Vacations By Rail Adds New European Itineraries
Tour operator Vacations By Rail® announced an expansion of its European portfolio with new premium rail experiences in France and Spain. The new collection of small group and independent tours is designed to showcase the cultural, culinary, and scenic diversity of the regions through immersive train itineraries.
- The newly announced itineraries for 2026 include the "Grand Tour of France," "Paris, Provence & the French Riviera," and a "First Class Paris, the Pyrenees & Barcelona" tour. - A highlight of the new "First Class Paris, the Pyrenees & Barcelona" itinerary is a stay at the Canfranc Estación, a historic railway station in the Pyrenees restored as a five-star luxury hotel. - Chicago-based Vacations By Rail was founded in 2004 by Todd Powell and Cole Dannewitz. - The company was acquired in August 2019 by Great Rail Journeys, a UK-based tour operator with over 400 global itineraries. - The acquisition was a strategic move by Great Rail Journeys to expand into the growing U.S. rail travel market, and the company has tripled the size of its U.S. business since the purchase. - In May 2025, parent company Great Rail Journeys was acquired by the private equity firm Vitruvian Partners, which also holds investments in other travel companies like Sykes Cottages and Klook.
