Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
The world’s best train journeys
LUXURY train journeys may not be as common on this side of the world. However, taking a train is still common in other parts of the world.
For those who aren’t fans of travelling on the road or by air – some people actually do get motion sickness – travelling by rail is a safer option when it comes to exploring.
There are plenty of reasons for exploring any part of the world by locomotive. From bullet trains to steam trains, some people prefer the comfort they provide.
Airplane, car and bus seats can feel limited in space. Add travel essentials and you start feeling cramped.
Trains provide a more child-friendly and quicker option too, depending on the length of the journey, as there is little or no traffic to deal with.
For long-distance travel, coaches provide food and sleeping options, elevating the comfort of one’s journey.
A train journey may feel calming and provide feelings of nostalgia for simpler times, as one enjoys the scenery along the routes and the peace and quiet that offers the opportunity to reflect and meditate.
Here are some of the world’s most Instagrammable train journeys that will reinvigorate your love for travel.
The Venice Simplon-OrientExpress, England/France/Italy
The Orient Express is one of the most loved trains on which to journey. It came first place, with 106 616 tags. It consists of 17 authentic 1920s carriages and takes different routes, but the most popular is the one from London through Paris and Milan to Venice. The journey takes 32.5 hours and the distance travelled is 1 616km. Price, depending on the travel style, can be as high as £8400 (R168 000).
The Bernina Express, Switzerland/Italy
The train takes the traveller through the spectacular Alpine landscapes and along the Bernina line, a Unesco World Heritage Site since 2008. The four-hour journey starts in the Swiss city of Chur and ends in Tirano, Italy, a distance
of 122km. This journey is another European favourite with 76046 tags.
Price: 72 Swiss Francs (R1300) to 92 Swiss Francs (R1 660).
The Rocky Mountaineer, Canada
This ride will take you through 795km of the Canadian Rockies. It lasts for 36 hours and takes place during the day, allowing you to enjoy the scenery through the glass-domed coaches, while the night is spent in a hotel. Canada’s Rocky Mountaineer has 44803 tags, making it a must on your travel itinerary when exploring Canada. Price: $1465 (R26000).
The Trans-Siberian Railway, Russia
The longest railway line in the world, it took over 25 years to build and was completed in 1916. The journey starts in Moscow and ends in Vladivostok. It takes 13 days and covers 9 289km. It has 37 712 tags on Instagram. Price: €150 (R2635) to €500 (R8 785)
The Glacier Express, Swiss Alps
The Glacier Express has 32 853 tags. It’s known as the slowest express train in the world and it takes 7.5 hours to travel 291km. On its way through the Swiss Alps, the glass-topped train journeys
through 91 tunnels and across 291 bridges. Price: From 73 Swiss francs (R1320) to 268 (R4846) Swiss francs.
The Brocken Railway, Germany
This is a branch railway line, connecting the Brocken to the Harz Mountains’ existing narrow-gauge railway. It was proposed in 1869 but the 80km track was only declared operational in 1899. Passengers are hauled by steam locomotive to the summit of Brocken where they are rewarded with panoramic views of the Harz Mountains National Park. This scenic route has 31839 tags. Price: €34 (R600) to €51 (R895).
The California Zephyr, US
Experienced travellers say the California Zephyr is one of the most beautiful train trips in all of North America. As you climb through the heart of the Rockies, and further west through the snow-capped Sierra Nevadas, you may find it hard to disagree. The Zephyr runs between Chicago and San Francisco, coursing through the plains of Nebraska to Denver, across the Rockies to Salt Lake City, and then through Reno and Sacramento into Emeryville, San Francisco. Connections to San Francisco and Oakland stations are via Thruway Bus Service at Emeryville. It has 26 802 tags on Instagram. Price: From $7 to $1 415 (R25 230)
The Coast Starlight, US
A grand west coast train adventure, en route daily between Los Angeles and Seattle, the Coast Starlight train passes through Santa Barbara, the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento and Portland. Widely regarded as one of the most spectacular of all train routes, the Coast Starlight links the greatest cities on the West Coast and has 18 663 tags. The scenery along the Coast Starlight route is unsurpassed. The dramatic snow-covered peaks of the Cascade Range and Mount Shasta, lush forests, fertile valleys and long stretches of Pacific Ocean shoreline provide a stunning backdrop. Price: From $20 (R356) to $54 (R963).
The West Highland Line, Scotland
Scotland’s West Highland Line is the second UK train journey on the list. With 15662 tags, the line most famous for being featured in the Harry Potter movies, is in ninth place. The Caledonian Sleeper, which connects London to Inverness and is one of only two sleeper trains in the UK, is in 14th place, with 9 405 tags. Price: from £64.70 (R1286) to £72.70 (R1447)
The Bergen Line, Norway
A trip on the Bergen Line offers one of the most scenic experiences in Europe. The Bergen Railway was built in 1909 and runs over the highlands between Oslo and Bergen, Norway’s two largest cities. It crosses the Hardangervidda National Park, onto the Hardangervidda plateau, Europe’s largest high mountain plateau. The Bergen Line is Northern Europe’s highest railway line, reaching 1222m above sea level at Finse train station. At 10th place it has 13923 tags. Price: from $110 (R1965).
This research was conducted by CasinoTop10.net