World's Great Train Journeys
The most scenic rail on earth. 16 places, mapped and ready to build a trip around.
Plan a trip on Trailwind →Semmering Railway
AustriaBestMay–SepClimate23–70°FCurrencyEURLanguageGermanAirportVIEThe worlds first mountain railway, a viaduct-laced UNESCO route.
TranzAlpine
New ZealandBestNov–MarCurrencyNZDLanguageEnglishAirportCHCAcross the Southern Alps from Christchurch to Greymouth.
West Highland Line
United KingdomBestMay–SepClimate34–63°FCurrencyGBPLanguageEnglishAirportGLAPast the Glenfinnan Viaduct and lochs to the port of Mallaig.
Konkan Railway
IndiaBestOct–FebClimate70–90°FCurrencyINRLanguageHindiAirportGOIDown India west coast past monsoon waterfalls and coconut coast.
Andean Explorer
PeruBestApr–OctClimate36–63°FCurrencyPENLanguageSpanishThe Belmond Andean Explorer, launched in May 2017, is South America's first luxury sleeper train. It replaced the eponymous Pullman day train which ran between Cusco and Puno, on Lake Titicaca. With the new train, this trip is converted to a one-night journey, and extended from Puno for another overnight ride to Arequipa in southern Peru.
Glacier Express
SwitzerlandBestVariesClimate19–68°FCurrencyCHFLanguageGermanAirportZRHEight hours of Alpine passes and viaducts between Zermatt and St. Moritz.
California Zephyr
United StatesBestMay–OctCurrencyUSDLanguageEnglishAirportDENChicago to the San Francisco Bay past the Rockies and Sierra.
Bernina Express
SwitzerlandBestVariesCurrencyCHFLanguageGermanAirportZRHOver the Alps by panorama car to Italian Tirano on a UNESCO line.
Belmond Andean Explorer
PeruBestMay–SepCurrencyPENLanguageSpanishAirportCUZA sleeper across the high Andes between Cusco and Arequipa.
Kuranda Scenic Railway
AustraliaBestMay–SepClimate61–84°FCurrencyAUDLanguageEnglishAirportCNSThrough rainforest gorges and waterfalls above Cairns.
Rocky Mountaineer
CanadaBestMay–SepClimate7–66°FCurrencyCADLanguageEnglishAirportYVRDaylight glass-dome rail through the Canadian Rockies.
Death Railway
ThailandBestNov–FebClimate68–99°FCurrencyTHBLanguageThaiAirportBKKThe Bridge on the River Kwai and a cliff-clinging wartime line.
Bergen Line
NorwayBestJun–SepCurrencyNOKLanguageNorwegianAirportOSLOslo to Bergen across Europe highest mountain plateau.
The Ghan
AustraliaBestMay–SepClimate52–100°FCurrencyAUDLanguageEnglishAirportASPAdelaide to Darwin through the red heart of the Outback.
Flam Railway
NorwayBestMay–SepClimate25–68°FCurrencyNOKLanguageNorwegianAirportBGOA steep mountain descent past waterfalls to the Aurlandsfjord.
Trans-Siberian Railway
RussiaBestMay–AugClimate16–77°FCurrencyRUBLanguageRussianThe Trans-Siberian Railway, historically known as the Great Siberian Route and often shortened to Transsib, is a large railway system that connects European Russia to the Russian Far East. Spanning a length of over 9,289 kilometers, it is the longest railway line in the world. It runs from the city of Moscow in the west to the city of Vladivostok in the east.