Since 1983, The Society of International Railway Travelers has been offering luxury, first-class and steam rail tours with The World’s Top 25 Trains in Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, North and South America.
1.
Pride of Africa – Region: Africa, Train Type: Luxury, Rovos Rail’s Pride of Africa offers an old-world elegance and luxury to a degree that was never equaled in the 1920s. Many seasoned IRT Society travelers consider it the world’s finest train. Celebrated not only for its fabulous equipment, the train is rightfully proud of its stellar dining and on-board service. In short, the entire experience is consistent in meeting the highest luxury standards.
2. Venice Simplon-Orient-Express – Region: Europe, Train Type: Luxury, The Venice Simplon Orient Express (VSOE), with its restored, 1920s vintage cars, is the world’s most authentic luxury train. Made famous in the Agatha Christie story, the train still runs on the legendary route from Paris to Istanbul. Other itineraries are also available.Special Limited Time Offer: Book a journey on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express by March 31, and get a free night at the Hotel Cipriani in Venice, subject to availability.Offer IRT1: Gather a group of 10 or more to travel on any of 14 VSOE departures from Venice to Paris/London, and receive an IRT Society exclusive discount off the published rate. Travel must be booked by March 31. Please call or e-mail for rates.
3. Royal Scotsman – Region: Europe, Train Type: Luxury, The Royal Scotsman is a standout train. A small venue—just 36 passengers—it’s great for those who wish for a more intimate, luxury setting with gourmet, five-star dining, wine-pairing and superior service. Simply put, it is one of our favorite hotel trains. All the train’s cars, save the 1928-era diner, are of 1960s vintage equipment, but they have been recast into an Edwardian confection of varnished woods, polished brass and fine fabrics.
4. Royal Canadian Pacific – Region: North America, Train Type: Luxury, Many of the cars for the Royal Canadian Pacific (RCP) train were built between 1917 and 1931 and were used as business cars for the Canadian Pacific Railroad (CPR). Just 32 persons can pretend to be royalty and come aboard to sample the train’s five-star dining, open-platform observation areas, several small salons, and large compartments with private, ensuite shower, toilet and sink. The train and its superb staff combine outstanding scenery, exclusive visits and elegant musical events with the top-notch service and cuisine.
5. Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express – Region: Europe & Russia, Train Type: First-Class, Across Siberia by Private Train on the new, all-ensuite Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express launched in April, 2007 to much fanfare in Moscow. The train has Gold and Silver Class accommodations, both with en-suite bathroom, as well as two dining cars and a lounge car. The train plies the famous Trans-Siberian route between Moscow and Vladivostok.
6.
Danube Express – Region: Europe, Train Type: First-Class, The new Danube Express private train began service in 2008 on routes in central Europe. The train has brand-new deluxe carriages which offer the best train accommodations in Europe. In 2009, the Danube Express will take about 80 passengers in both classic and deluxe compartments.
7. Deccan Odyssey – Region: Asia, Train Type: First-Class, The Deccan Odyssey usually plies a week-long itinerary
round-trip from Mumbai (Bombay) to Goa. It was built in 2003 as the state of Maharashtra’s answer to Rajasthan’s Palace on Wheels. The Deccan Odyssey is one of the subcontinent’s most luxurious trains and by far the most relaxing and stylish way to travel, far above the always-crowded regular service Indian trains.
8. Shangri-La Express – Region: Asia, Train Type: First-Class, The private Shangri-La Express (formerly China Orient Express) is at this writing still the most modern hotel train in China and far surpasses regular train service in every aspect. It is not a luxury train, despite its name, but it is comfortable and convenient. Combined with a Three Gorges cruise, the Shangri-La Express is definitely the best way to see China.
9. Eastern & Oriental Express – Region: Asia, Train Type: Luxury, In 1991, the Orient-Express company acquired New Zealand’s famed Silver Star, transported it to Southeast Asia and, following refurbishment, re-christened it the Eastern & Oriental Express (E&O). The train runs 1,262 miles between Singapore, Malaysia and Bangkok, Thailand.
10. Glacier Express – Region: Europe, Train Type: First-Class, The Swiss proudly hail the Glacier Express as the world’s slowest express. The train takes almost eight hours and the services of two private, narrow-gauge railroads to traverse the 168 mountainous miles between two posh resorts—Zermatt and St. Moritz. The Alpine route of the Glacier Express is what makes this train so marvelous.
11. Bergen Railway – Region: Europe, Train Type: First-Class, The complete Oslo-Bergen line was opened in 1909 as the only year-round land transport between Norway’s two largest cities. The 300-mile length of track passes through 200 tunnels and 18 miles of snowsheds in addition to crossing more than 300 bridges. The scenery on the 7-hour Bergen Railway trip across the Hardanger plateau, the largest wilderness area in Europe, is breathtaking.
12. Flam Railway – Region: Europe, Train Type: First-Class, With the Flåm Railway, it’s what you see outside that counts. In about an hour, the line climbs some 2,833 feet from Flåm station, nestled in the innermost corner of the Aurlandfjord, to the mountain station at Myrdal on the Bergen Railway. On the 12.4-mile-long ride, you’ll see rivers that cut through deep ravines, waterfalls cascading down the sides of steep, snowcapped mountains and farms clinging dizzily to sheer slopes.
13. Bernina Express – Region: Europe, Train Type: First-Class, The spectacular Bernina line was started more than 100 years ago and was completed in 1910. It is run by Rhaetian Railways. Beginning in Chur, St. Moritz or Davos, it passes the glaciers of Piz Bernina, making this the highest railway crossing in all of the Alps. It travels over 38 miles, climbing grades of up to 7%––without rack and pinion––to more than 7,391 feet at the Bernina Pass summit, and drops down to just 1,408 feet at Tirano, Italy.
14. Hiram Bingham – Region: South America, Train Type: Luxury, When the Orient Express company took over passenger rail operations in Peru, it began offering services from backpacker to luxury. One of the latter is the narrow-gauge Hiram Bingham, aimed at high-end clients using Orient Express hotels. This gleaming blue-and-gold train makes the three-hour trip between Cusco and Machu Picchu every day but Sunday. The train has two 42-seat dining cars serving excellent Peruvian specialties for brunch on the journey to Machu Picchu, and for dinner on the evening return to Cusco. The train also has a gorgeous bar/observation car.
15. Andean Explorer – Region: South America, Train Type: First-Class, The Andean Explorer makes the 10-hour trek from Cusco to Puno and Lake Titicaca. This addition covers one of the highest standard-gauge rail routes in the world, reaching altitudes up to 14,150 feet. A highlight is riding at sunset the few miles before Puno alongside Lake Titicaca.
16. El Transcantabrico – Region: Europe, Train Type: Luxury, The 50-passenger El Transcantabrico train, which traverses Northern Spain, celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2008 and was recently restored. Each train set has six sleepers, each with four double compartments. The train is operated by Ferrocarriles Españoles de Vía Estrecha (FEVE), which means Narrow-Gauge Spanish Railways.
17. Blue Train – Region: Africa, Train Type: Luxury, The Blue Train is one of the world’s great luxury trains, and runs several times a month between Pretoria and Capetown. The route is a 27-hour journey of 994 miles and includes a sightseeing stop in each direction. The Blue Train is operated by the state-run Spoornet.
18. British Pullman – Region: Europe, Train Type: Luxury, The British Pullman is a luxury, vintage day train that completes the British leg of Orient-Express journeys between Paris and London. Passengers from the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express debark in Calais, France, and board a special Orient-Express bus for the short “piggyback” train ride through the Eurotunnel to Folkestone. There, they board the British Pullman for the ride to London’s Victoria station.
19. Rocky Mountaineer – Region: North America, Train Type: First-Class, The Rocky Mountaineer explores Western Canada in comfort and class. The train’s luxury GoldLeaf Service, with its custom-built glass dome coaches, offers fine dining on the lower level. Travel between Vancouver, Banff, Jasper and Calgary.Special offer through March 31: Book at least a 5 nights’ package in GoldLeaf anytime except April and get a cre
dit of $400 (Canadian) per couple good towards tour extras: more hotel nights, tours, even an add-on cruise.
20. Canadian – Region: North America, Train Type: First-Class, The Canadian is VIA Rail Canada’s flagship train. It runs between Toronto and Vancouver three times a week, traveling 4,500 miles. IRT recommends Silver & Blue Class so you can have a private bedroom on board the overnight train and the many perks that come with it—from a special waiting room at the main stations, to priority boarding, “welcome aboard” reception, and all delicious meals included. The main delight is exclusive access to the great dome cars for seeing the sites day or night. The schedule for the Canadian has recently changed: Now the trip from Toronto to Jasper allows three nights on board (evening departure, early arrival Jasper is two days, 17 hours later.) All the way to Vancouver is four nights (three days, 14 hours and 42 minutes!) Arrival in Vancouver is scheduled for mid-morning.
21. Palace on Wheels – Region: Asia, Train Type: First-Class, The Palace on Wheels, with its cream-colored livery, is a joint venture of Indian Railways and the state of Rajasthan’s tourism office. Starting service in 1982, it was India’s first hotel train and has been gaining in popularity ever since.
22. Darjeeling Mail: Mumbai-Calcutta – Region: Asia, Train Type: Steam/Railfan, The tiny, two-foot-gauge “Toy Train” runs in West Bengal from Siliguri, 400 feet above sea level, to Darjeeling, 7,200 feet above sea level. It was built by the British between 1879 and 1881 to escape the brutal heat of the plains below. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. Its myriad loops, corkscrews and switchbacks offer passengers incredible views of the Himalayas. Ancient locomotives, the oldest built in 1889, climb through zigzags and loops to gain height.
23. Sunlander – Region: Australia/New Zealand, Train Type: First-Class, The Sunlander train offers an overnight service crossing 1,045 miles on the east coast of Queensland, Australia, from Brisbane to Cairns. The scenery is spectacular. It takes 32 hours; the Sunlander with high-end “Queenslander Class” travels twice a week, Sunday and Thursday from Brisbane; it runs Tuesday and Saturday from Cairns.
24. Indian Pacific – Region: Australia/New Zealand, Train Type: First-Class, Australia’s transcontinental Indian Pacific offers a twice-weekly service in both directions, from Perth to Sydney via Adelaide across more than 2,704 miles. Almost 300 miles of it is across the longest straight track in the world, the Nullarbor Plain. The journey takes three nights, and our travelers report it’s frequently a very jolly departure, with many Aussies traveling the route, especially around holiday periods.
25. Ghan – Region: Australia/New Zealand, Train Type: First-Class, The Ghan has a long and wild history, starting in 1878 when construction began on a line from Port Augusta. Until 1929, the last part of the journey to Alice Springs was was accomplished by Afghan camel train, and that’s where today’s train gets it name. The Alice to Darwin “Top End” route, dreamed of for more than a century, was started in 2001. The first train arrive in Darwin in 2004. The service has been swamped with travelers. It takes 48 hours—two nights on board—to travel from Adelaide to Darwin over 1,852 miles of track.
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