New Year’s Eve escapes by rail

Great Rail Journeys, the UK’s market leader for escorted holidays by rail has expanded its range of New Year celebration holidays.

From Hogmanay in Scotland to waltzing in Vienna, the company now offers 20 different ways to welcome in 2010.

In the UK, guests can see in the New Year in Edinburgh before exploring Inverness and the Cairngorms by rail during a six-night Caledonian Hogmanay holiday. It starts in Edinburgh on 30 December, costs £895 per person, based on twin share, and includes six nights’ mostly half-board accommodation, with a champagne reception and gala dinner on New Year’s Eve, an Edinburgh Street Party Pass and sightseeing by rail and coach into the Highlands – escorted by a Tour Manager throughout.

Vienna & Salzburg is a nine-day, two-centre city-break with First Class rail travel, New Year’s Eve celebrations plus dinner and a concert at Vienna’s Kursalon Palace on New Year’s Day itself. Departing 29 December from St Pancras International in London, costing £1,698 per person based on two sharing, the holiday includes eight nights’ accommodation in four- and five-star hotels with breakfasts each day, seven dinners, a full excursion programme and entrance fees – all escorted by a Tour Manager.

And spectacular Lakes and Mountains scenery is at the heart of the six-day Montreux & the Golden Pass holiday, with five nights in a five-star hotel beside Lake Geneva and daily excursions into the mountains. With departures on 29 and 30 December, and costing £1,175 per person (twin share) the holiday includes First Class rail travel to Switzerland, five nights’ half-board accommodation (including New Year’s Eve dinner and drinks), sightseeing and the services of a Tour Manager throughout.

For more information, visit GreatRail.com.