West Coast Boards 2 New Train Trips

Fans of West Coast rail travel have two new options for 1999: a Canada tour that connects with Amtrak’s Coast Starlight and Mt. Baker routes, and regular runs of the luxury American Orient Express along the route.

From April 29 through Oct. 9, 1999, Rocky Mountaineer Railtours will run a six-day “Coast Starlight Tour.” Starting at $1,249 per person, double occupancy, you can take the Coast Starlight from Los Angeles to Seattle (including sleeper and meals), stay overnight in Seattle, catch Amtrak’s Mt. Baker International to Vancouver, Canada, then transfer to the Rocky Mountaineer for travel to Calgary. The Rocky Mountaineer segment includes most meals; hotel stays in Vancouver, Kamloops and Banff; and a Banff tour. Reservations: tel. (800) 665-7245.

Also next year, American Orient Express runs the weeklong “Pacific Coast Explorer” six times from April to October. Think of it as a posh Coast Starlight with lots of side trips--it runs on the same tracks, using vintage 1950s rail cars. For $2,990 to $4,990 per person, double occupancy, you get all meals, wine and escorted tours of Muir Woods, Point Reyes National Seashore, Napa Valley and Lassen Volcanic National Park, among other sites. Reservations: tel. (888) 759-3944.