The World’s Greatest Train Journeys

The Canadian
www.viarail.ca
Railways were key to the settlement of North America, and this Toronto to Vancouver line was actually crucial to the creation of a nation: British Columbia would only agree to join the Canadian Confederation if the government built a railway – ‘an iron ribbon linking sea with shining sea’ – across the whole width of the continent. It was a sizeable demand, but British Columbia got what it asked for in the end. The train still sets off three times a week for its 3,000-kilometre, three and a half day journey, and is still composed of mainly art deco carriages that date back to the 1950s, complete with panoramic Skyline Dome cars. Visual highlights are Ontario’s lakelands and the Rocky Mountains, where there’s a great chance of seeing species such as elk, eagle, beaver and deer as you rumble by.

The Caledonian Sleeper to Fort William
www.scotrail.co.uk/caledoniansleeper/index.html
This smog-to-bog sleeper sets off from London as the UK’s longest passenger train, gets divvied up in the early hours, and by the time its Fort William-bound passengers surface the next morning, it’s been reduced to three coaches being led by a growling locomotive on a stately rumba through some of Scotland’s most magnificent scenery. The cabins are functional, and after Glasgow, it’s a rattle-bang ride, but you wouldn’t want to sleep late and miss the virtuoso performance outside your window. Particularly compelling are the stops on Rannoch Moor, so remote that one – Corrour – can’t be reached by road. In summer the passenger list includes climbers and families; in winter long-haul commuters gather in the boutiquey bar car, where you can even order haggis and neeps.

The Bernina Express
www.rhb.ch
The Swiss are unbeatable at running trains up mountains. 
This bright red, narrow-gauge daily service tootles over the Alps from the Swiss town of Chur to the Italian village of Tirano, and, while it may look like a toy, it runs on track that has been designated a Unesco World Heritage site for its breathtaking engineering. Its close cousin, the Glacier Express, is better known amongst tour operators, but the Bernina has the same standard of panorama cars and climbs higher, offering staggering views particularly as it climbs up the Albula pass to St Moritz, and then saunters slowly down the other side. The train takes just over four hours to tackle the journey’s 55 tunnels and 196 bridges, and is one of the slowest expresses in Europe, but you wouldn’t want it to go any faster.

The Qinzang railway
www.chinatibettrain.com
A surprising number of new railways are currently being created worldwide, with China leading the way. The nation already has the third longest global network, and is planning a further 40,000 kilometres of track by 2020. Its latest headline is the highest railway in the world, the Qinzang, with trains running all the way from Shanghai (or Beijing) to Lhasa. The 4,350 kilometre journey takes two days and climbs to 4,000 metres as it broaches the Tangula pass and crosses the Tibetan plateau. Extra emergency oxygen is provided on board, and it is so cold outside that the water in the toilets has to be heated to stop it from freezing. Lhasa is a politically sensitive area, and international travellers will require a special visitor permit before embarking.

The Trans-Siberian
www.poezda.net
This marathon eight-day journey from Moscow to Vladivostock sets out from Jaroslavskaia station four times a week, crossing eight time zones on 8,000 kilometres of track. On board, the train becomes a travelling community, with lifelong friendships forged over vodka chasers in the bar car. For many travellers it is a rite of passage, but the official train has its disadvantages: you don’t see much beyond the 
window, and there’s only one shower per carriage. 
More luxurious private trains such as the Golden Eagle (www.gwtravel.co.uk) allow for more sight-seeing excursions, and more cleanliness, but at a price. Also increasing in popularity is the once weekly Trans-Mongolian to Beijing, which takes a similar time over 
a similar route, but ends up in a more interesting city.

The Venice-Simplon Orient Express
www.orient-express.com
Historically, the royals have all had trains, and some still do. But in today’s more equal society there are now historic trains which treat passengers like royalty, and no-one does it better than the VSOE. It’s a very pricey way of getting to Venice, for sure, but the authenticity and the glamour of this hard-working private train is simply unbeatable. The coaches are original antiques, lavishly restored, the mix of people is invariably interesting, and meals are served with relish and formality. The VSOE is a slice of history, and grand-daddy to a whole new generation of luxury train cruises, but unlike many of those train cruises, this one works hard to complete its 1,700 kilometre trip in 30 hours.