April or October will be treated to a schedule including Swiss alpine mountain railways on board mostly privately chartered steam trains and the legendary 1938 BLS 'Blue Arrow' railcar.
For a full programme of heritage rail holidays visit The Railway Touring Company's website or call for the 'Great Railway Adventures 2016' brochure.
The Railway Touring Company
Tel: 01553 661500
ENDS
For further press information please contact:
The Railway Touring Company
Nigel Dobbing or Kelly Osborne, The Railway Touring Company, Tel: 01553 661500
or
Amanda Williamson, Press Officer – The Railway Touring Company, Tel: 01482 861614 amanda@habergham-williamson-pr.co.uk
