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Grand Luxe Rail Ceases Operations
GrandLuxe Rail Journeys is closing down operations on Aug. 29,
the company announced internally Tuesday morning.
Employees were called into a meeting by Tom Rader, chairman and owner of GrandLuxe, who told them the company would cease operations
with the return of the train to Tacoma on Aug. 28, 2008.
In a letter drafted to send to clients, Rader wrote: “We are financially unable to continue operations.” Later in the letter, Rader said he was aware that consumers with booked trips will want their money refunded, but, he wrote,
“At this time we just do not have many answers to your questions. …
I am personally deeply sorry that we have failed to provide your trip.”
He urged those who paid by credit card to contact the card company for refunds. Evergreen, Colo.-based GrandLuxe, formerly known as American Orient Express, operated train journeys around the U.S. and Mexico.
A note from Phyllis Dale: If you have booked a trip with a travel agent, they should be contacting you with advice on obtaining a refund from your credit card company or file a claim with your trip insurance company providing it covers financial default for Grand Luxe Rail. This is very sad indeed for those who love this train.
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