11:26am Tuesday 18th April 2006
THE popular Cathedrals Express programme, which offers day trips by steam train to beautiful and historic places, is getting under way for 2006.
This year, as well as all the traditional favourites such as Chichester, Lincoln, Salisbury, Sherborne, Wells and Exeter, Steam Dreams has included new destinations and introduced special event days.
For horse racing fans there are six different race days to choose from, starting with the Grand National this Saturday but also races at Newmarket, Newbury and one of the social highlights of August - Glorious Goodwood.
For gardening fans, a trip to The Eden Project in Cornwall is a must.
This truly amazing millennium project, with its domed biomes displaying landscapes and plants in warm temperate regions and humid tropics, will make for a memorable day out.
There are also trips to Portsmouth for the Volvo Round The World ocean racing and historic motor racing at Goodwood.
The Sunny South Special programme now includes Lewes, Newhaven, Bournemouth, Weymouth and Eastbourne.
For those who fancy a trip to the Isle of Wight the train will stop at Brockenhurst, where passengers can take a connection to Yarmouth - making a day trip a real treat.
All trains depart from and return to central London but it is also possible to join and leave the train at stations such as Clapham Junction, East Croydon or Wimbledon.
The Grand National and Eden Project trains will be hauled by historic diesel engines the distances involved are too great for a steam engine to cover in one day.
There is a choice of services on board Premier Dining offers a champagne brunch on the outward journey and three-course dinner on the return.
In First Class, passengers are seated in compartments for up to six people and given a glass of champagne and orange juice on boarding and waitress service tea and coffee.
In Standard Class, passengers are seated in open carriages at tables for four.
News Shopper has three great prizes to offer: A pair of tickets in each class for a trip of your choice during the summer. All prizes must be taken before October 30 this year.
To enter, just answer the question below.
For more information, call 01483 209888 or visit steamdreams.co.uk
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