JF Tours eyes steam engine enthusiasts
View(s):Steam engine enthusiasts were the targeted travellers to hop onboard the “Viceroy 2” launched recently by JF Tours on a cross-country train ride around Sri Lanka, an official said.
“We get rail enthusiasts and people who are particular about the engines and their nuts and bolts and are basically rail fans,” JF Tours Head of Tour Operations and Sales Development Kanchana Dissanayake said in an interview with the Business Times. She observed that they would receive about a maximum of 50 per pax from countries like Germany, UK and Australia.
It was pointed out that they would carry out about three trips per year on route to Badulla, Kandy, Matara, Galle, Batticaloa, Pasikudah, and later to Jaffna as well.
These trips would be carried out as per schedules on this – the only steam train operating in the country, Ms. Dissanayaka said.
This product of rail tourism was carried out for the individual and budget conscious travellers, a release issued by the company stated adding that the cost of refurbishing the Viceroy 2 was Rs.10 million giving an old world charm.
This special train service would provide overseas tourists and locals an affordable option of travelling without having to compromise on comfort, it was stated, adding, that services also include meals and a mini bar aboard the special carriage.
The vintage Viceroy 2 is attached to a public service train and offers travellers different tour options in line with the public railway schedules on the national railway network. A rail vacation for a group of 24 or individual point-to-point travellers to an identified destination would be arranged as per the customer requirements, the release further said.
An overnight tour could be arranged by the tour company with advance tickets on sale for travel for both one way and two ways as the case might be, the company noted.
(SD)