In an era of budget airlines and overnight buses, train travel is having a quiet renaissance. New high-speed lines are opening across Europe and Asia, while classic scenic routes are attracting passengers who've decided that the journey is as important as the destination.
The Glacier Express, Switzerland
The "slowest express train in the world" takes eight hours to travel 291 kilometres between Zermatt and St. Moritz, crossing 291 bridges and passing through 91 tunnels. The dining car serves proper Swiss food; the panoramic windows frame a landscape of glaciers, mountain meadows, and ancient stone viaducts. Book the restaurant car in advance.
The Rocky Mountaineer, Canada
Two days through the Canadian Rockies between Vancouver and Banff, with an overnight stop in Kamloops. Travelling only during daylight ensures you miss nothing. The glass-domed GoldLeaf coaches offer arguably the finest seat from which any landscape has ever been viewed.
The Bernina Express, Switzerland / Italy
A UNESCO World Heritage railway that ascends to 2,253 metres, crosses the Bernina Pass amid glaciers, then descends through palm trees to Tirano in northern Italy. The engineering is extraordinary; the landscape even more so. Run year-round; the winter service through snow-covered Alps is particularly magical.
The Palace on Wheels, India
A week aboard this restored royal train through Rajasthan's greatest cities – Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur – is an experience that belongs in an entirely different century. Fourteen heritage coaches, impeccable Rajasthani service, and off-train excursions to forts and palaces make this the most atmospheric train journey in Asia.
The Coastal Route, Norway
The Bergen Railway, connecting Oslo and Bergen, traverses the Hardangervidda plateau – Europe's largest mountain plateau – with fjord views that render the carriages reverently silent. Combine with the Flåm Railway, one of the world's steepest regular passenger lines, for the complete Norwegian rail experience.