The Railway Touring Company's 2014 heritage rail tour programme features new destinations with Berlin and Potsdam, the Swiss Bernese Oberland, Austria and the Czech Republic, Denmark & Southern Sweden and Autumn in Alsace just a taste of the 24 rail journeys on offer.

The Railway Touring Company specialises in escorted tours over heritage routes with historic locomotives and private charter trains. "Wherever possible we hire steam trains for our exclusive use," says managing director Nigel Dobbing. "Private charters provide the flexibility, within operational parameters, to run to our requirements, which means we can offer our travellers stops for photographs and stage run-pasts."

Totally new for 2014 is the 'Caucasus Mountains and Russian Black Sea' ten day tour from September 27. Southern Russia promises stunning scenery - the Northern Caucasus is one of Russia's most beautiful and mountainous regions, characterised by lush slopes and mountain rivers rushing through deep gorges.

Using locomotives and carriages belonging to the North Caucasus Railway, The Railway Touring Company's train will be steam hauled throughout using six different classes of locomotives often working in pairs to tackle steep gradients. The journey crosses the steppes, through Cossack country, to spa towns, beside the sea and over mountain routes.  This tour starts at £3600 per person.

The Railway Touring Company's new 'Swiss Bernese Oberland' eight day tour departs on June 14, August 6 and September 4 and starts from £1150 per person. An area of outstanding natural beauty, the Bernese Oberland is renowned for its lakes and the Swiss Alps' tallest peaks, including the Jungrau and the Eiger. Highlights include travel on mountain rack railways, such as the Brienz Rothorn Railway and Jungfrau Railway to the 'Top of Europe', boat cruises on Lake Brienz and Lake Thun, visits to Bern, to ride the steam tram, and Lucerne.

Another new tour 'Denmark and Southern Sweden' departs on August 29 for 11 days of mainly steam travel featuring S Class 2-6-4T steam tank No.736, the Bandholm Museum Railway, preserved steam locomotive No. K564 built in 1899 and a spectacular lake cruise on board the world's second oldest operating paddle steamer and is priced from £2180pp.  In total three Danish 4-4-0's will see use on this tour on the main line. The tour will also run with Swedish F Class Pacific No. 1200 from Malmo to Stockholm over two days.

2014 European destinations in The Railway Touring Company programme also include Tuscany, Berlin, Sardinia, Yugoslavia and Austria.  Whilst worldwide rail adventures take in Java, Sri Lanka and The Viceroy Special, New England and South America, including The Old Patagonian Express and the recently re-opened Guayaquil and Quito Railway, all using steam.

Six UK heritage rail holidays include The Great Britain VII departing on April 26. This is the seventh year that The Railway Touring Company has masterminded this epic steam journey covering the length and breadth of Britain over nine days and this year featuring 13 historic steam locomotives and costs £1895pp first class or £2785pp premier class.

'The Great Railway Adventures 2014' and 'UK Day Trips and Tours 2014' brochures are available from:

The Railway Touring Company

Tel: 01553 661500

www.railwaytouring.net

ENDS

For further press information please contact:

Nigel Dobbing, Managing Director, The Railway Touring Company, Tel: 01553 661500

Or

Amanda Williamson, PRO - The Railway Touring Company, Tel: 01482 657324, Mob. 07968 746090 amanda@habergham-williamson-pr.co.uk