Amtrak to add luxury railcars and service

Amtrak, the national passenger railroad, announced plans yesterday to add seven luxury cars from the golden age of rail to some of its Washington-to-Miami and Western trains this winter.

The luxury cars will be operated by GrandLuxe Rail Journeys, of Evergreen, Colo., formerly called American Orient Express. They will feature five-course meals, butler service, and suites in restored vintage sleeping cars.

The first Washington-Miami Silver Meteor train with the luxury cars will leave Washington's Union Station on Nov. 6. In all, 40 of Amtrak's Florida trains will feature the special cars during November, December and early January.

Amtrak and GrandLuxe are planning similar additions this winter to trains between Chicago and both San Francisco and Los Angeles. And there will be a limited number of trips on scheduled trains between Chicago and Washington, Denver and Albuquerque, and Denver and San Francisco.

Fares start at $789 per person for one-night trips.

GrandLuxe operates 21-car excursion trains over several scenic routes in the United States, with trips ranging from two to 10 days. This is the first time, the announcement said, that its cars have been added to Amtrak scheduled passenger trains.