EVERGREEN, Colo. — Rail passengers traveling on the Amtrak route between Washington, D.C. and Miami will soon have the option of lingering over five-course dinners, sleeping in luxurious suites and enjoying personal butler service.
Called GrandLuxe Limited, the new service uses a separate, private, seven-car luxury train attached to Amtrak’s Silver Meteor to transport passengers between the nation’s capital and sunny Florida.
The premium service is being made possible by a new partnership between GrandLuxe Rail Journeys, the country’s premier private rail tour operator, and Amtrak, the national passenger rail service. The GrandLuxe train, which features Dining, Lounge and Sleeping cars appointed with elegant vintage furnishings, will be occupied exclusively by GrandLuxe Limited passengers on the overnight trip.
This is the first time in history that regularly-scheduled luxury accommodations have been offered on Amtrak between Washington, D.C. and Miami.
Departures from Washington, D.C.’s Union Station begin November 6 and continue on multiple dates during November and December, with the last trip departing on January 2, 2008. Departures from the Miami Amtrak Station begin November 8, with the last departure slated for January 4, 2008. There are 40 total departures scheduled.
“The GrandLuxe Limited service allows us to bring back the Golden Age of Rail, offering luxury train travel to thousands of people who may not have had the opportunity before,” said GrandLuxe CEO Tom Rader. “With Amtrak’s facilities and GrandLuxe’s outstanding equipment and service, it’s a winning situation for everyone.”
During the same November-January time frame, over 50 GrandLuxe Limited departures will be offered on Amtrak routes between Chicago and the San Francisco Bay Area and between Chicago and Los Angeles. Limited departures will also be available between Washington, D.C. and Chicago, and from Denver to the San Francisco Bay Area, Denver to Chicago, and Chicago to Albuquerque.
— Special to Railfanning.org News Wire
