Alaska Railroad’s new services
The Alaska Railroad has unveiled new air, hotel and rail specials for guests travelling to Fairbanks, reports travelagentcentral.com.
The Bridgewater Special package begins with a flight to Fairbanks, where guests can spend the day and night exploring the city before retiring to the Bridgewater Hotel for an overnight stay. The following day, guests board the Aurora Winter Train and travel south to Anchorage.
Passengers on the Aurora Winter Train will also have the option to book the following winter tours operated by Salmon Berry Travel & Tours:
- Matanuska Glacier Tour: This tour includes stops at multiple viewpoints along the journey to the Matanuska Glacier, tucked in a frozen river in the Chugach Mountains.
- Turnagain Turn Tour: The Turnagain tour offers an aerial tram ride up Mount Alyeska, lunch in Girdwood and a visit to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.
- Wildlife Guided Tour: Guests can learn about the Alaskan landscape and its wildlife, with stops at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and enjoy a drive along the scenic Turnagain Arm.
Renfe warns of strikes
Renfe, Spain’s state-owned rail operator, has received notice from a workers’ union to expect strikes throughout February.
The strikes will disrupt long-, mid- and short-haul services, including high-speed AVE trains.
Hundreds of train trips have already been cancelled this month, and Renfe has recommended that passengers check their journeys on the company website for updates.
The strikes come amidst grievances over working conditions, following the introduction of a 35-hour work week at the Spanish rail infrastructure administration and changes to income categories at Renfe, reports eturbonews.com.
The first 23-hour strike on February 9 resulted in the cancellation of 310 long and mid-distance trains.
Commuter trains in Madrid will also experience disruption, with only 75% of the usual service expected to run during peak times.
Additionally, walkouts on February 16 and 17 will impact Catalonia’s Rodalies trains during peak hours.
Further strikes are scheduled for every Monday in February, with partial nationwide stoppages affecting transport on February 19 and 26.
European Sleeper expands train routes
The night train service, which connects Brussels, Amsterdam and Berlin, will expand its route to include Prague this year.
The new route can be booked from March 25 and will include additional stops along the way, including Dresden and the Saxon Switzerland nature reserve in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains.
The train will depart from Amsterdam Central Station at 22h34 and arrive at Prague Main Station at 10h56 the following day. Ticket prices start at €89 (R1 820).
The company will also launch night train services connecting Amsterdam to the French Alps and Barcelona in 2025 and said this was part of a drive to improve the quality of Europe’s north-south rail connections.
