ALL ABOARD

It’s not just the destination, but the journey itself. That’s why Tamara Hinson is tracking down the world’s most amazing train journeys

TRAVEL

Get your holiday plans back on the rails with these train-based trips

Not so long ago, travel was all about getting from A to B in the fastest time possible, whether this meant flying from London to Sydney without a stopover, bragging about being a passenger on a plane that piggy-backed jet streams for a lightning-fast transatlantic crossing, or whizzing from one Japanese city to the next on a sculpture-like bullet train. But it’s hardly surprising that many are predicting a post-pandemic passion for slow travel, and trains are at the forefront of this movement.

A classic example has been the growing popularity of Amtrak’s sleeper services, which have chugged their way across America with a no-frills determination for decades. 2021 marks Amtrak’s fiftieth birthday, which means it’s the ideal time to sign up for – or at least book – an adventure on one of its most popular trains, the California Zephyr, which rumbles from Chicago to San Francisco three times a week

( amtrak.com). The 51-hour journey takes in the Rockies, the snow- capped Sierra Nevadas and Nebraska’s golden plains, and there’s accommodation for every budget, ranging from reclining seats to bedrooms with private showers.

For a breathtaking railway journey, it’s hard to beat Australia. A 4,352km journey on the Indian Pacific, streaking from Perth to Sydney over four days, is the railway adventure that tops most rail-spotters’ bucket lists ( journeybeyondrail.com. au).

Highlights include a stop- off in Kalgoorlie, home to the world’s third-largest manmade hole (otherwise known as the Super Pit gold mine) and the eucalyptus-scented Blue Mountains.

Over in Japan, a ride on Japan Railways’ 36+3, which took to the rails in late 2020, is a fantastic way to explore Kyushu ( visit-kyushu.com/en/). There are five different routes to choose from, all of which can be done in a single day. For many, the highlight will be the food – onboard delicacies include seafood, sake and wagyu beef.

Prone to travel sickness? Kruger Shalati, which opened in late 2020, might be the solution ( krugershalati.com). You’ll find this modern take on a safari lodge on a bridge in South Africa’s Kruger National Park, where a steam engine has been transformed into a 31-bedroom hotel. Our favourite bit? The overhanging pool, if only for the views of the crocodileinfested river below.