10 great rail journeys

Great train journeys provide a return to more leisurely days, when travel was a decorous adventure rather than an irritant endured between home and holiday. Between them, our top 10 carve up the most spectacular scenery on the planet.


Switzerland: The Bernina Express
This takes you over the highest rail summit in the Alps ? 7,405 feet up ? at anything but express speeds between St Moritz and Tirano. The curves on the climbs are so sharp that you can photograph the train going in the opposite direction. The final highlight is the viaduct near Brusio that helps the railway corkscrew its way down the river valley.




Canada: Rocky Mountaineer Vacations
The three train routes ? Kicking Horse, Yellowhead and Fraser Discovery ? operated by Rocky Mountaineer Vacations? air-conditioned, dome-car day trains offer the best way of seeing the most spectacular parts of the Rockies.
Coach links over the Columbia Parkway allow a 10-night circuit: Vancouver?Whistler?Quesnel?Jasper?Lake Louise?Banff?Kamloops?Vancouver. Overnight accommodation is in hotels.



South Africa: Rovos Rail
Now regarded as superior to the Blue Train for quality and service, the two trains of beautifully restored wood-paneled carriages follow a variety of itineraries through southern Africa lasting two days to two weeks, with excursions from the train.




The 36 suites accommodate a maximum of 72 passengers. Observation cars allow unrivaled views across the bush.


Russia: Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express
The world?s longest train journey at nearly 6,000 miles is no longer an endurance test thanks to this new 21-car train that provides comfort unknown since Tsarist times.
It operates itineraries of varying length up to the 15-day Moscow to Vladivostock run. Guided excursions by coach are organised to places of interest.


South East Asia: Eastern & Oriental Express
The 1,262-mile journey from Bangkok to Singapore travels through dense rainforests and towering mountains, past golden temples, rubber plantations and remote towns and villages.



North America: California Zephyr
The Amtrak trip on the California Zephyr runs through the heart of the Rocky Mountains and is regarded as one of the most scenic train rides in North America. For visitors from outside the US or Canada, Amtrak offers impressive bargains.


Great Britain: Northern Belle
The Flying Scotsman used to be the way to see the Scottish Highlands. Now there's another ? the Northern Belle, which aims to recreate the feel of travel as it was in the 1930s.
The "Grand Tour" follows a circular route north via York, Edinburgh and the Scottish Highlands before returning south via Chester, Snowdonia and Bath.


Europe: Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
A trip on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express to London has long been one of the "must-do" rail journeys.


Passengers can enjoy the ultimate in luxury surroundings, with banquet-style meals, as they glide through Italy, Austria and France.


Japan: The Shinkansen
An altogether different encounter, the Shinkansen is an unashamedly modern experience. The Bullet Train, as it is better known, is closer to a rocket than a train.


On the Tokyo to Kyoto Bullet Train trip, the adrenaline rush is the train itself, rather than the rather featureless countryside.

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