Back on track: the world’s best train journeys

Luxury rail travel is enjoying a renaissance. As we emerge from the shadows of the pandemic, trends suggest high-net-worth individuals are seeking once-in-a-lifetime experiences that are more exceptional, personal and immersive than ever before.

Even before Covid-19, luxury train travel had been gathering momentum. Glimpsing the world’s landmarks by rail is the ultimate romantic experience, and offers the new breed of environmentally-conscious traveller a comfortable alternative to flying.

But before we consider the present, let’s take a look at the future – and the beauty of the G Train, the private train that could revolutionise luxury train travel. The G Train is a $350m (£290m) palace on wheels. It is a project led by the world- renowned French designer, Thierry Gaugain, famed for designing luxury yachts and planes.

“The G Train… will be the wedding of luxury and technology,” he told press last year. “It’s not a train of the past – it will be designed for the future and technologically advanced.”

The sleek, stylish G Train is unlike anything rail travel has seen before. Windows will be sheathed in smartglass that can switch from opaque to transparent, offering changing panoramic views. The train will have four locomotives adapted to railways across Europe and the Americas.

Gaugain’s proposed layout splits the train into two sections: the front half will be the owner’s private accommodation and entertainment carriage, while the back half contains guest suites, guest salon and crew accommodation.

The G Train will be an exclusive prize for one owner, Gaugain revealed. “It will be made to measure to match the expectation and desire of the owner, the same way megayachts are designed today,” he said. “Once we have an owner, who I expect will be conscious of the uniqueness of the train and who is ready to reinvent their life, construction would take roughly two years.”

For those who – for now – can only dream of owning their own private train, Europe, and the world, beckons through some memorable luxury rail journeys. In 2023, the Orient Express will open its new route – La Dolce Vita – taking guests in unparalleled luxury from northern to southern Italy and then to Paris, France, Istanbul, Turkey and Split, Croatia.

The concept pays tribute to the historical period of glamour and artistic fervour in Italy during the 1960s. Guests will be catered for in 12 deluxe cabins and 19 suites, and served Italian haute cuisine and award-winning wines.

Meanwhile, Belmond’s Venice Simplon- Orient Express sleeper train is the epitome of contemporary luxury train travel, gliding non- stop between London, Paris, Berlin, Venice and Verona. Guests are catered for in private quarters, from single cabins to grand suites that are more than a match for the continent’s finest hotels.

The express is a step back to the 1920s, with expertly restored Art Deco carriages complete with antique fixtures, polished woods and sumptuous upholstery. And it’s not Belmond’s only luxurious railway journey. Closer to home, is there a more majestic, evocative and patriotic sight than a steam train thundering its way through the idyllic English countryside?

The British Pullman is a sibling of the Venice Simplon-Orient Express and offers opulent travel through day and evening journeys between London and Folkestone, during which guests are served multiple courses of British cuisine.

The train has 11 passenger carriages, each featuring a vintage dining salon of either Art Deco or Nouveau design, and seating between 20 and 26 people. Calling at historic towns including York, Bath and Canterbury, the Pullman is a step back in time to the golden age of British steam train travel.

Further afield, Rovos Rail in South Africa markets itself as the most luxurious train in the world, carrying passengers through breathtaking scenery, including savanna, game reserves and coastline to destinations including Cape Town, Victoria Falls and Durban. Also known as The Pride of Africa, Rovos Rail recaptures the charm and ambiance of a bygone era, lavishing guests in comfort, luxury and personalised service on vintage coaches.

Guests on Rovos Rail can relax amid five-star service, facilities and fine dining. Each train accommodates a maximum of 72 passengers.

Heading further east, the discerning traveller can step aboard Japan’s Train Suite Shiki-Shima – the ultra-luxe sleeper that is one of the world’s most exclusive and expensive trains.

The futuristic train has a capacity of just 34 passengers. The interiors of the 10 carriages exemplify traditional Japanese craftsmanship, with five sleeping cars, two observation cars, a lounge car and a dining car. The sightseeing train departs from Ueno Station in Tokyo and takes guests on multi-day journeys through some of Japan’s most scenic spots, including the wineries of Yamanashi or the sights of Hokkaido.