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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

<img src="weisseritztalbahn1©shutterstock.jpeg" alt="Weisseritztalbahn"/>

Dresden Steam Festival & More

Every year Dresden hosts one of the major steam festivals in Europe, and this year is no exception! Visit magnificent steam locomotives at the festival, experience two main-line steam rides, travel on a unique suspended monorail, and ride charming branch lines. Journey through beautiful landscapes, ride a vintage tram charter, and enjoy free time to explore the historic city of Dresden.

View Dates & Book

8 days from £2159

 

DEPARTS

Tuesday 8 April 2025

 

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

  • Experience the fantastic Dresden Steam Festival

  • Visit the fascinating Arnstadt Loco Shed

  • Explore Dresden and ride the unique suspended railway

  • Enjoy two charming narrow-gauge routes at Zittau

  • Marvel at the unique spectacle of a parallel departure at Bertsdorf

  • Steam nostalgia on the oldest narrow-gauge railway to Kipsdorf

  • Journey back in time at the Dresden Transport Museum

  • Ride the historic Kirnitzschtalbahn tramway at Bad Schandau

  • Climb into the mountains on a scenic steam journey to Oberwiesenthal

 

Also included in your Tour Fare:

  • 7 nights’ bed & breakfast plus 3 evening meals and 1 lunch

  • Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager

DAY 1

Travelling by Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels, then onwards to Gotha and our base for one night, the Hotel am Tierpark, where we check in and enjoy our first evening meal together.

D

DAY 2

After breakfast this morning, we will make our way to the Arnstadt for a fascinating guided tour of the Loco Shed before continuing onwards to Dresden. Here we will use our included transport day ticket to explore the beautiful city of Dresden including a ride on the unusual, suspended monorail, one of the oldest suspension railways and a marvellous example of engineering and construction, plus the superb single-track funicular railway. This evening, we check-in for our six-night stay at the InterCity Hotel where we enjoy our evening meal together.

B, D

DAY 3

Today, we travel by rail to Zittau for a day of exploring the beautiful mountain range on a narrow-gauge, steam-powered railway. We enjoy a guided tour of the Bertsdorf locomotive shed, take lunch at the Hotel Oybiner Hof, and journey through charming landscapes to Jonsdorf and Oybin offering many scenic and historic attractions including the unique spectacle of a simultaneous departure of two steam trains at Bertsdorf.

B, L

DAY 4

This morning, a short local train ride takes us to Freital-Hainsberg where we join the steam hauled service over the Weisseritztalbahn for a nostalgic ride on the oldest narrow-gauge railway in public operation along a narrow gorge, through woodland, and past lakes to Kipsdorf. Afterwards, we enjoy a visit to the Dresden Transport Museum for an exciting journey back in time with walk-in carriages and locomotives to explore allowing us to soak in the atmosphere of past times.

B

DAY 5

Today, we experience an exhilarating main-line steam-hauled journey from Dresden main station (details and route will be announced nearer the time). An entrance ticket to Dresden Steam Festival is also included where we enjoy fascinating displays, informative presentations, model trains, historic and modern locomotives, and much more plus many railway societies will have stands here to explore.

B

DAY 6

We experience another breathtaking main-line steam journey today before travelling by rail along the banks of the Elbe to Bad Schandau. From here, we take a ferry across the river to ride the bucolic Kirnitzschtalbahn tramway running along country lanes and through the valley of the Kirnitzch River to the beautiful Lichtenhainer Wasserfall before returning to Dresden in time for our evening meal together.

B, D

Day 7

After breakfast this morning, we travel to Cranzahl for an exhilarating return ride behind steam on the Fichtelbergbahn, a steeply graded route climbing into the mountains and crossing the mighty 110m long, 23 m high Hüttenbach viaduct to the highest town in Germany, Oberwiesenthal, situated at 3,000ft. Here, we enjoy a guided tour of the locomotive shed before returning to Dresden for our final evening.

B

DAY 8

We bid farewell to Dresden and to Germany, returning by rail to Brussels, where we will join the Eurostar service to London St Pancras.

*Important Note: Whilst the arrangements for all described steam train travel are in place, we do reserve the right to make substitutions should it be deemed necessary for whatever reason.

B

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner

HOTELS

Hotel Am Tierpark, Gotha

Located in the heart of the historic city of Gotha, the charming Hotel am Tierpark combines traditional hospitality with modern comforts and offers a restaurant with a bar, a winter garden and terrace, sauna, and a small fitness area. The comfortable bedrooms provide a private bathroom, hairdryer, flat-screen TV, and free Wi-Fi.

 

InterCity Hotel, Dresden

Situated right by the main railway station, the InterCity Hotel offers a relaxed ambience including a cosy bar and a quality restaurant serving regional and national specialties. The stylish bedrooms provide a private bathroom, hairdryer, flat-screen TV, and free Wi-Fi.

 

FARES

From London St Pancras International:

Standard Class rail travel to/from Germany, including Standard Eurostar

£2,159

Supplement for Standard Premier Eurostar upgrade return

£200

First Class rail travel to/from Germany, including Standard Premier Eurostar

£2,459

Join at Gotha & Leave at Dresden

£1,879

Single Traveller Supplement

£225

 

7 nights’ bed & breakfast plus 3 evening meals and 1 lunch

Eurostar and rail travel to and from Germany in the class of your choice

All transfers, excursions & admissions as detailed

Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager

 

 

Below is a list of pick-up points available on this tour.

Below is a list of pick-up points available on this tour.

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Tour Base Tour Base (Join & Leave at Hotel)
London St Pancras Int London St Pancras Int (LNE)

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Contact Us
Railtrail Tours Limited
21 The Smithfield Centre, Leek
Staffordshire Moorlands, ST13 5JW
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