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Passengers riding the Grand Canyon Railway from Williams, Ariz., along a scenic 65-mile route to the canyon’s South Rim might not realize it, but they may have less impact on the environment than the ahhh-inspiring scenery has on them.
Passengers riding the Grand Canyon Railway from Williams, Ariz., along a scenic 65-mile route to the canyon’s South Rim might not realize it, but they may have less impact on the environment than the ahhh-inspiring scenery has on them.
Xanterra Parks & Resorts, which owns and operates the Grand Canyon Railway excursion train, the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel and manages many lodges and concessions at the South Rim, is committed to treading lightly on this splendid, but delicate, landscape.
“We’ve already picked the low-hanging fruit,” says Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel’s director of sustainability, Morgan O’Connor, of the company’s early eco-friendly efforts.
That includes installing LED lighting in 90 percent of the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel. The lodging that adjoins the historic train depot in Williams sports occupancy sensors that switch off heat and air conditioning when guestrooms are unoccupied. Toilets are low flow. And as rooms are remodeled, they’re outfitted with furnishings certified “green” by the Forest Stewardship Council. Carpeting is made from recycled materials. And paints have minimum off gassing.
Among the railway’s other current and pending eco-friendly measures:
“Not only do we have a safer environment for our employees and guests, we’re doing the right thing,” O’Conner says.
For more information and reservations, visit thetrain.com or call 800-THE-TRAIN (843-8724).
For travel experiences available from Xanterra Parks & Resorts and its affiliated properties, visit xanterra.com/explore/.
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