A spotlight on the world's most legendary railway adventures, from luxury trains that evoke old-world glamour to historic routes that have rebuilt nations.
Since the dawn of time, the romance of railways has seduced poets, spellbound novelists, and dealt directors the perfect hand for capturing fleeting friendships, illicit affairs, and all manner of crimes and capers. A ticket is not just a permit to ride, it’s permission to trespass on the intimacies of other people’s lives. Trains bring us up close and personal—both inside and outside the carriage. On board, passengers chat politics in Finnish dining cars, clamber into couchettes above strangers on the Trans-Siberian, and share samosas on India’s many raucous mail trains. Outside, the world flashes by, a slideshow of rivers growing into oceans, deserts rising into mountains and cities sprawling then receding into darkness as the train thunders on through the night.
As climate change takes hold and travelers look for slower, more conscious ways to move through the world, trains are returning with renewed vigor. Sleeper trains are seeing a resurgence and the golden oldies are busier than ever. From regular commuter rides to glamorous tourist trains, a number of services have garnered iconic status for the scenery, their role through history, or perhaps their place in popular culture.
Rovos Rail
Four luxury trains operate across eleven Rovos Rail routes throughout southern Africa.
"The Rovos line in all its splendor—a vision of green and white carriages that draws the eye across the yellow veld—owes its existence to the foresight of South African Rohan Vos, who, back in 1989, took the business from unlikely dream to realization. With an embargo on handheld devices, required formal attire at dinner, four-course gourmet meals, all-day open bar, curated wine list, ready and hardworking staff, and pre-booked off-train excursions (the list goes one)—nothing like it exists on the African continent, in terms of scale or luxury." Read the full story by J.R. Patterson here.
Rocky Mountaineer
The Rocky Mountaineer departs from Vancouver and cuts through the meandering rivers and craggy peaks of the Canadian Rockies before ending in the resort town of Banff.
“If there’s one thing you’re assured on the Rocky Mountaineer, it’s an endless panorama of incredible scenery. Since its first voyage in 1990, the tourist train service has built its reputation on offering access to Western Canada’s wildest landscapes—framed from within luxury glass-domed cars.” Read the full story by Arati Menon here.
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
Belmond's sleeper trains are known for their luxurious accommodations. The dining car is the social hub of many long-haul train rides.
“The five-star service aboard this sumptuous auberge on wheels, the novelty and literal ride of it, can make even the most worldly travelers feel giddy. It’s a very slick production, executed with aplomb by the train’s staff, 47 people strong and stylish in their azure blue livery. All the stewards I met were uniformly friendly, game for anything: Simone practiced his Filipino with me as I fumbled my Italian with him; Vanessa expertly directed me in an Instagram video before we departed Paris. ‘Lean outside the train,’ she said. 'We have to get the shot!.” Read the full story by Matt Ortile here.
Seven Stars Kyushu
"Inside, the magnificent interior, designed by Eiji Mitooka, looks like the stage of an Agatha Christie novel set in a fantasy of Meiji-era Japan: a different type of wood was used for the paneling of each car, and the corridors are decorated with intricately crafted kumiko woodwork lattices and gold fixtures. Craftsmen from the region’s most venerated ateliers have designed every detail, from the shoji paper window screens and Aritayaki porcelain lamps in the guest rooms, to the cutlery that punctuates the tables." Read the full story by Melinda Joe here.
California Zephyr
The California Zephyr is the longest continuous train ride in the US—and one of Amtrak's most scenic routes.
“Running between Chicago and Emeryville, California, the Zephyr is the longest continuous train ride in the United States, in operation since 1949. The route covers just over 2,400 miles in about 52 hours, traversing the American West through the scenic Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevadas. There are a few ways to tackle the train's lengthy route. You can ride all 52 hours in one fell swoop and spend two nights on board (in either a sleeping car or a regular coach seat). Or you can break up the journey and stop in different cities like Omaha, Denver, Salt Lake City, and Reno.” Read the full story by Nayanika Guha here.
Darjeeling Express
The Darjeeling Express is affectionately known as one of India's “toy trains.”
The New Jalpaiguri station in Siliguri, one of the busiest junctions in northeast India, is the origin for the affectionately known ‘Toy Train’ to Darjeeling. Over seven and a half hours, the train clatters uphill at 4.4 mph, arriving around 5:30 p.m. into the city famous for its tea. Barely two strides wide, the rickety little service has been a much-loved feature of the landscape since the late nineteenth century when British colonizers first set it to work. Read the full story by Monisha Rajesh here.
