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The Railway Touring Company · Escorted rail holiday

Alpine Steam Express

Seven-day steam railway escorted tour through Swiss Alps and Jura Mountains.

Illustration of Alpine Steam Express

The Railway Touring Company's Alpine Steam Express is a seven-day escorted rail holiday for steam enthusiasts and rail travellers who want to experience privately chartered vintage locomotives in the Swiss Alps and Jura Mountains. Based in the historic city of Olten, the tour departs from London on Eurostar and returns the same way, with six nights spent in a single hotel to allow full immersion in the region. The itinerary combines four major steam train charters, including a dramatic run over the Furka Pass and a border-line charter along Lago Maggiore in Italy, with a sunset paddle steamer cruise on Lake Lucerne and visits to heritage railways and steam collections. The 1930s Tiger tank engine on the Val de Travers main line runs with elegant period coaches in First Class comfort. Day 6 breaks from the structured programme to let travellers use the included six-day Swiss Travel Pass to explore at their own pace, whether riding rack railways, paddle steamers or narrow gauge heritage lines. The tour is fully guided by a Tour Manager and covers all international rail travel, steam charters, accommodation with breakfast, and four dinners.

What to know before you look closer

  • One departure listed for September 2026; confirm availability and book early.
  • The Ground only tier (GBP 2,550) excludes Eurostar and UK transfers, covering rail and hotels only from Olten onward.
  • Hotel Olten is rated three-star; no option for higher-tier accommodation is listed in the evidence.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Olten

    London to Olten by rail

    Travel by Eurostar from London St. Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord, then onward via Strasbourg to Basel, Switzerland, and a short transfer to Olten. Check into your quality hotel and enjoy a welcome dinner.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Olten

    Main line steam in the Val de Travers in the Jura Mountains

    Free morning to use your Swiss Travel Pass. In the afternoon, travel to Neuchatel and experience main line steam from Noiraigue to Les Verrieres and on to St. Sulpice aboard elegant standard gauge coaches, hauled by a powerful 0-8-0 tank engine, with a visit to the VVT steam locomotive collection. Dinner served on the train.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Olten

    Steam at the Furka Railway and paddle steamer cruise on Lake Lucerne

    Travel via the Bernese Oberland and Upper Valais to Oberwald, then board a Furka Railway steam train over the summit route of the Glacier Express to Realp, seeing the Rhone Glacier. Free time to explore before a sunset dinner cruise by paddle steamer on Lake Lucerne.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Olten

    Steam in the Zurich Oberland with two tank engines and steam at the Schinznach Garden Railway for their annual gala

    Travel on Switzerland's premier standard gauge heritage railway from Hinwil to Bauma behind vintage tank engines, then take a Postauto coach to the narrow gauge Schinznach Garden Railway for its annual gala with at least three locomotives in steam.

  5. Day 5overnight: Olten

    Main line steam along the Banks of Lago Maggiore in Italy and Switzerland with FS 625.116

    A private main line charter using the former FS 2-6-0 tender locomotive 625.116, built in 1922, on the border line from Luino, Italy to Cadenazzo, Switzerland along Lago Maggiore. Return via the Gotthard Base Tunnel or classic Gotthard Summit Route.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Olten

    Freedom of Switzerland with your Swiss Travel Pass

    A free day to use your Swiss Travel Pass to explore Switzerland's public transport network, including the Rigi rack railway, paddle steamers or narrow gauge trains.

  7. Day 7rail

    Return to London

    Return from Olten to London via Basel and Paris, using SBB, TGV and Eurostar high speed services.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Board a former SBB Tiger tank engine for main line steam through the Val de Travers in the Jura Mountains, with dinner served on the train.
  • Day 3Steam over the Furka Pass from Oberwald to Realp on the steep west-to-east route, passing the Rhone Glacier, followed by a sunset dinner cruise on Lake Lucerne by paddle steamer.
  • Day 4Ride heritage steam engines through the Zurich Oberland, then attend the annual gala at the narrow gauge Schinznach Garden Railway with three locomotives in steam.
  • Day 5Travel on a private main line charter behind the 1922 Italian FS 2-6-0 locomotive 625.116 from Luino, Italy to Cadenazzo, Switzerland along Lago Maggiore.

Included

  • Eurostar travel from London to Paris and return
  • First Class travel on all international rail services
  • 6 nights accommodation with breakfast at the 3-star Hotel Olten
  • 1 Lunch
  • 4 Dinners
  • 6 day Swiss travel pass in Standard Class for travel within Switzerland
  • All rail trips, steam trains, private charters and excursions as detailed in the itinerary
  • The services of a Tour Manager

Questions travellers ask

Is all the train travel included?
Yes. The price includes Eurostar from London, First Class international rail to Switzerland, all four steam train charters, the paddle steamer cruise on Lake Lucerne, and a six-day Swiss Travel Pass for independent exploration.
Is this trip escorted or independent?
It is fully escorted. A Tour Manager travels with you throughout. Day 6 is free to explore Switzerland using your Swiss Travel Pass on public transport.
Which steam trains are included?
The Furka Railway steam train from Oberwald to Realp over the Furka Pass; a main line steam charter in the Val de Travers hauled by a 1930s SBB Tiger tank engine; heritage steam on the Zurich Oberland from Hinwil to Bauma; and a private charter on the Italian FS 2-6-0 No. 625.116 from Luino to Cadenazzo along Lago Maggiore.
What accommodation is included?
Six nights at Hotel Olten, a three-star hotel in Switzerland, with breakfast included daily.
How many meals are included?
One lunch and four dinners are included. Dinner is served on the train on Day 2, and a sunset dinner cruise takes place on Day 3.
What is not included?
Meals not listed above, travel insurance, personal expenses, visa fees (if applicable), and any activities on the free day beyond what the Swiss Travel Pass covers.

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