Who and what is Belle Trains?
We offer the wonderful nostalgia of travelling by steam in luxurious carriages through spectacular landscapes and captivating locations. With delightful cuisine and fantastic hand selected hotels all alongside our vibrant and experienced Holidays Team, you will be sure to experience an unforgettable trip.
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Our inaugural holiday in 2025 was the Harz Mountains Belle, where we steamed across Germany on the mainline visiting some of its finest cities and towns including Cologne, Nuremberg, Dresden and Wiesbaden. The culmination of the tour was three days in the enchanting Harz Mountains, home to a network of over 140 km of metre gauge track through the scenic valleys and mountain peaks of arguably the region’s best kept secret.
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Our next journey, The Alpine Belle, departs in June 2026.
Our Philosophy
As a company, our mission is to provide unrivalled bespoke holidays with every element covered to the highest possible standards from beginning to end. However, the core of the business that encapsulates and drives everything we do, is centered around one key word and that is ‘personal’. We pride ourselves on our personalised approach and consider it the foundation of Belle Trains from the moment you contact us to the very end of the tour.
Our Approach
When booking a tour with Belle Trains you can rest assured that every detail has been considered by our expert team who have researched and visited every hotel, main supplier and train operator that we will be working with.
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You can be certain that we have selected the finest hotels available in each area, locations rich in beauty and culture, routes that provide the best rail experience, an unmissable variety of excursions, luggage courier service throughout as well as all transfers provided by us on the main tour. Our full itinerary and service removes any planning responsibilities so you can completely unwind, relishing each moment of this holiday of a lifetime.
Meet The Team
The team at Belle Trains have all worked together previously with steam tour operators in the UK and beyond. Having all known each other and worked together for many years, this like-minded team share a common vision and approach, forming a solid foundation for delivering an exceptional experience to all our passengers.
Marcus Robertson
Founder & Chairman
Marcus founded tour promoter Steam Dreams in 1999 and ran the company for 20 years. A lifelong steam enthusiast, under the gentle coaching of his wife Marianne, Marcus developed a steam train experience both for enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts alike. Marcus’ passion for creating unforgettable memories for passengers and his personal involvement with curating itineraries guarantees each tour is truly special.
Claire Newton
Marketing Director
Claire has worked with most of the team in some capacity for over 15 years, helping to put together itineraries for tours in the UK and overseas. She joined the Belle Trains team in May 2025 and quickly immersed herself in her new role, travelling to Germany just a week later to participate in the Harz Mountains Belle.
Carol Row
A regular on board Steam Dreams trains hosting passengers for 15 years, Carol’s unique bubbly personality has made her a popular part of the steam train experience. She will be hosting on board the Alpine Belle, and Belle Trains would not be the same without her!
Aimee Stevenson
Managing Director
Aimee's previous experience in passenger services and personal drive ensures that no detail is overlooked to create a seamless experience from beginning to end. Her vibrant personality and engaging manner became the hallmark of Steam Dreams in her role as Head of Passenger Services. Aimee’s last responsibility was the management and hosting of the 2023 Emerald Isle Explorer tour, a natural stepping stone to running Belle Trains.
Judy Brierley
Non-Executive Director
A founding Director of Steam Dreams, Judy was instrumental in developing the company’s Holidays by Steam programme. She single-handedly developed the off train aspects of the Holidays for ten years, and her knowledge of hotels is unrivalled. Her role now is to advise and support the Belle Trains team.
Sarah Wall
Sarah worked for Steam Dreams for nearly 10 years on all aspects of the Holidays by Steam programme. Sarah will be working in the reservations office and you will also see her smiling face on the Alpine Belle Holiday where she is an integral part of the hotels team.
Charlie Robertson
Operations Director
The son of the founder, you could say that for Charlie, steam is in his DNA! During his 15 years at Steam Dreams, he played a key role in the company’s expansion with tours to Ireland and the Isle of Man. He joined the Belle Trains team in early 2025, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge. Charlie designs the tour routes and excursions on leisure days to balance the steam mileage, on board comforts and cultural discoveries.
Joseph Vacchiano
Hospitality and Passenger Services
Joseph brings with him a wealth of experience from the world of hospitality, including a previous role at Steam Dreams. He ensures that our on train catering team, led by Head Chef Connie, are delivering to the highest possible standards as well as working alongside the team in the build up to the tour.
Kate Hill
Non-Executive Director
Another founding Director of Steam Dreams, Kate has worked across many sectors in Marketing and Consulting and has a number of non-executive roles in another businesses. She is the glue that keeps the management ticking over!