Photo By Rachel Larue | The U.S Coast Guard Memorial is one of the stops on the expanded route of Arlington...... read more read more
JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, Va. - A new contract for interpretive bus tour service inside Arlington National Cemetery has been awarded to Arlington National Cemetery Tours Inc., a subsidiary of Old Town Trolley Tours of Washington Inc., and visitors can expect an enhanced experience whether visiting popular sites or a service member’s final resting place.
The new contract, which went into effect Jan. 1, will replace the services provided by the National Park Service. The new contractor will provide an expanded tour of the cemetery, discounted prices, free tram rides for the handicapped and a graveside shuttle service.
“The biggest thing [tourists] will see will be the expanded route,” said Arlington National Cemetery Director of Events and Ceremonies Dave Kammen. “The previous route was from the Welcome Center to the JFK gravesite, up to the Tomb [of the Unknown Soldier] and over to the Arlington House. We still include those three stops; however, we’ve also added the Coast Guard Memorial [in Section 4], Gen. Pershing’s gravesite [in Section 34] and the Ord and Weitzel gate area. [This new route] really encompasses a lot more of the cemetery.”
Kammen also added that starting Feb. 1 on weekends, additional stops will include Sections 54 and 55, the Columbarium and Niche Wall, Section 60 and the 9/11 Memorial. Tour lengths will range from 45 to 60 minutes and will depart from the Welcome Center every 20 minutes.
On the second day of the new contract, Jan. 2, 1,200 riders took advantage of the new tour excursions compared to only 350 on the same date in 2014. Those riders viewed the cemetery from trolley-type buses which will eventually be replaced by the traditional trams.
“There are brand-new trams on order; however, in the interim until they are manufactured, the trollies will be used in the winter months and some of the old trams have been purchased that the [National] Park Service actually owned, and they are being refurbished and those will be used in the higher-volume months,” Kammen said.
Kammen said the cemetery intends to have the trams operational by spring, but the trollies will be used during cold weather months.
Complementary tour rides for the handicapped and a free graveside shuttle service is now being provided to visitors who wish to visit individual gravesites. Those wishing to use the gravesite shuttle should visit the Welcome Center tram ticket window to request the service.
“These are two new services that come with the contract,” Kammen said.
Kammen added those with handicapped placards plus one assistant can ride for free on the tour, and also a graveside shuttle service will be provided to people who request to visit gravesites. Shuttles leave every half hour and pick-up is on demand by calling for a ride.
Tour discounts are now available for service members and veterans. Those in military uniform ride the tram tour buses for free. For trolley tour pricing and more information, go to http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Plan-Your-Visit/Tours-and-Groups.
| Date Taken: | 01.15.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 01.15.2015 15:09 |
| Story ID: | 152080 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 117 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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