Skip to content Welcome to Railtrail Tours
A family firm with an ethos of honesty and integrity. Our passion for delivering quality escorted holidays by rail at great value fares along with consistently excellent customer service has stood us in good stead for over 40 years.
Big on Quality, Small Enough to Care
01538 382323
Monday - Friday, 9am to 5pm
Update 30th November 2021
We will monitor the travel restrictions and guidelines for your destination and keep you updated of any changes. As things can change quickly, we also recommend that you regularly check the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office Advice for the destination that you are travelling to. For the latest Government announcements click on the following link www.gov.uk/coronavirus.
Our European Tours have now been cancelled until 31st January 2022. We will hopefully be commencing our European holidays with the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s guidelines and advice after this date.
Update 5th November 2021
We can’t wait to welcome you on your upcoming Railtrail holiday, and we want to ensure your experience is one to remember. In light of the current situation regarding COVID-19, this statement is intended to provide you with relevant information for your holiday.
As the government frequently updates the guidelines, we ask that you keep yourself up to date on the latest advice.
Since the 19th July, most hotels and attractions have returned to ‘normal’ but there are still some precautions in place.
When travelling to Europe each country that you travel through will have their own rules that you need to know, but even staying closer to home it is important you are aware of varying restrictions as Scotland, Wales, Ireland, the Isle of Man and Channel Islands all have their own authorities and their own guidance.
Many venues such as hotels and attractions throughout the UK will have their own risk-assessments and their own procedures internally, and it is important you follow the guidance of the venue you are in.
As we all transition back to a more normal way of life, there is a responsibility on all of us to keep ourselves and each other safe, even though official restrictions are easing. Please be respectful of your fellow travellers and staff so that everyone can have an enjoyable holiday!
Where to wear face masks: -
Scotland - Please click here
England & Northern Ireland - Please click here
Wales - Please click here
Ireland - Please click here
All Travel advice for foreign advice for gov.uk and select the country click here
Rail Travel
National Rail companies are asking passengers to continue to follow the latest advice from government and public health officials.
If travelling by National Rail please check before you travel, book in advance, and/try to travel at quieter times if you can. Please follow the government guidance and, out of respect for others, wear face coverings if an indoor setting is busy unless you are exempt. As restrictions lift, National Rail will continue to help you travel with confidence by:
carrying out more frequent and thorough cleaning than normal on trains and at stations
making/extra train carriages available whenever possible
providing better information about how busy services are
Hotels
Our carefully selected hotel partners will have to confirm adherence to all local COVID-19 guidelines.
This may include social distancing measures, à la carte or waiter served buffet meals only and an increase in general cleaning routines.
Ensuring room cleanliness will also be vitally important and we expect all major touch points to be cleaned and sanitised with increased regularity.
Guests will of course be reminded that social distancing is as much your responsibility as it is for our hotel partners, and we would appreciate your efforts in ensuring that this is incorporated into your daily routine.
You should also follow public health advice and if you or the people you live with have symptoms of COVID-19 (Coronavirus), you should stay at home and do not travel. Protect yourself and others, download the NHS COVID-19 App.
Update 15th June 2021
Although the Prime Minister's announcement yesterday delayed the full lifting of coronavirus restrictions for another four weeks after the planned June 21st unlocking, all of our UK tours which are able to operate within social distancing guidelines will go ahead. We are pleased to say that several tours have successfully operated since 30th May and have been extremely well-received by our clients.
Some tours may not be able to operate due to specific issues or restrictions relating to individual destinations, but please assume that your holiday is going ahead unless or until you are contacted directly by our customer care team to advise otherwise. If restrictions include the necessity to quarantine on return, the affected tour will be cancelled.
As ever, but particularly in these unprecedented times we do reserve the right to make minor alterations to the published itinerary when necessary. Whilst we always endeavour to avoid changes some aspects of the published itinerary may be changed at short notice for a variety of operational reasons.
Non-payment of tour balances will be treated as cancellations as per our terms and conditions. Should you choose not to travel our normal cancellation terms and conditions will apply. Should you choose to transfer your booking to a future departure date a transfer fee will apply. However, if at any point we are unable to operate your tour for any reason, you will always be offered a full and prompt refund of all monies paid.
Tours Cancelled Until 16th May 2021
We have been following the Prime Minister’s recent Road Map briefings carefully and in accordance with the government’s lockdown instructions all tours due to depart on or before 16th May 2021 are now being cancelled. All clients who are currently booked on a tour which is scheduled to depart on or before this date will shortly receive a communication either by post or email, setting out the options available. This does involve a considerable amount of administration and, as always, we appreciate your patience whilst we make the necessary arrangements.
We are proud that our family business offers the security of our ‘Trustee of Clients’ account, held at Lloyds bank, which means that you can always be sure that your booking and monies are safe, and that amongst your choices will be a full refund of your tour fare. We do however suggest transferring your deposit to a future tour departure as the demand for tours later this year, and into next year, is very high at the moment. A deposit now ensures you have a holiday to look forward to once the present situation eases.
Kind Regards
Dave Felstead
Managing Director
Update 24th February 2021
We’re aware that the government's announcement on Monday 22nd February 2021 revealed their roadmap which included new information around reopening dates for the travel and tourism industry.
Now that the details are revealed, our team is working on this new information and what it means for Railtrail Tours and our customers.
We'll share a full update as soon as we can and if your tour is affected, we’ll be in touch with you.
Many Thanks,
The Railtrail Team.
Instructions on all tours due to depart on or before 31st March 2021
In accordance with the government’s lockdown instruction all tours due to depart on or before March 31st 2021 are being cancelled.
As you may well appreciate this will involve a considerable amount of administration and we ask for your patience whilst we make the necessary arrangements.
However, we will be in touch with you before your original tour departure date to discuss the options open to you which, thanks to our unique Trust Account scheme, will include a prompt and full refund of fare should you wish.
We wish you good health at this unprecedented time, and trust that we will have the pleasure of your company soon.
Kind Regards,
Dave Felstead
Managing Director
Instructions on all tours due to depart on or before 31st January 2021
In accordance with the government’s lockdown instruction all tours due to depart on or before January 31st 2021 are being cancelled.
As you may well appreciate this will involve a considerable amount of administration and we ask for your patience whilst we make the necessary arrangements.
However, we will be in touch with you before your original tour departure date to discuss the options open to you which, thanks to our unique Trust Account scheme, will include a prompt and full refund of fare should you wish.
We wish you good health at this unprecedented time, and trust that we will have the pleasure of your company soon.
Kind Regards,
Dave Felstead
Managing Director
Instructions on all tours due to depart on or before 2nd December 2020.
In accordance with the government’s lockdown instruction all tours due to depart on or before December 2nd 2020 are being cancelled.
As you may well appreciate this will involve a considerable amount of administration and we ask for your patience whilst we make the necessary arrangements.
However, we will be in touch with you before your original tour departure date to discuss the options open to you which, thanks to our unique Trust Account scheme, will include a prompt and full refund of fare should you wish.
We wish you good health at this unprecedented time, and trust that we will have the pleasure of your company soon.
Kind Regards,
Dave Felstead
Managing Director
Tours departing from 1 September onwards - Update
Please be aware that all UK tour departures in September/October will be operating as scheduled unless you are or have been specifically contacted by our office to advise otherwise. The new regulations regarding social gatherings of a maximum of six people at one time which are due to come into force on Monday 14 September do not apply to our holidays.
As tour operators we observe all social distancing requirements of all aspects of our tours e.g. hotels, attractions, coach travel, and rail travel. Therefore, the tours are not classed as informal social gatherings since all Covid-19 restrictions are being observed and the tours are perfectly safe and legal to operate.
As ever, but particularly in these unprecedented times we do reserve the right to make minor alterations to the published itinerary when necessary. Whilst we always endeavour to avoid changes some aspects of the published itinerary may be changed at short notice for a variety of operational reasons. Should you choose not to travel our normal cancellation terms and conditions will apply.
Tours departing from 1 September onwards
Following the recent easing of the lockdown conditions in the UK, we are delighted to announce that many of our scheduled departures for September will be going ahead as planned. The team has looked at all operational aspects of tours scheduled to depart in September to establish whether it will be possible for each tour to go ahead. As ever, but particularly in these unprecedented times we do reserve the right to make minor alterations to the published itinerary when necessary. Whilst we always endeavour to avoid changes some aspects of the published itinerary may be changed at short notice for a variety of operational reasons.
We are in regular contact with all suppliers, hotels and attractions. If for any reason we are unable to operate a tour, you will receive a communication from our office team setting out the options available to you, one of which will always be a full refund of your tour fare. In the meantime, we ask that all balances are paid on their due date in line with our Terms and Conditions.
To alleviate our clients' concerns, we have made a temporary amendment to our booking conditions for most tours departing on or before 31 October 2020. For UK tours the balance payment is now due not less than 7 weeks prior to departure (usually 9 weeks). For all Grand Tours and European Tours, the balance of payment is now due not less than 11 weeks prior to departure (usually 13 weeks). If we do not receive this balance in full and on time, we reserve the right to treat your booking as cancelled by you in which case the cancellation charges set out in the Terms & Conditions will become payable. Tours departing on or after 1 November will be subject to our normal Ts & Cs.
Tours Cancelled up until 28th August 2020 – Railtrail refunds our customers in Cash, not Credit Notes...
We have now cancelled tours until the 28th August. All clients who are currently booked on a tour which is scheduled to depart before and on the 28th August will have received a communication either by post or by email setting out the options available. As with previous cancellations we are proud that our family business offers the security of our ‘Trustee of Clients’ account, held at Lloyds bank, which means that you can always be sure that your booking and monies are safe, and that amongst your choices will be a full refund of your tour fare.
To alleviate our clients' concerns, we have made a temporary amendment to our booking conditions for most tours departing on or before 31st October 2020. For UK tours the balance payment is now due not less than 7 weeks prior to departure (usually 9 weeks). For all Grand Tours and European Tours, the balance of payment is now due not less than 11 weeks prior to departure (usually 13 weeks). If we do not receive this balance in full and on time, we reserve the right to treat your booking as cancelled by you in which case the cancellation charges set out in the Terms & Conditions will become payable.
Our phones lines are very busy as we take care of customers on a tour by tour basis. The team is now looking at all operational aspects of tours scheduled to depart in September to establish whether it will be possible for each tour to go ahead. We are in regular contact with all suppliers, hotels and attractions. If for any reason we are unable to operate a tour, you will receive a communication from our office team setting out the options available to you, one of which will always be a full refund of your tour fare. In the meantime, we ask that all balances are paid on their due date in line with our terms and conditions as stated above.
Whilst we can understand that the present pandemic is causing great stress to one and all, and particularly those of us in the senior age group, we will not accept our staff being verbally abused on the telephone at any time. The volume of work involved in cancelling so many tours when staff are working from home is enormous - please be courteous as we are doing our very best for you, and please allow at least two weeks to receive your refund.
Tours Cancelled up until the 26 July 2020 – Railtrail refunds our customers in Cash, not Credit Notes…
We have now cancelled tours until the 26th July. All clients who are currently booked on a tour which is scheduled to depart before and on the 26th July will receive a communication either by post or by email by the end of next week, setting out the options available. As in previous cancellations we are proud that our family business offers the security of our ‘Trustee of Clients’ account, held at Lloyds bank, which means that you can always be sure that your booking and monies are safe, and that amongst your choices will be a full refund of your tour fare.
We do however suggest transferring your deposit to a future tour departure as the demand for tours later this year, and into next year, is very high at the moment. A deposit now ensures you have a holiday to look forward to once the present situation eases.
We have been following the Prime Minister’s recent Road Map briefings carefully and sadly it is clear that we must now cancel all tours until at least the end of June. All clients who are currently booked on a tour which is scheduled to depart in June will receive a communication either by post or email by the end of this week, setting out the options available. We are proud that our family business offers the security of our ‘Trustee of Clients’ account, held at Lloyds bank, which means that you can always be sure that your booking and monies are safe, and that amongst your choices will be a full refund of your tour fare.
We do however suggest transferring your deposit to a future tour departure as the demand for tours later this year, and into next year, is very high at the moment. A deposit now ensures you have a holiday to look forward to once the present situation eases. We are incredibly grateful to our loyal customers for their many heartfelt and wonderful messages of support throughout the recent weeks.
"I would like to thank you most sincerely for processing this refund for me, since I know you must be going through some very difficult times at present. Rest assured, that when the current crisis is over, I shall be making many more bookings with Railtrail - I just can't wait! Many thanks, once again." (Mr P, Halesowen)
"The lady was extremely polite and efficient in dealing with my enquiry and rebooked the holiday for next year in a very helpful manner. I would certainly recommend Railtrail to my friends and family and would book with them again." (Mrs C, Chesterfield)
Whilst we can understand that the present pandemic is causing great stress to one and all, and particularly those of us in the senior age group, we will not accept our staff being verbally abused on the telephone at any time. The volume of work involved in cancelling so many tours when staff are working from home is enormous - please be courteous as we are doing our very best for you, and please allow at least two weeks to receive your refund.
Thank you.
Dave Felstead,
Owner & Managing Director
Railtrail Tours Ltd
Updated 15/04/2020 - 12:30
Tours Cancelled until the end of May
We have cancelled all tours to the end of May and are proud that our family business offers such security that you can always be sure that your booking and monies are safe and amongst your choices is a full refund of your tour fare. Unlike many other companies.
We do suggest transferring a deposit to a future tour departure as the demand for tours later this year, and into next year, is very high at the moment. A deposit now ensures you have a holiday to look forward to once the present situation eases.
Whilst we can understand that the present pandemic is causing great stress to one and all, and particularly those of us in the senior age group, we will not accept our staff being verbally abused on the telephone at any time. The volume of work involved in cancelling so many tours when staff are working from home is enormous please be courteous as we are doing our very best for you. Please allow at least two weeks to receive your refund.
Thank You
Dave Felstead,
Owner & Managing Director
Railtrail Tours Ltd
Tours Cancelled until the end of April
It is with great disappointment that we must inform you that due to the current outbreak of the coronavirus Covid-19 we have taken the difficult decision to cancel all our planned tour departures until the end of April 2020. If your tour is scheduled to depart in that time you will be contacted by letter or by email in the next days to confirm the cancellation. If you are expecting an email and haven't received one, please check your spam and junk folders in your user's inbox. As a family concern everything we do is done with genuine consideration and the best interest of our clients at heart, which is why we have taken this decision now. We hope that this clear and decisive action will offer you some peace of mind in these challenging times we now find ourselves facing. If your tour is scheduled to depart in May or beyond, we will also be in touch soon. All monies paid are currently held in our ‘Trustee of Clients’ account at Lloyds Bank, an account which cannot be accessed by anyone other than the Trustee. So please bear with us while we work through this difficult period and rest assured that your money is 100% safe, and that should your tour be cancelled we will of course offer you a full refund, although we very much hope that once things return to normal you will still choose to travel with Railtrail.
Updated 17/03/2020 - 12:30
Our phones lines are very busy as we take care of customers on a tour by tour basis; We are looking at tours departing in March and April at the moment; if you have a tour booked in May and onwards you will receive communication from our office team very soon.
We thank you for your patience, at this difficult time, if you are having difficulty contacting us.
Updated 12/03/2020 - 15:30 How can I protect myself from Covid 19 (Coronavirus)?
We advise you to follow all applicable travel advice, including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and World Health Organisation:
Wash hands regularly with soap and water or a disinfectant, especially after coughing and sneezing, before handling and consuming food.
Use disposable tissues when coughing or sneezing and dispose of used tissues carefully and promptly.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact with people who appear unwell and avoid sharing personal items.
Public Health England (PHE) recommends against using masks outside clinical settings. Should you decide to use a mask, you should ensure you continue to use all the recommended precautions in order to minimise the risk of transmission.
Avoid unnecessary, unprotected contact with live animals and make sure you wash hands thoroughly after contact with an animal.
Should I be worried about booking a holiday?
We know that coronavirus (COVID-19) is causing uncertainty and the situation is changing daily.
We’re monitoring things closely and our experienced team is in contact with health authorities and government agencies around the world to ensure we are following all the very latest advice.
We would never operate a holiday unless it was safe to do so and if travel restrictions are implemented to the destination you’re travelling to, rest assured we’ll offer you a free amendment or a full refund. You can confidently book your holiday with Railtrail in the knowledge that all customer payments are retained in our Trustee of Clients account at Lloyds Bank, to which Railtrail has no access until your holiday is completed. This means that your money is 100% safe, and in the unlikely event that we are forced to cancel your holiday for any reason your payment will be returned to you automatically with no forms to fill in.
Should I cancel my holiday?
We are currently operating our holiday programme as usual and unless the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advice changes we’ll continue to do so. If there are no FCO restrictions stopping you travelling there is no reason to cancel.
We really hope you don’t cancel but please note that normal terms and conditions apply for any amendments or cancellations unless the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against travel to the country you are visiting or due to visit.
What will happen if my holiday is affected?
You should check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) travel advice for the country you are travelling to. Should the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) travel advice change to advise against travelling to your destination and your holiday is affected, we will contact you to discuss your options.
Temporary Amendment to Booking Conditions
To alleviate our clients' concerns we have decided to make a temporary amendment to our booking conditions for most tours departing on or before 30th September 2020. For UK tours the balance payment is now due not less than 7 weeks prior to departure (usually 9 weeks). For all Grand Tours and European Tours the balance of payment is now due not less than 11 weeks prior to departure (usually 13 weeks). If we do not receive this balance in full and on time, we reserve the right to treat your booking as cancelled by you in which case the cancellation charges set out in the Terms & Conditions will become payable.
Here are some useful links regarding Covid - 19 (Coronavirus)
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-abroad-from-england-during-coronavirus-covid-19
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
https://www.abta.com/news/coronavirus-outbreak
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public
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