For more than 100 years Le Petit Train de La Mure navigated the steep, narrow railway line that ran between the small mountain mining community of La Mure and the town of Saint-Georges-de-Commiers. What started as a coal train later became a dedicated tourist railway and the route through the Drac Valley and across the Matheysine Plateau was dubbed “the most beautiful train line in the Alps”.
From Wanderlust magazine and Channel 5 in Britain comes 6 great scenic railway journeys.
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| Indian Pacific - Australia |
Journey Beyond, which operates the Indian Pacific, is an epic 4,532km transcontinental crossing from Sydney to Perth via the vineyard city of Adelaide. It traverses mountain ranges, passes through arid deserts, goldfields, valleys and subtropical savannahs over four days and three nights.
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| Northern Belle - Wales |
The Northern Belle is as much about the journey itself as the destination, with guests being transported back in time to the golden age of travel – the 1930s era of opulence where train travel was truly glamorous. The seven lovingly restored carriages have been crafted by some of the UK’s top experts with every tiny detail being considered. This luxurious train operates day and weekend journeys around Britain from many departure points; guaranteeing guests exceptional fine dining and fabulous views.
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| Denali Star - Alaska |
Denali National Park is home to some of Alaska’s most famous sights
including the tallest mountain in North America – Denali (also known as Mt. McKinley), an unspoilt wilderness of glacial rivers and lots of
wildlife, including moose, bears and wolves. The Alaska Railroad’s
flagship train, the Denali Star departs Anchorage for the 356 mile
journey to Fairbanks making a stop in Denali National Park, and is truly
one of the world’s most scenic railway journeys.
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| Inlandsbanan - Sweden |
The Inland Line (in Swedish, Inlandsbanan) provides an exciting journey through Lapland wilderness, where you can connect with the magical landscapes and incredible views of inland and Arctic Sweden. Taking in salmon rivers, snow-capped mountains, heritage museums and lakes, this journey is very special indeed. In June and early July, passengers are also treated to the midnight sun. The train experience can be packaged up with a cruise along the Norwegian coastline which makes for a spectacular trip.
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| Far North Line - Scotland |
The Far North Line, the most northerly railway line in the UK, is a rural journey entirely within the Highland area of Scotland. From Inverness, the route traces the spectacular North Sea coast past distilleries and golf courses to Thurso, and then on to the once-mighty fishing port of Wick. The Inverness to Thurso leg takes about four hours and the full Inverness to Wick journey is approximately four and half hours. Look out of the window for views of Skibo Castle, Carbisdale Castle and Balblair Wood on the shores of Loch Fleet. For a true taste of Scotland on route, purchase The Great Scenic Tasting Box from Inverness Station before you travel and tuck into a selection of delicious local treats.
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| The Tornado - England-Scotland |
The Tornado looks like a steam locomotive from a bygone age, but was in fact completed in 2008. The York to Edinburgh route highlights stunning views including the North Sea, River Tweed, the Holy Island of Lindisfarne and the cities of Durham and Newcastle.
An interesting article in Wanderlust Magazine on Italy's most spectacular rail journeys.
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| Tirano to St. Moritz on the Bernina Express |
UNESCO have listed it as a World Heritage Route, recognising not just the incredible scenery, but the engineering skill needed to build it as well. It is the highest railway in Europe and uses spiral viaducts like the one at Brusio, to climb into the mountains. Expect tunnels, bridges, mountains and glaciers. And the most memorable four hours of your life.
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| The Inter-City from Rome to Catania |
Arguably the best long haul train journey in Italy, you’ll start in the Eternal City and finish in Catania on the east coast of Sicily close to nine hours later. Along the way you'll pass through some of the most spectacular coastal scenery in the country, enjoying sweeping views of the Bay of Naples, Mount Vesuvius and craggy Calabria. It’s a direct train too, so your train will be ferried across the Straits of Messina on a ship, one of the few places in the world where this still happens.
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| The Cinque Terre Express |
The rail journey between Levanto and La Spezia only takes 20 minutes or so but it is arguably one of the most spectacular in Italy. It hugs the Ligurian coast and links the five pastel-coloured villages of the Cinque Terre that cling to the cliffs. Unsurprisingly, much of the journey is spent in tunnels. But the snapshots of vineyards, olive groves and picture-perfect villages when you emerge into the sunlight are all the more intense for that. Those feeling energetic could catch the train to Riomaggiore and walk along the Cinque Terre trail to Monterosso. Each village reached offers a plethora of restaurants, bars and cafes to refuel, and a railway station to help you on your way when your legs get tired.
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| Reggio Calabria to Scilla |
This 13-minute train ride from Reggio Calabria’s lungomare (promenade) to the seaside town of Scilla certainly offers a lot of bang for your buck. Heading towards the Strait of Messina, you’ll spot the silhouette of Mount Etna in Sicily and pass inlets and islets and fishing boats bobbing in the water.
Finally, you’ll reached Scilla, named after the Greek mythological creature that feasted on sailors, but today a popular beachside fishing village, dominated by the Castello Ruffo, an ancient fortress sitting on a hill overlooking the town.
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| Trenino Verde, Sardinia |
The trains on the island have been notoriously slow since D.H. Lawrence recounted his long and languid journeys on them in his book The Sea and Sardinia. Sardinia’s quaint Trenino Verde (little green trains) trundle through some of the most spectacular parts of the island, from the mountains to the sea. Five routes have been reopened, exclusively for tourism. Choose your route on the Trenino website and enjoy the ride.
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| Venice to Florence |
From Venice’s Saint Mark’s Square to the Florence’s iconic Duomo, what better way to visit the two stalwarts of Italian culture than by train? It only takes two hours to get from Venice to Florence, but you’ll be rewarded with views of some of the loveliest parts of Italy along the way. The Renaissance cities of Bologna, Prato and Ravenna await, as well as the mountains of Emilia-Romagna and the rolling hills of Tuscany.
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| Verona to Bolzano |
The mighty Dolomites are the stars of this incredible rail journey from Verona to the German-speaking city of Bolzano. One minute you’re trundling through Renaissance villages. The next you’re climbing up through sleepy farmland and thick pine forests towards the glowering, jagged mountains. It’s a magical three hours of grazing cows, alpine valleys and monumental snow-capped peaks.
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| The Circumetnea, Sicily |
The Ferrovia Circumetnea – Round Etna Railway – does what it says: it starts in Catania, circles Mount Etna and finishes up in Riposto. Along the way it rattles through beds of lava and offers unmatched views of Mount Etna, a grumbling, smoking, live volcano. The railway was built in the 1890s and is 110 kilometres long and takes three hours.
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| The regional train from Rimini to Bari |
It might be just a regional train, but the Trenitalia service from Rimini Station to Bari Centrale certainly delivers first-class vistas. Following almost the entirety of Italy's glittering Adriatic Coast, you’ll be treated to mesmerising ocean views and the delightful fishing villages and historic towns that dot Italy’s east coast. The line does head inland occasionally, treating you to views of the rolling hills of Tuscany, Umbria, and Lazio, but it is uninterrupted views of the coastline you’ll remember. Make sure to celebrate with a hearty riso patate e cozze once you get to Bari.
A images courtesy of Shutterstock.
Japan is famous for its bullet trains that began the era of high-speed rail travel in 1964. We think of these trains as clean, punctual and efficient but not necessarily luxurious. But in 2013 the Seven Stars luxury train service began on the island of Kyushu. The train is considered to be the Orient-Express of Japan. Its finely crafted interiors are a blend of classical Europen and Japanese woodworking. See a video about the train and its designer here, and an extensive tour here.
Another luxury train service is the Shiki-Shima which began in 2016. Whereas the Orient-Express and Seven Stars seek to recall the luxury of the 19th and early 20th century travel, the design of Shiki-Shima is ultra-modern. The meals are provided by a Michelin star chef. See a video here.
Rovos Rail has a extra long rail trip from Dar Es Salam to Cape Town in October, 2021. The 14 day trip covers over 5800km through 5 countries. (Also see the detailed post on Rovos.)
