New journeys from Great Rail

Great Rail Journeys has launched its Winter & Spring Holidays by Rail 2009/10 brochure featuring seven new itineraries including - in response to increasing demand - four new ideas exclusively for single travellers.

For an alternative winter rail experience, the company has introduced a new departure on the epic 17-day Trans-Siberian Express holiday which starts in London and finishes in Vladivostok and includes 11 nights on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express.

Highlights include stunning views of Russia - such as frozen Lake Baikal and remote Siberia - and central Asia.

There are also two new European Christmas Market breaks - a six-day Bavarian Christmas Markets tour and a five-day Markets of Luxembourg & Metz option - which combine free time to discover local festive gifts, handicrafts, food and mulled wine with a programme of organised excursions and sightseeing tours.

As an example of what's new for single travellers, the six-day Festive Rüdesheim & the Rhine holiday - with Christmas and New Year departures - includes a journey on the Vulkan Express narrow gauge railway, a river cruise through the Rhine Gorge, a scenic journey into the Moselle Valley and Cochem with a wine tasting and a guided walking tour of Rüdesheim.

The other three new ideas are a five-day Rhineland Christmas Markets break, a nine-day Interlaken & the Jungfrau Express in Winter holiday and nine-day Festive Interlaken & Jungfrau at Christmas or New Year options.

Prices in the brochure lead in at £375 per person, twin-share for a four-day Rhineland Market Cruise - aboard MS Tranquility - which has ports of call in Cochem, Koblenz and Rüdesheim. Available with three departures - November 30th, plus December 7th and 14th- the price includes return rail travel from St Pancras International, transfers, three nights in two berth cabins with all meals and the services of a Tour Manager throughout.

For more information at reservations head over to Great Rail Journies.

Chris O'Toole