Overview

British luxury rail travel was not just the domain of the Pullman Company. In fact, they were far from the only providers as railway companies in Britain were extremely active from late Victorian times competing for leisure business. Various railway operators were at the forefront of deluxe rail travel services across pre-grouping, Big Four and BR eras when first-class travel was increasingly adapted for the needs of the business community. Recently Britain's railway heritage has been responsible for kick-starting a modern tourist spectacle as specialist operators run luxury day excursion, sleeping-car and fine-dining trains. Martyn Pring has carried out considerable research tracing the evolution of British luxury train travel weaving railway, social and travel history threads around a number of Britain's mainline routes traditionally associated with glamorous trains. Drawing on contemporary coverage, he chronicles the luxury products and services shaped by railway companies and hospitality businesses for Britain's burgeoning upper and middle-classes and wealthy overseas visitors, particularly Americans, who demanded more civilised and comfortable rail travel. By Edwardian times, a pleasure-palace industry emerged as entrepreneurs, hotel proprietors, local authorities and railway companies all collaborated developing upscale destinations, building civic amenities, creating sightseeing and leisure pursuits and in place-making initiatives to attract prosperous patrons. Luxury named trains delivered sophisticated and fashionable settings encouraging a golden age of civilised business and leisure travel. Harkening back to the inter-war years, modern luxury train operators now redefine and capture the allure and excitement of dining and train travel experiences. AUTHOR: Martyn Pring is a career marketing professional having worked across both private and public sectors, as a researcher at the Department of Tourism, Bournemouth University, and more recently, as an independent researcher with interests in culinary tourism, destination marketing and luxury branded sectors as well as travel writing. A self-confessed railway buff from a young age, and as a result of family connections, retained interests in maritime and aviation travel sectors. Martyn lives and works in Dorset. 60 colour illustrations, 10 maps

Full Product Details

9781526713247

Table of Contents

Reviews

A book that every fan of the history of the railway should have in his library. Essential to know the world of luxury trains, a topic not widely explored in railway literature.--Unes Cuantos Trenes Blog, Jorge del Valle For the Love of Books Luxury Railway Travel is an elegant, beautifully illustrated and highly informative book, written by an enthusiast for fellow railway enthusiasts. They and many other readers will certainly enjoy it.--Professor Hugh Clout For the Love of Books A book full of fascinating facts regarding the rise, fall and, hopefully, rise again of luxury railway travel.-- For the Love of Books

A book that every fan of the history of the railway should have in his library. Essential to know the world of luxury trains, a topic not widely explored in railway literature.--Unes Cuantos Trenes Blog, Jorge del Valle A book full of fascinating facts regarding the rise, fall and, hopefully, rise again of luxury railway travel.--For the Love of Books

Author Information

Martyn Pring is a career marketing professional having worked across both private and public sectors, as a researcher at the Department of Tourism, Bournemouth University, and more recently, as an independent researcher with interests in culinary tourism, destination marketing and luxury branded sectors as well as travel writing. A self-confessed railway buff from a young age, and as a result of family connections, retained interests in maritime and aviation travel sectors. Martyn lives and works in Dorset.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available