The world’s 12 most amazing train journeys
The idea of spending all day on a train may not sound like a holiday to most commuters, but upgrading to First Class isn’t all about wider seats and free newspapers: a truly first-rate rail trip can be among the greatest adventures in the world. With a bit of forethought, your mode of transportation needn’t be just a means to get to some yawn-worthy resort. Embracing the “it ain’t where you’re going, it’s how you get there” idea means opening up to the luxury of a smooth ride through astonishing landscapes and cultures. How better to experience a place than by combining the conviviality of the rail carriage with sheer mileage through open country?
Of course, the level of ‘luxury’ implied in each of the world’s most renowned rail trips depends somewhat on the location. The famous Orient Express from London to Venice, for example, offers vintage cabins, steward service, and afternoon tea. Beats the morning commute, right? Things might be a little more crowded on Japan’s Tōkaidō Shinkansen line from Tokyo to Kyoto: it’s ferried a record-setting 5.3 billion passengers during its 52-year existence. It’s worth a little hustle and bustle for a high-speed trip to the ideal viewing point of iconic Mount Fuji, though.
Whichever continent you find yourself on, rail engineers have been hard at work creating ever more ambitious and awe-inspiring ways to cut through nature and offer first class glimpses of Earth’s awesome, endless landscapes. A new infographic from Pettitts identifies twelve of the most luxurious rail trips available, enabling you to recline and enjoy your holiday without too much wear on the old shoe leather. Whether it’s wild salmon for dinner on the Rocky Mountaineer from Vancouver, or the Harry Potter charm of Scotland’s Jacobite route across the Highlands, you’ll be glad you opted for an upgrade from the tin-can experience of budget airlines and overpriced taxis this summer.
