Grande Luxe Rail Tours to cease operations

[passengerfan]

Grande Luxe Railtours will cease operations effective August 28th when the equipment returns to Tacoma. I guess a victim of the changing times.

Al - in - Stockton

[daveklepper]

Sad.  Even though my income does not allow me to even dream of using their services, I find it sad and wished them success.

[passengerfan]

Sad.  Even though my income does not allow me to even dream of using their services, I find it sad and wished them success.

My sentiments are the same as yours. I would have enjoyed a trip on such a magnificent train but far beyond my limited means. I only hope a new operator comes forward as it would be a shame to see the cars auctioned off piecemeal. I have seen the train on several occasions and only wished I could have at least had a peek inside. Always thought a matching A-B-B-A set of E-units would have been the finishing touch.

It truly is ashame as they had such great plans for the future.

Al - in - Stockton

[nanaimo73]

My sentiments are the same as yours. I would have enjoyed a trip on such a magnificent train but far beyond my limited means. I only hope a new operator comes forward as it would be a shame to see the cars auctioned off piecemeal. I have seen the train on several occasions and only wished I could have at least had a peek inside. Always thought a matching A-B-B-A set of E-units would have been the finishing touch.

Al, I would call Rocky Mountain Railtours the most successful passenger train operator in North America. As you know, they carry passengers in coaches during the day between Vancouver and Calgary or Jasper who then overnight in hotels in Kamloops.

It seems to me that someone should try to duplicate their model between Salt Lake City and Denver, overnighting in Grand Junction. Do you think that would also be successful?

[passengerfan]

My sentiments are the same as yours. I would have enjoyed a trip on such a magnificent train but far beyond my limited means. I only hope a new operator comes forward as it would be a shame to see the cars auctioned off piecemeal. I have seen the train on several occasions and only wished I could have at least had a peek inside. Always thought a matching A-B-B-A set of E-units would have been the finishing touch.

Al, I would call Rocky Mountain Railtours the most successful passenger train operator in North America. As you know, they carry passengers in coaches during the day between Vancouver and Calgary or Jasper who then overnight in hotels in Kamloops.

It seems to me that someone should try to duplicate their model between Salt Lake City and Denver, overnighting in Grand Junction. Do you think that would also be successful?

I don't think the UP wants any additional traffic on that route and I am not sure that Amtrak would be to happy to see it either. I would much rather see a two day trip if it were possible going over Tennessee Pass in one direction and returning to Denver via Moffat.

I agree that the most successful operator of tour trains at the present is Rocky Mountain Railtours.

I have had some time to think about the equipment since I heard the news yesterday about Grande Luxe and the only place I could possibly see it going intact would be to the ARR who have been increasing their tour operations year after year. It is my understanding there is not enough Hotel space available at Denali National Park in the summer so maybe a two or three day trip from Anchorage with the train serving as Hotel accommodation at Denali might just fit in. The growth in travel to Alaska is still continuing at a phenomenal pace so maybe the now former Grande Luxe equipment could be the perfect fit. Like I said earlier I for one would hate to see it scattered to the wind.

Al - in - Stockton   

 

[cbq9911a]

Unfortunate.  I was able to ride the original American-European Express in 1991.  It was quite impressive, but I've always thought that the luxury train travel business in the USA is a model in search of a business.

The equipment will survive; it'll surface someplace fairly quickly.  The economy will hurt all the private car operators and a lot of cars will be changing hands.  The only "winners" will be the railroad museums.

[glrcrewaid]

The crew working aboard Grand Luxe weren’t informed of their job loss until August 27th - while the passengers were on tour, the crew were all informed that they had one day of employment left. The crew were also informed that their health insurance would expire August 31st. This was the total extent of notice given.

Two couples amongst the staff were in the middle of mortgage proceedings. Most of the crew had no home of their own and would be forced to impose on friends or family. Others had pending doctor appointments which now will be unaffordable.

We’ve started a fund to aid those crew members who have been severely burdened by their sudden lack of work/housing - any donations can be sent via PayPal to [e-mail].

Thank you.

[motard98]

This was in our long term plans but I guess we will just have to stick to Amtrak.

[BaltACD]

Unfortunate.  I was able to ride the original American-European Express in 1991.  It was quite impressive, but I've always thought that the luxury train travel business in the USA is a model in search of a business.

I have to agree that it is business model in search of busniness, especially at the prices the needed to charge.  While the Ocean cruise business has had a relative boom over the past several years - the land cruise business is not there.

[passengerfan]

The Grand Luxe equipment including the cars not operated in the train will be shown at Napa CA in the near future and will then be auctioned off piecemeal. The equipment will be moved from Tacoma real soon if it is not already moving.

Al - in - Stockton