For the first time in 50 years, two regular steam train services will introduced at London Waterloo, giving locals and visitors the chance to navigate the famed English countryside in true vintage luxury.
The Steam Dreams Rail Co. will launch two services later this year, revealing elegant 1950’s Pullman Style Dining carriages which guests will use for dining as they roll towards either the picturesque town of Royal Windsor or the renowned natural beauty of Surrey Hills.
Windsor by Luxury Steam Train will be a service leaving Waterloo at 8:02am, 11:10am and 2:10pm every Tuesday from 4th June to 3rd September of this year. There will be three classes of travel, including those aforementioned Pullman dining carriages as well as comfortable First Class Restaurant Cars.
In a nod to the historic Royal Trains, the service will follow the exact route the Royal Family would often take from London to their castle in Windsor.
The best part is that it won’t be prohibitively expensive, with tickets starting at $64 AUD and climbing up to only $156 AUD per person for the trip and the Pullman Style Dining experience with Champagne brunch. Table service for snacks and drinks will be made available throughout the rest of the train, although picnics are also welcome.
The Surrey Hills service will leave London’s Waterloo Station at 6pm for a four hour round-trip, offering a sunset dining experience as the train heads south through the suburbs of London, passing the historic Cathedral town of Guildford and finally taking the steep climb towards Surrey Hills before returning via the Vale of Holmesdale.
Prices for this Surrey Hills service are slightly more expensive at $182 AUD per person in Premier Dining and up to $237 AUD per person for Pullman Style Dining. For groups wanting a private experience, it will be $826 AUD for a four-person private compartment with dinner. A standard ticket for just a ride is set at $90 AUD per person, which offers seating at tables where snacks can be purchased (or you can always bring a picnic)
Both trains on these experiences will usually be pulled by a B1 Class Locomotive – ‘Mayflower’ – built in 1948 and sporting its original British Rail apple green livery.
For the Royal Windsor Steam Express head to: www.royalwindsorsteamexpress.co.uk
For the Surrey Hills Sunset Steam Express head to: www.sunsetsteamexpress.co.uk
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