Is everybody ready to party? Great! Because the season to celebrate is right on track and rail operators are cutting loose with recession-busting savings and seasonal good cheer.

For November, RailEurope is celebrating the fall of the Berlin Wall with an incredible German Rail Pass package… and the living is large with an Eastern & Oriental Express tour that includes a free night’s stay in a five-star hotel in Singapore or Bangkok! Stateside, Amtrak gives train lovers plenty of reasons to celebrate with up to 25% off fares between popular Northeast cities. When you’re ready to kick off the holidays, do it in style with a champagne toast aboard one of dozens of Orient Express day trains that will criss-cross Britain this December… or rail off into the sunshine by kissing winter goodbye and celebrating Summer Down Under with a Rail Australia Austrail Pass.

Celebrate the Fall of the Berlin Wall (and Save!)

It’s been twenty years since the Berlin Wall came down and RailEurope is celebrating. That means you get 20% savings on a 4-day German Rail Pass plus a Berlin sightseeing tour at no additional cost. Take four days over a 30-day period to explore Germany from Hamburg to Heidelberg to Harz, then enjoy an insider’s view of Berlin thanks to your free sightseeing tour aboard a double-decker bus.

To take advantage of these savings, rail passes must be purchased by 20 November 2009 and travel must be completed within six months of purchase date.

Pass choices include first or second class travel for adults or kids (6-11 years) with extra discounts for adults traveling in pairs. Special second class travel passes available for youth (12-25 years). All passes include 4 days travel within one month and Berlin sightseeing tour. All orders are also eligible for free shipping and may qualify for 6-month delayed billing. For details and reservations go to RailEurope.com/deals or phone 1-800-622-8600 in the USA, 1-800-361-724 in Canada.

Singapore/Bangkok Luxury Rail Tour

Even without a free night’s luxury hotel accommodation, the allure of a deluxe rail tour through Southeast Asia is compelling. Operated by Orient Express, the 3-day/2-night Eastern & Oriental Express rail itinerary links Singapore and Bangkok via tropical rain forests; the UNESCO World Heritage site at George Town, Penang; and the infamous Bridge on the River Kwai. Exquisite on-train accommodations and dining are included.

Now, E&OE is offering its guests the opportunity to extend any Singapore-Bangkok or Bangkok-Singapore journey departing in 2010 — with one free night at a five-star Mandarin Oriental Hotel in either Singapore or Bangkok. Offer must be booked before 15 December 2009 and some conditions apply.

To book your 3-day/2-night tour, visit the Orient-Express EasternandOrientalExpress.com website, select Special Offers, and apply promo code EPS1 for one free night at the Mandarin Oriental Singapore; EPB1 for the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok.

Amtrak’s Northeast is Going for Up to 25% Less

Catch a major league game, a world-class museum, or an all-star show. Or tackle that Christmas shopping list head on. Summer may be over but, thanks to Amtrak’s extended offer, The Northeast is Going for a Great Price promotion is still going strong. So Amtrak-ers can still get in on savings of up to 25% on one-way coach travel up or down the Northeast Regional Service corridor. Destinations include world-class cities like Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC as well as hip regional hubs like Providence and New Haven. And up to two young travelers — ages 2-15 — may accompany each adult for just half the discounted fare.

Some conditions apply. Purchase is required at least 14 days prior to travel and tickets must be purchased no later than 2 December 2009, with travel completed on or before 16 December 2009 (excluding 24-25 and 28-30 November 2009). To book online visit Amtrak.com/deals; or call 1-800-USA-RAIL.

Discover the Wonder of Summer Down Under

It’s a big country but somebody has to see it all — and Rail Australia’s Austrail Pass gives you a full six months to discover the world’s biggest, most exotic island continent.

So hop the legendary Ghan and take aim at the Outback’s sizzling Red Centre. Tackle the arid Nullarbor Plain aboard the Indian Pacific and quench your thirst at a wine bar in Perth. Coast out of Melbourne, through Sydney to Brisbane on the speedy XPT. Then Tilt Train up the Sunshine Coast to Cairn where you can ride on Kuranda’s rainforest railway and check out the Great Barrier Reef.

Austrail Pass holders are entitled to specified coach services for six consecutive months of unlimited travel on Great Southern Rail, QR Traveltrain and Countrylink trains. Passes are available to non-Australian passport holders only and are available through your travel agent. Some conditions apply. For complete details visit RailAustralia.com.au

Yuletide Outings Across England

‘Tis the season for making memories! Each glimpse from the elegantly restored dining coach of your Orient-Express British Pullman Lunch Train reveals the quiet charm of the wintry countryside. Inside, amid laughter and clinking champagne glasses, you and your guests spend the afternoon enjoying a sumptuous full-course lunch, including fine wine and liqueur.

Prefer to make a day of it? Highlights range from carol concerts in cathedral cities to seasonal shopping in Christmas markets. Days out start with Bellini and brunch; return trips include full-course dinner with champagne and wine.

British Pullman Christmas Lunch Trains and Day Trains depart London Victoria. Services are limited so reserve early to avoid disappointment. Orient Express also operates Northern Belle Christmas Lunch Trains from selected cities across Britain. For information go to Orient Express BritishPullman.com and follow the Departures and Prices link to Christmas and New Year.

For most of us, the sun’s hanging just a bit lower in the sky these days. Summer’s well behind us and it’s time to get down to business.

Or not.

Not… because October holds rail potential for travel savings and perks. That makes this the perfect time to take advantage of seasonal train travel savings on BritRail passes… big savings on selected VIA Rail Canada trains… and free travel aboard the Grand Canyon Railway. Great rail deals, too: like an end-of season freebie for Orient-Express passengers… and extra Guest rewards points from Amtrak. Read on…

BritRail Seasonal Savings Trim 20%

Slow season is go season for BritRail; thanks to best-of-year travel savings from mid Autumn until late winter! Go from Lands End to London to Hadrian’s Wall with a BritRail England low season rail pass. Or kick it up and combine England, Scotland and Wales with an all inclusive BritRail Britain low season rail pass. Either way you save an extra 20% off your already value-priced BritRail pass.

For busy itineraries entailing non-stop travel, there’s the day-by-day convenience of a Consecutive rail pass with 3, 4, 8, 15 or 22 days, or 1 month of consecutive travel. For slower paces, Flexipass options let laid back travelers space out 3, 4, 8 or 15 non-consecutive travel days over a 2 month period.

Savings of 20% on BritRail England and BritRail Britain low season rail  passes are available for first class or second class train travel (first class limitations apply). Extra 20% savings valid only for travel between 01 November 2009 and 28 February 2010. To order your savings-priced BritRail passes now, visit the RailEurope.com website or call 1-800-622-8600 in the USA, 1-800-361-7245 in Canada.

Amtrak Guest Rewards Matches Point for Point

Good news for Amtrak Guest Rewards members: you can earn double points this fall! All train routes and travel classes are eligible so, now through 19 December 2009, your Amtrak Guest Rewards membership entitles you to double points every time you travel with Amtrak. Points are redeemable for travel with Amtrak, Carnival, Continental and more… plus purchases with merchants like Bloomingdale’s, CVS, Barnes & Noble, Red Lobster and Lowe’s.

You can also earn additional points by trading with any of 170 AGR partners including Hertz, Hilton and Telaflora.

To earn double points, you need to be enrolled in the Amtrak Guest Rewards program and registered to participate in the double points offer. To enroll in the AGR program online, and earn an extra 500 points, go to the AmtrakGuestRewards.com website. To take advantage of the double points offer, register at the AmtrakGuestRewards.com website using registration code 91409; or call 1-800-307-5000, select option 2, and enter the registration code.

Grand Canyon Railway offers Golden Opportunities

The calendar is slipping but its not too late to join the Grand Canyon Railway in celebrating the 50th Anniversary of its vintage diesel locomotives. Born in 1959? Boomers lucky enough to turn 50 before 2009’s close have the opportunity to ride free aboard the Grand Canyon Railway! Married in 1959? Couples celebrating their Golden Anniversaries during 2009 are invited to share a romantic train ride — free of charge — courtesy of the Grand Canyon Railway.

To take advantage of the Grand Canyon Railway’s special 50th Anniversary offer, travel must be completed by 31 December 2009 (Birthday celebrants must travel within seven days of their birth dates). To arrange free train travel for yourself or someone special, call 1-800-843-8724 and use promo code 50 ANNIVERSARY.

Orient-Express Ends the Season in Style

It’s the perfect prelude to a classic journey aboard the world’s most famous luxury train! Book yourself a night aboard the final Orient-Express rail tour of the season and start your holiday with two free nights at the sumptuous four-star Londra Palace Hotel in Venice.

Venice, Verona, Innsbruck, Paris, London: the classic itinerary unfolds aboard splendid Wagons-Lits carriages. Journey highlights include Alpine views at lunch, piano bar before and after a sumptuous four-course dinner, and brunch accompanied by views of the French countryside. The journey’s all-inclusive price includes all table d’hôte meals and beverages.

The Orient-Express begins its last rail tour of the season on 02 November 2009. To book your compartment, visit the Orient-Express.com website — and be sure to use promo code VP2N.

Save 50% to 75% with Express Deals Across Canada

Discover VIA Rail Express Deals, and you’ve tracked down the best rail values in all of Canada. If you’re the spontaneous type: if you can pick up and leave on a moment’s notice or if you’re up for heading out in new directions, VIA Rail Canada’s Express Deals open a world of rail adventure.

Deals change daily: departure and arrival points can range between Vancouver’s west coast cool; the Rocky Mountain’s unspoiled heights; Toronto’s skyscraper caverns; Montréal’s joie de vivre; and Gaspé’s Atlantic shore. Offers can range from next day to 30 or more days in advance. Available traveling classes can include anything from economy coach to sleeper cabins with showers.

To book savings of 50% to 75% on last minute and selected train travel in Canada, visit the Express Deals page on the VIARail.ca website and use discount code EXPRESS.