Tramways of Germany

This spectacular all-new tour reveals the historic cities and delightful tramways of Saxony, exploring fascinating networks on privately chartered heritage vehicles from the early and mid 20th century.

• Legendary Leipzig is your base, an elegant and vibrant city with an extensive tram network dating back to 1872.
  With 13 tram lines covering 91 miles and 522 tram stops, it is Germany’s third biggest network.
• Visit nearby attractions on and off the beaten pathincluding best kept secrets like beautiful Plauen’s historic 1894 tramway and quaint Döbeln’s idyllic horse tramway.
• Enjoy luxurious sightseeing in historic city centres, taking advantage of the best of every tram network on board privately chartered vintage vehicles, including rare curves and unusual lines.
• We include a touch of steam at the 15-inch Leipzig Park Railway, a steam-hauled journey with the resident 4-6-2 ‘Pacific’ plus live steam at the Wittenberge roundhouse and railway museum.
• The perfect tour for tramway enthusiasts and connoisseurs of vintage transport, and a wonderfully comfortable and inspiring holiday for non-enthusiast partners.
  

Thursday 5th June
A thrilling journey from London to Leipzig by rail
Delivering adventures from the very start, we travel by Eurostar, Thalys and ICE high speed trains from London St Pancras via Brussels and Frankfurt to Leipzig. On arrival you’ll check into your central hotel near the station, right in the beautiful heart of Leipzig’s Old Town. This is your base for the tour, here a welcome dinner is served. (D)

Friday 6th June
The legendary tramways and stunning landmarks of Leipzig
Leipzig has one of the largest and most diverse tram networks in Europe, but there’s much more to this ancient historic city. It’s rich in interesting architecture with lovely old districts outside the immediate centre to explore. Today is dedicated to discovering Leipzig from the comfort of your own stylish private heritage tramway. We begin the day at the tram museum, where you’ll see the collection set off over rare track to explore the best parts of the network, travelling through the most attractive parts of the city away from the usual tourist hustle and bustle. As you’ll discover, there’s nothing quite like sightseeing from an elegant 1920s Pullman tram. We’ll travel on lines without regular passenger services, where we’ll pause for photos and refreshments. Once the private charter end’s you’re free to board parts of the network on regular services or enjoy photography at some of the best hotspots and busiest junctions. Alternatively, simply wander the town centre at your leisure. In the evening you’ll rejoin the group for a tasty evening meal at the historic BayerischerBahnhof, one of Germany’s oldest preserved railway stations from the 1840s and now a popular brew house. This is where the main line trains used to depart to Munich, marked by agracious white portal arch. (B D)

Saturday 7th June 
The unique horse tramway of Döbeln
Today is dedicated to one of Germany’s best kept secrets, a remarkable attraction brought back to life in 2007. We’ll travel to the little city of Döbeln, southeast of Leipzig, whose horse tramway operated from 1892 to 1926. Between 2002 and 2007 the line was rebuilt by a group of dedicated volunteers and, in 2009, it was extended to reach the main theatre.
Having taken the train from Leipzig to Döbeln, we travel the full length of the horse tramway in a vintage 1898 coach before visiting the stables and dedicated museum. You’ll have time to film the special tram service framed by the lovely old medieval town buildings. There’s no finer way to experience a small historic German city! In the afternoon we return to Leipzig via a short train ride, and you’ll have the evening free to get to know the city. (B)

Sunday 8th June
Leipzig Park Railway and Wittenberge Roundhouse
Today it’s all about the steam, which takes centre stage on two different gauges. The first is the tramway to Leipzig’s delightful park railway at Auensee, which has a circular two-kilometre layout around a lake on a 15 inch track.
You’ll travel on board the original ‘Pacific’ No. 2 dating to 1928, one of six such perfectly preserved locomotives in Germany. Afterwards we continue north by Deutsche Bahn service train to Lutherstadt Wittenberge, where there’s a roundhouse and steam locomotive museum right next to the railway station. One of the local tank engines will be in steam, available for rides and photo opportunities, and we include lunchtime refreshments. (B L)

Monday 9th June
Stylish vintage trams in beautiful Plauen
Today we travel by train from Leipzig to Plauen, still in Saxony, but close to the border with the province of Bavaria. Plauen’s compact tram system is framed by scenic castles, cathedrals, and impressive 19th century factories dating from the industrial revolution. The town is known for its active tram preservation society, and we’ll travel on both of its famous vehicles. The Bier Elektrische picks you up at the main station, Oberer Bahnhof, which as the name suggests involves a complimentary beer as you start the city tour on board a typical East German ‘Gotha’ unit. On reaching the depot we’ll switch to the famous green open balconied car 21 from 1905, one of the oldest operational electric tram cars in Germany and a masterpiece in classic tram glory. She’ll pose for pictures and whisk you away on two branches of the network before returning to the depot, where we transfer to the 1928 car 22, thus experiencing the entire heritage fleet on this exciting tour. Because Plauen is built on hills and valleys the trams climb some thrilling gradients, complete with marvellous views. Lunch is included in Plauen, and we return to base in Leipzig early evening. (B L)

Tuesday 10th June
Adventures on board the wonderful Interurban Tramway of Halle
After breakfast we board a direct DB service to Halle. This is Leipzig’s sister city, whose tramway is framed by the stunning churches and tall towers of the main city square. Here’s where we pick up a private tram with an historic 1920s vehicle. We visit the local tram museum, travel past the city’s most interesting landmarks then change to a 1960s Czech-built Tatra to wind our way along the amazing Interurban line 5 south to Merseburg and Bad Dürenberg, the longest tram route in Germany. The route is lined with fascinating diverse scenery, from historic districts to sprawling factories and wide-open fields. Lunch is included today, as is a dinner at your hotel when we get back to Leipzig. (B L D)

Wednesday 11th June
Fall in love with Germany’s smallest tramway in the Cathedral city of Naumburg
A magical UNESCO World Heritage site awaits you in the inspiring Cathedral city of Naumburg, just 50 minutes or so west of Leipzig. This is home to Germany’s smallest electric tramway, just 2.9km long. Your private charter trip on a 1928 heritage car, complete with plenty of photo stops and a depot visit, is full of interest. You’ll see the landmark cathedral with its characteristic four spires, the town’s main square and Rathaus, plus the magnificent circular medieval ramparts. Lunch is included, and we return to Leipzig in the late afternoon. (B L)

Thursday 12th June
A day of your own to enjoy independent exploring
You’re free to explore on the final day of your tour, complete with a complementary Saxony regional Rover ticket for travelling the region by train and tram. Your Tour Manager will be happy to help with suggestions. In the evening you rejoin your fellow travellers for a farewell dinner at the hotel. (B D)

Friday 13th June
Back home to London by high-speed train
One last thrill awaits us as we travel from Leipzig through Cologne and Brussels on high-speed trains before boarding the Eurostar – an adventure in itself - for the return trip to London St. Pancras International (B).