The Romance of the Rails
Among train enthusiasts, there’s no debate about whether the journey is a vital part of the destination or not; they’re already well versed in the joyful art of “getting there.” But for the rest of us who may or may not understand the inner workings of a steam engine, there is an entirely different category of train travel, and it transcends the concept of destination altogether.
Luxury train travel offers a slower, graceful, and more mindful travel experience, where passengers can immerse themselves into the bygone era of experiential rail expeditions. Traveling by train spins the entire travel narrative on itself, allowing passengers to be all at once casual observers of their momentary surroundings and yet, at the same time, intimately involved in each passing moment.
These gilded carriages are outfitted with the utmost of elegant details and aim to preserve the romance of the railway. There are fantastical dining cars serving Michelin-quality cuisine, where the only reminder of being on board is the gentle quivers and clinks of the China as the track curves its way through some of the planet’s most stunning landscapes. There are sumptuous sleeper cabins with stand-alone soaker tubs and personalized butler service that rivals that of the world’s finest hotels. Time seems to slow down as the scenery speeds past, and the world’s best trains will balance that experience with beautiful doses of opulence and nostalgia. All aboard!
MAHARAJAS’ EXPRESS - INDIA
Modeled after the elaborate Raj-era private carriages once used by the Maharajas of India, the Maharajas’ Express imbues royal elegance and pageantry in every detail. It made history as the first pan-India luxury train when it first departed in 2010, and today offers four different journeys ranging from a three-night out-and-back journey from Delhi to a six-night heritage journey starting in Mumbai and ending in Delhi. The ME holds the record for the priciest train ticket, where a Presidential Suite package currently tops out at $24,890, but the level of service and curated experiences both onboard and off, keep passengers returning season after season.
There are two restaurants onboard serving refined Indian and international dishes, and guests can expect a grand feast for breakfast, regionally inspired lunches based on where the train is traveling that day, and extravagant dinners. The country’s British influence inspired one of the most beloved onboard traditions, an afternoon tea featuring Indian teas and delicate pastries served among the panoramic windows of the Safari Bar carriage. Evenings are often spent at the Rajah Club, where house pours and club chairs set the calming atmosphere for guests before retiring to their bed chambers. Rooms are spread across 14 carriages in four different categories (i.e., Deluxe Cabins, Junior Suites, Suites, and Presidential Suite), and each comes with a personal butler who attends to any and all needs 24/7.
ROVOS RAIL - AFRICA
It had always been about romance, starting with the moment founder Rohan Vos purchased his first coach in 1985. An earlier train trip that year incited his love for all things locomotive, and his passion for the romantic age of rail travel pieced its way together until the first Rovos Rail journey departed on April 29, 1989. The company is known for their bespoke train safaris, where they seamlessly blend the raw beauty of the African landscapes with an opulent onboard experience. The journeys last anywhere from 48 hours to 15 nights, and often incorporate off-board excursions like game drives, wine tastings, golfing opportunities, and chances to meet with and purchase art from tribal artists.
The trains can comfortably hold up to 72 passengers throughout 36 suites ranging from the 7-square-meter Pullman Suite to the 16-square-meter Royal Suite equipped with a private lounge area and a Victorian soaking tub. En-suite bathrooms are standard, as are nightly dressing robes, but guests won’t find televisions onboard in an intentional move to encourage a “golden era of travel” mindset. Guests instead spend their time onboard gazing out the windows from the dedicated smoking lounge or observation car (with an open-air balcony) or indulging inside the dining cars and lounge car.
KYUSHU SEVEN STARS - JAPAN
In a country known for its super-fast trains — Japan holds the world record for a Maglev train that can reach 374.69 mph — the Kyushu Seven Stars offers a refreshingly slower pace and a highly refined manner of traveling. Only 20 passengers are allowed onboard at one time, and guests don’t book a slot on the train, they have to apply for the chance to be selected for one of the three hyper exclusive journeys (which range from one- to three-nights). There are seven cars in the train, one for each prefecture the train travels through on the island of Kyushu, and each is adorned with a mix of traditional and modern Japanese décor and amenities. Local artists were brought in to create custom ceramics for everyday use onboard, including in the small tearoom that hosts intimate traditional Japanese tea ceremonies.
There is a piano lounge and bar space that offers live music and drinks, a salon for relaxation and reflection, and 10 guest rooms with private en-suite bathrooms. Everything is included in the package price, including off-train excursions and meals which are often hosted by some of the region’s top chefs. Days are spent luxuriating in the panoramic views onboard or soaking in a local hot spring in between stations, with bespoke opportunities for authentic encounters available around each turn.
VENICE SIMPLON-ORIENT-EXPRESS, A BELMOND TRAIN - EUROPE
Respected hotel brand Belmond first ventured into the realm of refined train travel in 1982 when its first luxury train, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train, left the station for the first time. It now operates six distinct luxury trains around the world, each with multiple routes and journey options. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is the crown jewel of the collection, featuring meticulously restored cars that once departed as part of the original Orient Express, the iconic Le Train Bleu, and others. The train now encompasses 17 restored 1920s and 1930s carriages, many of which were purchased by Belmond’s founder himself in an early passion project to bring back the “golden age of travel.” Champagne and seasonal menus from an acclaimed chef are standard, as are the live performances and handcrafted cocktails in the famous Bar Car ‘3674.’
Many of the historic sleeping cabins have their own story to tell, like Sleeping Car 3544’s varied fortunes ranging from carrying the rich and famous on Le Train Bleu to being used as a wartime brothel, and Sleeping Car 3309 which spent 10 days stranded in a snowdrift in 1929 (an incident that inspired Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie). The atmosphere onboard is one of celebration and revelation, where each stop on the journey leading to discovery and the chance to experience each destination in a new way.
ORIENT EXPRESS - EUROPE
The company that started it all will once again return to the rails in 2025 after a story as dramatic and romantic as its first journey back in 1883. For nearly 95 years, the Orient Express traversed through the great European capitals on a track that linked the West to the East, stopping in 1977 after the onset of air travel. The decision to auction their cars was a difficult one, but not as arduous as rediscovering their original cars on an abandoned track in Poland, and deciding to once again reinvent the concept of luxury travel by rail. Working with renowned architect Maxime d’Angeac (known for his work with Hermès and Maison Guerlain), the company meticulously restored 17 original Orient Express cars that were once known as the Nostalgie-Istanbul-Orient-Express.
The experience onboard is authentic and theatric all at once, where original pieces blend with modern amenities to create a truly memorable journey that transcends time. Details matter on the Orient Express, and that level of perspicacity extends from the Agatha Christie-approved décor to the keen level of service. While guests are enjoying elegant meals and lively evenings in the bar car, a “Great Transformation” takes place in their sleeper cars, transitioning from a daytime settee lounge to a respite for sleeping among rosewood and marble.