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Train journeys

The 2023 festival

Train travel is making a major comeback in the US, especially in LA

Rail has languished, if not disappeared, in many parts of the US, but a new plan will restore old services and create new ones.

  • by Julietta Jameson
The regular commuter trains in Switzerland afford admirable views.

$6600 v $127: How to travel Europe’s spectacular train routes on the cheap

The Orient-Express takes you from Paris to Venice for $6600 but you can make the same rail journey in a sleeper for about $127.

  • by Brian Johnston
The Chisos Mountains, Big Bend National Park.

Our train journey was cancelled hours before departure. Here’s what we did

I never planned to drive across the US. But when our leisurely rail journey is upended due to a strike, a road adventure of cultural contradictions begins.

  • by Roy Masters
ON TRACK TO OHIYA: Sri Lanka has over 1500 kilometres of railway line and the higher you get the more scenic the journey. From Nan Uoya, at 1613 metres, it's an hour by train to Sri Lanka's third highest railway station at 1774 metres. Ohiya opened in 1893 as part of a British colonial government network created to transport tea and coffee from the hill country to the port of Colombo. The best views of villages, farms and forest on this north-to-south route are from the right-hand side of the train. Tickets can be bought on the day at the station and dangling your limbs out the windows and doors is permitted.

One of the world’s most spectacular train rides costs less than $10

Chugging along at 40km/h past tea plantations, gorges, rivers, waterfalls, viaducts and villages is slow travel at its finest.

  • by Julia D'Orazio
LNER train - Edinburgh-London.
★★★★
Edinburgh

Train review: Scotland to England journey is stress-free and cheap

The ease of boarding and disembarking in the city centres, close enough to walk to hotels, brings the blood pressure down and saves on Uber fares.

  • by Kristie Kellahan
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The new terminal.
★★★★
Thailand

This spacious new Thai station is futuristic and utterly generic

Bangkok’s new rail hub is impressive, even if it looks like a modern airport terminal minus the shopping mall.

  • by John Borthwick
Scenery changes around every bend.

The surprising thing about this epic rail trek across the US

This Seattle-to-Chicago sleeper’s dining cars are functional rather than fancy, but there’s an unexpected benefit to being slotted in with random strangers.

  • by Tim Richards
Niagara Falls’ sheer power is a thing of wonder.

One of Canada’s most scenic regions can be done by train

Bounded by three of the Great Lakes, this area west of Toronto is dotted with fascinating places – just a train ride from Canada’s largest city.

  • by Tim Richards
TRA 4OCT 08. The Ghan between Adelaide and Darwin. Supplied by Tourism NT

One of Australia’s epic train journeys is now even more remarkable

This railway divides Australia down the middle like a zipper, the 2979-kilometre journey opening up parts of the country in a way that no other holiday can.

  • by Kerry van der Jagt
Thailand Railways Train No.9 sleeper saves you a night’s accommodation.
★★★½
Thailand

Train review: Thai’s second class delivers a comfortable night’s sleep

Hurtling out of one city at sunset and arriving in a new one as it’s waking up is an underrated joy of travel.

  • by Justin Meneguzzi