Top 250 Best Train Travel News, Reviews and Services

Train Travel News, Reviews, Resources & Services

• 4 Trains, 5 Cities: A Whirlwind European Odyssey - "Milan, Zurich, Berlin, Copenhagen and Stockholm: Our writer devised her own urban grand tour to some of the continent’s most dazzling cities."
• 5 FASTEST HIGH-SPEED TRAINS IN OPERATION TODAY - "1. Shanghai Maglev - 286 mph - China. 2. CR400 Fuxing - China. 3. Deutsche Bahn ICE 3 - Germany. 4. JR East E5 - Japan. 5. TGV - France."
• 5 great Interrail itineraries across Europe - "Interrailing is an easy way to see the continent. We plot itineraries that cover the Med, the Alps and an affordable version of the Orient Express."
• 5 ways to improve your commute - "Talk to people, plan for disruption, walk if you can ... Follow these tips to make your journey as painless as possible."
• 6 amazing Asia train journeys for food, scenery & culture - "According to the 2021 Global Travel Trends survey of 3,000 travelers worldwide by American Express, 68% expressed interest in more sustainable travel; 78% said they were looking for travel experiences that relieve stress; and 61% said they wanted slower, longer trips than in the past. A train journey could be just the ticket for those who have their eyes on Asia for a 2022 trip."
• 9 most luxurious trains around the world - "1. The Ghan. 2. Royal Scotsman, A Belmond Train. 3. Rovos Rail. 4. Golden Eagle Danube Express. 5. Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train. 6. The Vietage by Anantara. 7. Seven Stars in Kyushu. 8. The Maharajas' Express. 9. Rocky Mountaineer."
• 10 best luxury train rides in the world - "Tripadvisor reviews, Instagram hashtags and global search volumes have been analysed to produce this list."
• 10 Fastest Trains in the World, ranked - "In many countries, high-speed rail networks offer a more convenient and greener alternative to flying. In terms of carbon footprint per kilometer of travel, taking the train is often one of the greenest options available. However, in many cases, low-cost plane fares are still cheaper than train tickets, especially in Europe."
• 10 greatest railway journeys in the world - The Telegraph.
• 10 iconic rail journeys you must do in your lifetime: in pictures - The Telegraph.
• 10 of Europe’s best rural train journeys - "Slow rail travel in beautiful landscapes is the joy of these branch lines, which don’t need to be booked in advance. Know a better one?"
• 10 of Europe's most beautiful train journeys 2022 - "It's where the 'flight shame' movement was born and no wonder - Europe is home to a superb rail network, including some truly spectacular journeys which are a vacation in themselves. Here are 10 of the most beautiful rides."
• 10 of Europe’s most scenic train journeys - "To kick off our new weekly Interrail competition, in which the writer of the best rail tip wins two first-class train passes worth up to £768, here’s our pick of Europe’s most scenic journeys."
• 10 of the best railway journeys in Italy - "On train rides from Venice to Sicily, best book a window seat on these spectacular Italian trips."
• 10 of the best rail journeys you've probably never heard of - The Telegraph.
• 10 of the best scenic rail journeys in Europe - "Nothing quite beats the romance of travelling on a steam train or shunting through mountains. These rides showcase Europe’s spectacular landscapes."
• 10 of the greatest British rail journeys - The Telegraph.
• 20th Century Limited - express passenger train operated by the New York Central Railroad (NYC) from 1902 to 1967, during which time it would become known as a "National Institution" and advertised as "The Most Famous Train in the World".
• 25 greatest train journeys in the world - The Telegraph.
• 30-hour train ride that sells out in minutes - "Turkey is the final stop for one of the most famous train rides in the world, the Orient Express. But another journey - the Dogu Express, or Eastern Express in English - is making the country one of the world’s leading rail destinations. Historically a commuter train from Ankara to Kars, the train has gone viral among Turkish influencers in recent years for its stunning scenery through the east, full of off-the-beaten-path treasures."
• 58-tunnel slow train through India's Eastern Ghats - "Take a four-hour slow train through the Eastern Ghats to discover how a remote hill station is changing the global coffee game."
• 59-day Train Journey Passes Through 12 Countries & Includes Rides on 7 Iconic Luxury Locomotives in the World - "A luxury train journey that takes travelers through four continents and 12 countries is back, and accepting reservations for 2025. This Railbookers itinerary is the train trip to end all train trips."
• 75-hour luxury train ride through the heart of Australia’s outback - "The Ghan is one of the longest train journeys in the world, spanning 1,851 miles (2,979 kilometers) through Australia’s vast and forbidding outback. 'The Ghan Expedition' is a southbound, three-night journey that departs from Darwin with stops in Katherine, Alice Springs, and Coober Pedy before arriving in Adelaide on the fourth day - some 75 hours later."
• $350M 'palace on rails' luxury train concept unveiled - "Various new trains and routes are currently in the pipeline, including Italy's "Dolce Vita train," set to run 10 routes through the country's most well-known landscapes, and Midnight Trains, an upcoming network of overnight services from Paris to 12 different European destinations. However, French designer Thierry Gaugain plans to take the rail travel experience to a completely new level with his latest concept, a private luxury train made to measure for one lucky, and very wealthy, owner."
• 450-mile train line where you get to see jungles & beaches - "The Eastern & Oriental Express is an incredible train line through Malaysia. The Eastern & Oriental Express, a Belmond train, travels around Malaysia and has been named one of the best train journeys in the world."
• 2024: The most exciting new trains coming - "Around the world, travelers are flocking back to trains, and demand is increasing across the board for high-speed trains, luxury 'land cruises' and long-distance day and night trains. In many countries, rail journeys are now exceeding 2019 levels - a much faster revival than experts predicted."
• $32,000-a-night suite on the world's most expensive train to find out if it was worth it - "The Grand Suite on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express costs upwards of $32,000 a night from Paris to Venice for a single occupancy."
• A 100-mile rail trip through the Himalayas - for just 42p - The Telegraph.
• A brief (but definitive) guide to train seat etiquette - "Emily Maitlis sparked outrage when she was spotted on a train with her dog on a seat. What other faux pas should you avoid?"
• A first look at the Orient Express trains that will return to Italy in 2023 - "The legendary rail service is making a big comeback, with six brand-new trains running all the way to Istanbul."
• A legacy of lunacy haunts Kenya's old railway. Will China's $3.6B line be different? - "Kenya took on huge debt to buy a modern railway from Beijing that it hopes will boost its economy ... despite the controversy it has attracted."
• A New Map for America - The New York Times.
• Across Kazakhstan by rail - a photo essay - " Photographer Mario Heller spent three weeks crossing the steppe by train. Here is his journey through the stories of the passengers, the history of the country and the romance of the railway."
• amazing new Swiss mountain train that can jump rail tracks - "Combining elegance and comfort with 21st century technical excellence, Switzerland's newest panoramic train journey finally starts on December 11 - three years later than planned and 150 years after it was first proposed."
• ‘An unforgettable rail journey’: my night on the Istanbul-Sofia Express - "The overnight service from Turkey to Bulgaria started running again this year and was voted one of the world’s best journeys for 2023 by Lonely Planet."
• Apology after Japanese train departs 20 seconds early - BBC.
• Asia's iconic 'Jungle Railway' - "Malaysia's iconic 'Jungle Railway': One of Southeast Asia's greatest train journeys. It may soon be obsolete, but the Jungle Train is still a nostalgic jaunt across the heart of the Malay Peninsula, taking in forgotten towns steeped in colonial history."
• Asia's most beautiful train route? - "Sri Lanka's most beautiful train journey. The Colombo to Badulla railway is so enchantingly beautiful that it's become a bucket list adventure for many visitors."
• At £307m per mile of track, can the cost of HS2 be justified? - "HS2 is one of the most controversial and costly rail projects of the modern era. There are strong views for and against – and Boris Johnson could decide its future as early as this week. Here, we look at the economic arguments against HS2."
• Austria offers free rail travel for a year - if you get a tattoo - "You’ve probably heard the adage that 'there are no bad ideas.' But that was before Austria’s climate minister endorsed a campaign to give people a year’s free public transport if they got the rail card logo tattooed on their body."
• Basel to Locarno, the slow Swiss Alps classic - "Astonishing scenery and glimpses of Switzerland’s history are offered up to passengers gliding along this classic line."
• Because the night ... why I love a sleeper train - "Whether it’s Edinburgh, Vienna or Madrid, overnight rail travel is about romance and excitement. So look forward to new French night trains from 2024."
• best European sleeper trains - CNN travel.
• best new European train journeys for 2023 - "Overnight trains between Stuttgart and Vienna and Bordeaux and Freiburg are among several new services that have launched in recent days."
• Best train journeys in the world ! - VroomVroomVroom Blog.
• Bordeaux by train: on the right line for wine - The Guardian.
• Britain's five best slow train journeys - "As England celebrates the 200th anniversary of rail travel, author and train expert Tom Chesshyre reveals his favourite rides across the UK."
• Britannic Explorer: This new luxury sleeper train is coming to England & Wales - "A new luxury train, complete with fine dining, plush double beds and spa treatments, will whisk travellers out of London and through the British countryside. With its 18 cabins, including a grand suite, doubles and twin, guests will be travel from the capital to three different locations, from a choice of Cornwall, the Lake District and Wales, on three-night journeys aimed at paying homage to the British tradition of touring and celebrating the art of slow travel."
• BULLET TRAIN - Wikipedia.
• 
• Bulletproof, Slow & Full of Wine: Kim Jong-un’s Mystery Train - The New York Times.
• Cab Ride Norway: Trondheim - BodØ (Spring) Nordland Line - YouTube (9:49:10).
• Caledonian Sleeper: The sleeper train that’s a wild ride to another world - "It’s a Tuesday night on the Caledonian Sleeper, which runs six days a week from London to Scotland, and the Club Car is in full swing. Having feasted on fare such as Scottish haggis, neeps and tatties, passengers are sampling malt whiskies and Edinburgh gins as they make new friends across the swivel seats and cozy booths, smartly upholstered in burnt orange and teal blue."
• Chief - (1926-1968). One of the named passenger trains of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. Its route ran from Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California. The Chief was a success, dubbed "Extra Fast-Extra Fine-Extra Fare" though it failed to relieve traffic on the California Limited. The Chief became famous as a "rolling boudoir" for film stars and Hollywood executives.
• China debuts train prototype that can hit speeds of 620 kilometers per hour - "China has revealed a prototype for a new high-speed Maglev train that is capable of reaching speeds of 620 kilometers (385 miles) per hour. The train runs on high-temperature superconducting (HTS) power that makes it look as if the train is floating along the magnetized tracks."
• China debuts world's fastest train - "A maglev bullet train that can reach speeds of 600 kilometers per hour (373 miles per hour) has made its debut in Qingdao, China."
• China has the world's largest network of high-speed railways - "Past, present and future: The evolution of China's incredible high-speed rail network."
• China unveils 600km/h floating train - "China has unveiled the prototype for its sleek new magnetic levitation (maglev) train. Its makers say it will be capable of traveling at speeds of 600km/h (about 372 miles/hour)."
• China unveils prototype for what could be the world’s fastest high-speed train - "The CR450 bullet train, which was unveiled in Beijing on December 29, had reached test speeds as high as 450 kilometers (281 miles) per hour and an operational speed of 400 kilometers (248.5 miles) per hour, according to China’s Ministry of Transport."
• CHRIS TARRANT: EXTREME RAILWAYS - Channel 5.
• Chris Tarrant: on board the world's extreme railways - The Telegraph.
• Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits - or just Wagons-Lits, is a division of Newrest particularly known for its on-train catering and sleeping car services, as well as being the historical operator of the Orient Express.
• Covid-19 reawakens Europe's sleeper trains - "Overnight services in Europe had seemingly hit the buffers but pandemic has revived demand."
• Dream of the Desert train: The Middle East’s first super-luxury train will gleam gold - "Saudi Arabia’s Dream of the Desert train, which is slated to hit the rails next year, is set to be the region’s first five-star luxury train, and the first renderings for the 14 carriages have finally been unveiled."
• Europe wants a high-speed rail network to replace airplanes - "Breakfast in Paris, lunch in Frankfurt and dinner in Vienna - all without the hassle and frustration of flying."
• Europe wants you to travel by train. But why is it so complex and expensive? - "Across the continent, flights are priced at a fraction of the cost of train tickets, hampering the growing number of people who want to travel sustainably. The big question is: why?"
• Europe’s most luxurious new train, with tickets from £2,600 - "La Dolce Vita Orient Express departs from Rome Ostiense station for a tour of Venice and Tuscany."
• Europe’s most underrated scenic railways 2023 - "As the world opens up to international travel again, it’s time to look beyond the usual tourist trails for your next adventure on rails. But instead of using the train as just a mode of transport, how about making it the vacation? Here’s our guide to 10 of Europe’s most underrated scenic train routes for 2023."
• Europe's new train routes for 2022 - "What's the perfect accompaniment to Europe's gradual easing of its pandemic rules? A burgeoning international rail network for 2022. Meanwhile as more day trains are laid on across the continent, prices are falling. Italy's two high-speed networks are knocking out ever more fancy carriages to attract customers, while low-cost, high-speed trains have been rolled out in France and Spain."
• excruciating 22-hour train ride that changed my life - "My three-week, life-changing trip to China, which spurred a year of travel."
• Famed luxury train is returning to Southeast Asia with two new routes - "Lovers of luxury rail journeys have a couple of new routes to add to their travel wish lists now that one of the world’s most iconic trains has announced its return to the tracks of Southeast Asia. In February 2024, The Eastern & Oriental Express, A Belmond Train will launch two seasonal return-trip journeys out of Singapore that take in the landscapes of its northern neighbor, Malaysia."
• Flying without wings: The world's fastest trains - "As the world faces up to climate change, short-haul flights look increasingly unattractive to many travelers. The flygskam (flight shame) phenomenon that started in Scandinavia is already inspiring many travelers to reduce their reliance on airlines. Until someone proves otherwise, high-speed rail is the most effective alternative to air travel for journeys of up to 1,100 kilometers (700 miles). Shuttling passengers between city centers at speeds of 290 kph (180 mph) or more, it offers a compelling combination of speed and convenience."
• France to ban some domestic flights where train available - "MPs vote to suspend internal flights if the trip can be completed by train within two and a half hours instead."
• France unveils its high-speed trains of the future - "TGV unveils high-speed trains of the future. French railway company SNCF and train manufacturer Alstom have unveiled the first completed TGV M, a next-generation high-speed double-decker train that features a longer, more aerodynamic nose - perfect for hurtling across the French countryside."
• France waves goodbye to sleeper trains - The Guardian.
• from Genoa to Ventimiglia, Italy - a line of cinematic brilliance - "Along the coast through Liguria to the French border, our slow travel expert enjoys the mix of tunnels and dramatic coastal views."
• From the Swiss Alps to the Rocky Mountains, these are the world's most incredible train journeys - "Pass through awe-inspiring mountain ranges while eating delicious food on these once-in-a-lifetime train journeys."
• Georges Nagelmackers - (1845-1905). Was the founder of the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits, the company known for the Orient Express trains.
• Germany's railways offered a month of unlimited rides for $9. This happened - "Germany's decision this summer to offer unlimited regional travel for 9 euros per month - which comes to an end a week from today, on August 31 - has been a barnstorming success. Nearly 60 million tickets had been sold by the beginning of August, according to VDV, the Association of German Transporters - in other words, covering June and July."
• Glacier Express - Wikipedia.
• Glass-bottomed panda train debuts in China - "On June 26, the capital of Sichuan province debuted the Zhongtang Air Railway, a sky train with a 'glass' bottom riders can see through. It has 270-degree visibility as the top is not transparent. Travelers who look at the train head-on will notice that it is painted to resemble a panda."
• GoldenPass Express: Europe's stunning high-tech luxury train - "Tracing a medieval trade route through the Swiss Alps and valleys, the GoldenPass Express isn't just one of the world's most scenic train rides; it's an engineering marvel."
• Great Railway Journeys - (1980-1999). Travel documentaries produced by BBC Television.
• Haggis, whisky ... double beds: the new romance of the sleeper train - "The revamped service from London to Scotland hopes to revive the luxury and glamour of overnight train travel."
• Here's Why Kim Jong Un May Have Opted for an Arduous Train Journey to Reach Vietnam - "After a reported 60-hour trip, Kim Jong Un arrived at the railway station in Dong Dang, Vietnam for his summit with President Donald Trump."
• Heritage railway - Wikipedia.
• Homage to Spain’s railways: take the slow train for the best scenic routes - "Spain excels in high-speed lines, but visitors will discover so much more on older tracks winding through deserts, sierras, sleepy villages and George Orwell country."
• Hong Kong's historic Peak Tram reopens with a new look - "Hong Kong's Peak Tram, one of the city's most recognizable tourist attractions and the oldest funicular in Asia, will reopen to the public on August 27 following a year-plus-long closure. The tram, which has been ferrying locals and tourists alike to Hong Kong island's highest spot since 1888, is now in its sixth incarnation."
• 'Hotels on rails': Plans for new network of European sleeper trains unveiled - "Just a few years ago, it looked as though European sleeper trains were on their way to becoming a thing of the past as services were continually cut back."
• How high-speed trains helped kill an airline - "How Italy's high-speed trains helped kill Alitalia."
• How Japan's Shinkansen bullet trains changed the world of rail travel - "Early on October 1, 1964, a sleek blue and white train slid effortlessly across the urban sprawl of Tokyo, its elevated tracks carrying it south toward the city of Osaka and a place in the history books."
• How LVMH exhumed luxury rail with the Eastern & Oriental Express - "The venerable company has returned with a renewed sense of purpose after a refresh and a rethink, but the focus is still on timeless elegance and luxuriously slow travel."
• How one European country is planning a ‘rail revolution’ - "In the Czech countryside, not far from Prague, a ghostly white train is speeding around and around a huge loop of track. From the air, the single circuit looks like a giant model railroad. Only this one isn’t being used for fun. It’s one of Europe’s few dedicated facilities where new trains can be intensively tested away from public tracks."
• How railroads inspired the creation of time zones - "The invention of railroads ushered in a new era of land travel, and forever changed the way humans perceive time. On this day in 1883, railroad companies in the United States and Canada transformed time in both countries, leading to the ground-breaking concept of time zones around the world."
• How the bullet train transformed Japan - "Sixty years after the world's first high-speed train launched, rail enthusiast Paul Carter rides the bullet train along what's been dubbed the 'New Golden Route'."
• How the Transcontinental railroad forever changed the US - "It spread Anglo-European culture across the nation and caused trade to flourish, but the story of the Chinese labourers who built the track has largely been forgotten."
• How to blag your way into first class with a standard train ticket - "After a British commuter took a stand against packed trains, here’s how to travel in style without getting escorted off by the transport police."
• How to Get the Most Out of a Vacation by Train - The New York Times.
• How to make your commute more productive - The Guardian.
• How Trans Europe Express trains could be making a comeback - "The trains that could transform Europe. Replaced by the patchy and somewhat less glamorous EuroCity brand in 1987, the stylish red and ivory TEE trains were a response to the growth of air travel and the private car in the late 1950s."
• hydrogen-powered trains - "As old diesel trains are phased out of rail networks around the world, the UK is about to test a new type of engine that could help to decarbonise railways - hydrogen-powered trains."
• Hyperloop, the superfast 'vacuum train,' is coming to China - CNN travel.
• 'I formed the 45 Metre Underground Club': Eurostar stories of sex, celebrity & speed - "From the route’s first driver to the passenger on a train that hit a wild boar: unforgettable memories from the first quarter-century of the cross-channel service."
• 'I never slept a wink': an ill-fated trip on the Caledonian Sleeper - "One of the relaunched train service’s customers explains why she will never use it again."
• I saw Scotland in a week - with an unlimited train ticket - "With a flexible and affordable rover pass (which also includes buses and ferries), our writer explores Scotland’s western isles, Highlands and cities."
• In the tracks of the Orient Express: my train ride from London to Istanbul - "The fabled railway service returns in 2025. But you don’t need to wait until then, or pay the eyewatering fares, to ride this classic route."
• India's 10 most magical train journeys - The Telegraph.
• Inside ‘Rail Force One’: The Trains That Take World Leaders to Ukraine - "With airspace closed and missiles flying, visiting Kyiv typically means 10 hours on bumpy tracks - even for presidents, prime ministers and business magnates. It’s plenty of time to reflect."
• Inside the upcoming Orient Express La Dolce Vita train - "Renderings of the 11-carriage train, which pays homage to the 'La Dolce Vita' period of the 1960s, have been unveiled, revealing a plush interior that looks more like a boutique hotel than a railway car."
• Inside The World’s First Private Luxury Train From Top Yacht Designer - "French designer Thierry Gaugain, best known for his yacht design collaborations with Philippe Starck, is working on an incredible new project. The G Train, the world’s first private luxury train takes the decadence of great trains like the Orient Express one step further as it is designed for a single owner. Mr Gaugain says, 'it's not a public train or a passenger train.' And it comes with a hefty price tag as the estimated cost of the train is more than $350 million."
• Inside world’s most luxurious train costing passengers £2,400 a night with panoramic windows & your very own butler - "JAPAN is famed for its ultra-fast bullet trains - but this lavish train journey is one of its kind. The Seven Stars is the first luxury sleeper train in the country which offers a unique experience like nowhere else."
• International Union of Railways | UIC - international rail transport industry body. Created on 20 October 1922, with the aim of standardising industry practices.
• 
• 'Invisible' train set to roll in 2018 - CNN Travel.
• Is Richard Branson’s & Elon Musk's high-speed train in a pneumatic tube pie in the sky? - The Guardian.
• Is this the most luxurious train on Earth? Train Suite Shiki-Shima is finally revealed - The Telegraph.
• Is this the world's most luxurious new train? - "Our exclusive first look aboard Japan's spectacular Shiki-shima."
• Italy to run luxury 'Dolce Vita' sleeper train - "The 'Dolce Vita train' is set to run 10 routes through Italy's most famous landscapes, in historic trains with retro luxury, Dolce Vita-era fittings. The itineraries will cover 14 of Italy's 20 regions, and reach 128 cities, covering 10,000 miles of tracks from north to south. Itineraries will range from one to three nights."
• It's a brand new route on the world's most famous train - but it'll cost you $8,500 one way - "In travel news this week, a European airline is weighing passengers before takeoff, the new luxury train trip that costs $8,500 one way, and how Ukraine keeps its railways running, two years into the war."
• Japan begins testing the world's fastest bullet train - "It could reach 249 miles per hour."
• Japan debuts new safer, faster bullet train - "Japan debuts new bullet train that can run during an earthquake."
• Japan reveals a ‘Supreme’ version of its bullet train - The Verge.
• Japan's long-awaited new bullet train service is now running - "New trains and new rail routes to experience in Japan."
• Japan’s maglev train sets world speed record at 590 kph - on April 16, 2015. The Japan Times.
• La Dolce Vita Orient Express: Eat your way around Italy in style - "New details have been teased about the hotly anticipated La Dolce Vita Orient Express train and the upcoming Orient Express hotels in Rome and Venice, the first for the relaunched brand."
• List of heritage railways - Wikipedia.
• Lists of named passenger trains - Wikipedia.
• Lunatic Express - the Uganda Railway faced a great deal of criticism in Parliament, with many parliamentarians decrying it as exorbitantly expensive. Whilst the concept of cost-benefit analysis did not exist in public spending at in the Victorian Era, the huge capital sums of the project nevertheless made many sceptical of the value of the investment. This, coupled with the fatalities and wastage of the personnel constructing it through disease, tribal activity, and hostile wildlife and led the Uganda Railway to be dubbed a Lunatic Line.
• Luxury rail in India - Wikipedia.
• Luxury Sleeper Trains - "From the Lake District in England to a lush island in Japan, here’s a way to travel - and sleep - in style."
• Luxury Train Club - "Your concierge for luxury train travel."
• Luxury train hotel permanently stuck on a bridge - "South Africa luxury hotel invites guests to sleep on a train permanently parked on a bridge."
• LUXURY TRAIN TRAVEL TOURS IN INDIA - hill trains in India.
• LUXURY TRAINS - Wikipedia.
• MAGLEV TRAINS - Wikipedia.
• Middle East’s first super-luxury train will gleam gold - "Saudi Arabia’s Dream of the Desert train, which is slated to hit the rails next year, is set to be the region’s first five-star luxury train, and the first renderings for the 14 carriages have finally been unveiled."
• Mind the gap - is an audible or visual warning phrase issued to rail passengers to take caution while crossing the horizontal, and in some cases vertical, spatial gap between the train door and the station platform.
• Mont-Blanc Express from Switzerland to France - Rail route of the month - "Our slow travel expert takes the off-peak train, discovering along the way that the cross-border ‘express’ train is actually delightfully slow."
• More than just a 'mystery' train, the Orient Express whisked the elite across Europe in luxury & style - "The celebrities were hot, and the champagne was cold aboard the Orient Express, the posh railway line that became synonymous with glamour and intrigue."
• New Tibet bullet train line is so high passengers need extra oxygen - "A 435-kilometer (250-mile) rail line connecting Tibetan capital Lhasa with the city of Nyingchi entered into service on June 25, giving all 31 provincial-level regions of mainland China access to high-speed train travel."
• New trains, new routes: How rail travel changed for the better in 2022 - "From a night train taking you from Austria to the Italian Riviera to the new semi high-speed line across Laos, from a luxurious trans-African odyssey to a new Swiss train that can 'jump' rail tracks, and even the United States finally getting the thrill of the tracks, here are some of our favorite moments from the world of train travel."
• New trains to change how we travel - "The new train lines that could transform how you travel."
• New twist in mystery of Brunel's birthday sunrise - "Engineer once thought to have aligned Box tunnel with dawn light might have been giving his forgotten sister a place in the sun."
• Night train between Berlin & Paris to return after nine years - "Austrian rail operator ÖBB says service will resume partly in December and daily from October 2024."
• On board Ireland's answer to the Orient-Express - The Telegraph.
• On board the new Jerusalem-Tel Aviv fast train - "It's been a long time coming, but Israeli commuters are finally able to board double-decker high-speed trains on a new link from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv."
• On board the Trans-Siberian Railway for a centenary ride - The Guardian.
• ORIENT EXPRESS - Wikipedia.
• 'Orient Express' is a real train & taking a ride is not cheap - "Before the dawn of private jets and business class flights, royalty and high society members traveled through Europe onboard luxury trains. Now anyone can do it - if they are willing and able to spend $2,300 for a one-night trip. That’s the starting rate to go from Florence to Paris aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, a historic luxury train operated by the LVMH-owned Belmond travel brand. Other routes cost more - much more."
• Orient Express Is Bringing Its Luxury Train Tours to Italy - "Orient Express is rolling out its La Dolce Vita train in Italy in the spring of 2025. The locomotive will offer eight luxurious itineraries to explore Venice, Sicily, Tuscany, and more. Bookings for the eight new itineraries have just opened."
• Pampered pooches ride Japan's bullet train in style - "Oh to be a pampered pooch on one of Japan's iconic Shinkansen trains heading to a beautiful resort town."
• Past, present & future: The evolution of China's incredible high-speed rail network - "At the beginning of the 21st century China had no high-speed railways. Slow and often uncomfortable trains plodded across this vast country, with low average speeds making journeys such as Shanghai-Beijing a test of travel endurance. Today, it's a completely different picture. The world's most populous nation has - by some distance - the world's largest network of high-speed railways."
• 'People don't want to fly': Covid-19 reawakens Europe's sleeper trains - "Overnight services in Europe had seemingly hit the buffers but pandemic has revived demand."
• Portugal to Singapore could be the longest train journey in the world. But how much does it cost? - "Travelling all the way from Lagos in Southern Portugal to Singapore, it takes you through Paris, Moscow and Beijing. And at 18,755 km, experts estimate completing the full journey would take 21 days. Booking tickets for the entire trip could cost around €1,200."
• Private Rail Cars Will Soon Become The Ultimate Social Distancing Escape - "A new resurgence of the Golden Age is on the horizon as interest in private rail travel in a post-pandemic world is increasing. More than pure elegance, travelers can take extraordinary voyages all in the lap of luxury. The privacy and social distancing allowed within your private rail car could soon become the ultimate luxurious adventure."
• Queen reveals love of trains as she recreates first Royal rail journey, 175 years on - The Telegraph.
• Qinghai-Tibet railway: The world's highest train line - "Dubbed a 'miracle' of engineering, the so-called Sky Train climbs to an elevation of 5,702m at the 'roof of the world'."
• Rail & sail: how to book the perfect holiday - without any flying - "More than half of Britons plan to travel to mainland Europe this year. Here’s how to have a great time, while minimising your carbon footprint."
• ‘Rail Force One’: The Trains That Take World Leaders to Ukraine - "With airspace closed and missiles flying, visiting Kyiv typically means 10 hours on bumpy tracks - even for presidents, prime ministers and business magnates. It’s plenty of time to reflect."
• Rail megaproject could shake up trade - "UAE's first national rail network 'has the potential to transform the economy'."
• Rain, steam, speed: The beautiful railways that are part of the British landscape - CNN travel.
• Reporting mark - Wikipedia.
• Riding the world's most luxurious train with the visionary designer who built it - CNN style.
• Rocky Mountaineer - Wikipedia.
• Royal Scot - Wikipedia.
• ROYAL TRAINS - Wikipedia.
• Saudi Arabia has built a high-speed railway across the desert - "In the distant past, Muslim pilgrims came to the holy city of Mecca on foot. Now, though, they can come via high-speed train. About 50 times a day these sleek, long-nosed javelins shoot across the baking-hot deserts of Saudi Arabia, reaching speeds of up to 300 kph (186 mph) carrying pilgrims and other passengers. The trains, among the world’s top 10 fastest, are just the beginning of a rail network expected to expand right across the Middle Eastern kingdom as it invests billions in infrastructure to boost tourism and diversify revenues beyond oil."
• Shinkansen bullet trains changed the world of rail travel forever - "Sixty years ago, early in the morning of October 1, 1964, a sleek blue and white train slid effortlessly across the urban sprawl of Tokyo, its elevated tracks carrying it south toward the city of Osaka and a place in the history books. In the six decades since that first train, the word Shinkansen - meaning 'new trunk line' - has become an internationally recognized byword for speed, travel efficiency and modernity."
• ‘Shinkansen kiss’: Japan’s little-known rail spectacle that attracts trainspotters from around the world - "A spectacle to get the hearts of rail fans racing, it happens 17 times a day, and there is always a crowd waiting at the platform to see it. The technical term for the event is 'coupling,' but it is known colloquially as the 'Shinkansen kiss.' For Japanese rail fans, it’s a big deal. For foreigners, it is a unique insight into the quintessentially Japanese experience of trainspotting."
• sleeper trains are being revived across Europe - "The carbon footprint is just a fraction of a flight. Flying from Stockholm to Hamburg results in around 250kg of carbon dioxide emissions per passenger, according to calculation website EcoPassenger. By contrast, the C02 released by travelling via electric-powered train is just 26kg."
• slow train to Skagen, Denmark, where the North Sea meets the Baltic - "Rail route of the month."
• Spain to make some train journeys free of charge from September 1 up until the end of the year - "Public transport prices on state-owned service across Spain have already been slashed in half in response to rapidly rising energy and inflation rates. Now the government has announced further 100% discounts. As of September, passengers will be able to travel across various trains operated by public train network Renfe for absolutely nothing."
• Spectacular interiors of rediscovered Orient Express carriages revealed - "For years, several vintage Orient Express train carriages lay, forgotten, at a small railway station on the border between Poland and Belarus called Malaszwewicze. Hospitality group Accor purchased the rediscovered carriages and enlisted Parisian architect Maxime d'Angeac to meticulously restore them, ready for operation on a Paris to Istanbul rail route that's set to operate from 2025."
• steam railways seek next generation of drivers - "As older volunteers step down, a shortage of younger ones is worrying the industry."
• steepest funicular rail line to open in Switzerland - The Guardian.
• Step inside the world's longest railway tunnel - The Telegraph.
• Step on board Veuve Clicquot's Solaire Journeys - "Introducing Veuve Clicquot's all-new Solaire Journeys: travel on board legendary Belmond trains and follow the sun through breathtaking landscapes on three continents, from East to West. Ride the Eastern & Oriental from Singapore through the jungles of Malaysia."
• Super Chief - (1936-1971). One of the named passenger trains and the flagship of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. It claimed to be "The Train of the Stars" because of the celebrities it carried between Chicago, Illinois, and Los Angeles, California.
• Stunning Tokyo train designed to feel like a living room - "Japan's love affair with trains continues to push the design envelope."
• Swiss Travel Pass - allows unlimited travel on the Swiss public transport network (trains, buses, ships and tramways) for a certain number of days (3, 4, 8 or 15 consecutive days), as well as free or discounted entry to most Swiss museums. Discounts apply to mountain transport (lifts, funiculars, cogwheel trains). Some mountain transport is free of charge.
• Switzerland: The rapid rise of fare dodging in Switzerland - "Despite the penalties, downsides and collective cost of fare dodging, ticket cheats are on the rise. The annual number went from around 412,000 in 2019 to 1,008,000 in 2024. In addition, the problem is greater in French- than in German-speaking Switzerland. This too could be cultural."
• Switzerland: This is the best country in the world for rail travel - "Our writer makes tracks for Switzerland, and discover the joys of riding the lines on an immersive, visually stunning - and more importantly, smooth - holiday."
• Switzerland’s brilliant new train route: direct from Montreux to Interlaken - "The GoldenPass line has long been known for incredible views, but now a pioneering engineering feat has made it even more attractive."
• Taiwan's stunning 106-year-old mountain railway - "Built more than 100 years ago, the Alishan Forest Railway is perhaps the best way to explore Alishan, one of Taiwan's most important mountain ranges. Lai Guo-hua, an aerial photographer who lives next to the railway, spent more than three years documenting it."
• Tesla launches world's first all-electric 'Giga Train' - "Tesla's highly anticipated 'Giga Train,' its first all-electric battery-powered train, has debuted in Germany."
• The Balkan express: from Belgrade to Bar by railway - The Guardian.
• The Flying Scotsman: how to see it, ride it, celebrate it - The Telegraph.
• the gentle beauty of a ride from Hamburg into Denmark - "This cross-border journey through fenlands and small towns is so idyllic our writer breaks up this short trip with overnight stays."
• ‘The Godfather of trains’: the Trans-Mongolian from Moscow to Beijing - "For the author of Around the World in 80 Trains this was a standout journey, full of captivating encounters that could only happen on a train."
• The huge rail tunnel that will change Europe - "Huge tunnel network creates new railway link through the Alps."
• The incredibly Danish design of Denmark’s new national trains - "From materials inspired by the landscape to ‘hygge’ coziness, the country’s new high-speed trains embody Denmark."
• The Indian Pacific from Sydney to Perth - a trip to Australia through the middle of nowhere.
• The luxury train ride from Paris to Italy that will cost $8,500 for a one-way ticket - "The train - whose full mouthful of a name is the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train, Europe - will pootle from Paris to Portofino across two days in June."
• The Maya Train Will Get You to All of YucatÁn’s Best Spots. But Not Yet - "In December, the train began running on its first route through Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. On a five-day journey a few months later, the author encountered enthusiasm, and scheduling hiccups."
• The most scenic railway in Europe: how an old Welsh mining line became a world beater - "A Which? survey has found that Wales has the best scenic railway, the Ffestiniog, plus two more in the top 10, which beats Switzerland and Norway."
• The remarkable story behind one of Asia's most beautiful trains - "How an open letter turned an 'aesthetic catastrophe' into an award-winning Taiwan tourist train."
• The return of Europe's night trains? - "Are Europe's night trains back in fashion? Sleeper trains were making a slow comeback in Europe before the pandemic, but will Covid-19 help or hinder a renaissance of long-distance rail travel?"
• The return of Mexico's famous Tequila Express train - "With 'tequila tourism' gaining popularity in Mexico, a train taking tourists to the home of the spirit has relaunched after nine years away. The Tequila Express offers a gateway to an intriguing culture, alongside impressive on-board cocktails."
• The Royal Express: Japan's newest luxury train revealed - The Telegraph.
• The Royal Scotsman - Wikipedia.
• The Shinkansen - also known as the "Bullet Train", is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan.
• the slow train from France to Spain - "Our slow travel expert dodges the high-speed TGV and takes a regional train from Avignon bound for Portbou, just over the Spanish border."
• The slowest train journey in India - "Nobody uses the Nilgiri Mountain Railway to get from A to B, but for the sheer joy of riding in a train that passes through 16 tunnels, 250 bridges and 208 serpentine curves."
• The Society of International Railway Travelers - "Since 1983, we've been offering luxury, first-class and steam rail tours with The World's Top 25 Trains in Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, North America and South America."
• The top 25 scenic train routes in India
• The trains of the future are coming at 400 mph - "Faster, cleaner, greener: What lies ahead for the world's railways."
• The World's Most Luxurious Trains - Business Insider.
• These European Train Journeys Are The Ultimate Grand Tour - "The European Grand Tour Returns With Iconic Rail Journeys Aboard VSOE."
• This is how us presidents used to travel - "Before Air Force One there was Train Car One."
• This railway was incredibly challenging to build. Yet few have heard of it - "The story behind the Trans-Iranian Railway, one of the greatest engineering feats of the 20th century."
• This train goes nowhere. Now it’s a luxury attraction - "South Africa is home to some of the most luxurious, nostalgic train journeys on offer anywhere in the world. But for certain enthusiasts, a train going nowhere is the country’s star attraction. Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge is a hotel in Skukuza in Kruger National Park, one of Africa’s largest game reserves and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site."
• This UNESCO-listed train is a spectacular feat of engineering - "All aboard India's joyful 'toy train'."
• Through the Pyrenees on the Little Yellow Train - The Telegraph.
• Ticket prices of planes vs trains - a Europe-wide analysis - "How low-cost carriers destroy the climate while their unfair and agressive pricing strategies go unchecked." Greenpeace.
• Tilting tech & talking toilets: the good & bad of Virgin Trains - "Virgin Trains reaches the end of the line on Saturday. How will it be remembered?"
• TRAIN - Wikipedia.
• Trans-Siberian Railway - Wikipedia.
• Train fares are up to 30 times more expensive than planes in Europe, says Greenpeace - "As Europe swelters in a heat wave, and the climate crisis accelerates, many travelers are looking towards trains rather than polluting planes. But those wanting to make their travel more carbon-conscious face hefty bills. According to a new report, taking a long-distance train in Europe can cost nearly 30 times as much as flying. The report, compiled by environmental campaign group Greenpeace, compared the cost of flight and train tickets on 112 European routes on nine different dates."
• train ticket that revolutionized European rail travel - "The Interrail pass was dreamed up by the International Union of Railways (UIC), a body overseeing Europe's railways that's since ceded control of Interrail to the independent Eurail company. The European Interrail pass, which allowed young people under 21, across 21 participating countries, to buy a £27.50 (at the time about $67) ticket for unlimited travel across Europe by train for a full month."
• Train versus plane - "With many domestic flights banned in France, we test its rail network. Visionary policy or pipe dream? An 18-day, 3,000km loop from Paris to the Atlantic and Mediterranean and back should tell us."
• Turkey's new Mesopotamia Express takes visitors through the country's rich history - "Running 1,051km from Ankara to Diyarbak?r, it passes through stark, mountainous landscapes and some of the country's most important historical sites."
• Unusual railways that break all the rules - "Weird and wonderful trains that break the rules. Railway technology is more versatile than you think. Over the last 200 years it has evolved to conquer cities, mountains, deep mines and some of the world’s most extreme climates. Here’s a selection of unusual railways that break the rules in order to reach the places other trains can’t roll."
• US finally on track to build a high-speed rail network? - "The US is a country of 340 million people, 71 interstate highways, more than 5,000 public airports, and currently no high-speed railways. By marked contrast, the total length of China's HSR network will reportedly exceed 50,000 km (31,000 miles) this year. Meanwhile, the European Union has 8,556 km of HSR lines, led by Spain's 3,190 km."
• Venice-Simplon Orient Express - Wikipedia.
• Vintage train journeys at risk as coal supply fails - "Heritage railways, which make millions for UK economy, axe services as mines close and Russian sources are ruled out."
• Welcome to the new age of the luxury train - The Telegraph.
• Whatever happened to railroad dining cars? - "When Europe’s railroad dining cars were the height of luxury."
• When Europe’s railroad dining cars were the height of luxury - "On October 4, 1883, the legendary Orient Express departed Gare de l’Est in Paris for the very first time, slowly winding through Europe on its way to Constantinople, as Istanbul was then known. During a seven-day round trip, the service’s 40 passengers - including several prominent writers and dignitaries - lived in mahogany-paneled comfort, whiling away the hours in smoking compartments and armchairs upholstered in soft Spanish leather."
• Where does the 'red carpet' come from? - "Greek tragedy and railways: An unexpected history of the red carpet."
• Why airlines want you to go by train - "We might not all be Greta Thunberg, shunning air travel for weeks-long odysseys aboard Atlantic yachts, but turning our backs on short-haul flights in favor of train travel is, for many of us, a more practical enterprise."
• Why Switzerland built a 2-kilometer-long train - "High in the Swiss Alps, St Moritz made its name as a place for pushing the boundaries of winter sport. By the time it hosted the second Winter Olympics Games in 1928 its reputation as a playground for wealthy adventurers was already well established."
• Why Trains Are a Great Way to Travel With Your Dog(s) - The New York Times.
• Will China’s plan for a ‘green silk road’ live up to environmental promises? - "China has pledged to make its Belt and Road initiative greener, but critics say environmental guidelines ‘nonexistent’."
• world’s 10 best train journeys – by the woman who’s done them all - The Telegraph.
• world's 15 most stunning train rides (& three you should probably avoid) - "'Here are my absolute favourite rides out of the hundreds I've been on - and one or two that should be avoided...'"
• World's fastest bullet train begins tests - "Japan tests world's fastest bullet train."
• world's fastest trains - "Until someone proves otherwise, high-speed rail is the most effective alternative to air travel for journeys of up to 1,100 kilometers (700 miles). Shuttling passengers between city centers at speeds of 290 kph (180 mph) or more, it offers a compelling combination of speed and convenience."
• World's first 350km-per-hour driverless bullet train goes into service in China - "As the countdown to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics continues, the new 108-mile high-speed railway line connecting the capital with Olympic host city Zhangjiakou has just entered service, cutting the travel time between the two from three hours to 47 minutes. It's also been dubbed the world's first smart high-speed railway."
• world's first hydrogen-powered passenger trains are here - "The future of environmentally friendly travel might just be here - and it's Germany that's leading the charge, with the first ever rail line to be entirely run on hydrogen-powered trains, starting from Wednesday."
• world’s longest train journey: From Portugal to Singapore - "The world’s longest train journey takes about 21 days. During the journey, the train travels from Portugal to Singapore, crossing 13 countries and navigating a total of 11,654 miles."
• The world’s longest train journey is epic - but nobody’s ever taken it - "The longest possible train journey takes you from a sleepy town in southern Portugal all the way to Singapore, the bustling metropolis in South East Asia. But only in theory."
• World's most crowded train line revealed - "The world's busiest transit lines, according to Google."
• world's most incredible rail journeys - "Free from the rigors of the daily commute, traveling by train is by far the most civilized way to get around and really get to know a new country."
• world's most luxurious train journeys - The Telegraph.
• World's most luxurious train trip? - "All aboard the Maharajas' Express, India's most luxurious train."
• World's Most Scenic Railway Journeys: Series 1 - "Bill Nighy narrates the stories of 6 epic train journeys through stunning scenery and natural beauty. The World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys will explore trips across Canada, Europe and New Zealand through the characters who travel, work and live near them."
• world's most spectacular railway stations - The Telegraph.
• world's most spectacular steam train journey? - The Telegraph.
• World's poshest train is now even posher - "Is this the most luxurious train carriage in the world?"
• World's Top 25 Trains - The Society of International Railway Travelers.
• Zimbabwe's stunning 80km safari train - "On its route between Dete and Ngamo Sidings, the 'Elephant Express' offers guests an utterly unique safari experience."