Birmingham International Station will resemble a fashion show later this month when more than 100 passengers dressed up to the nines board one of the world’s most luxurious trains for a trip to Ladies’ Day at Royal Ascot.
Men in perfectly-tailored morning suits and top hats and women wearing expensive dresses and fascinators will board the 1930s Pullman-style Northern Belle over a red carpet at 9am on Thursday June 19.
Then they will be handed their first early morning glass of champagne before tucking into a delicious three-course brunch during the four-hour journey to the famous racecourse in Berkshire.
A spokesman for the train, which was once part of the Orient Express operation, said: “We won’t just be taking people to Ascot, we will be transporting them back in time to an era when nothing was too good for the pampered passenger.”
qDespite some tickets to travel in “Krug Class” costing almost £1,000 per person, the trip was sold out months ago. “We could have sold it our twice over,” said the spokesman.
“It really is a wonderful occasion, especially with everybody dressing up for the day. I think we will probably pour more champagne on this train than on any other of our trips during the year.”
After watching the racing from the Queen Anne Grandstand, passengers will return to another champagne reception on board before a magnificent six-course dinner is served during the journey home.
The train is due to arrive back in Birmingham at 10.20pm.
The Northern Belle will also be calling at the city this Saturday (June 7) before a steam-hauled journey over the picturesque Settle-Carlisle line, with a similar trip on July 26.
Then in August there will be a visit to the Royal Estate at Sandringham in Norfolk..
Fares on the train start from £365. For more details, see www.northernbelle.co.uk