Rail travel boom: These new train trends are the hottest tickets of 2024
As rail travel hits new levels of popularity, new and updated trains are being being launched in every corner of the world - and this avid rail traveller says there's one experience that stands out above all.
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I’ve ridden the rails to scenic waterfalls in Flåm, Norway; taken a locomotive straight out of the wild west in Durango, Colorado; been on and off intercity carriages in the US, Europe and Canada and I’ve even been ensconced in a Hello Kitty-themed bullet train in Japan. But the ultimate experience in rail travel has to be bunking on a sleeper train.
On a recent Great Southern rail trip from Brisbane to Adelaide the train clattered through the night. Intermittently, it creaked and shuddered to a halt, almost exhaling a sigh while waiting for a freight train to roll down the line. It’s easy to relax into the rhythm, the motion (and maybe the Baileys the attendant presented just before bedtime) lulling me into slumber. As morning light broke, the giant windows afforded an ever-changing vista of bucolic landscapes. It’s a glorious way to wake up.
Train travel is undergoing a renaissance, sparked by a boom in demand for transport with a lower carbon footprint, and the attractions of slower travel. We can’t get enough. More than 66,000 Eurail passes were sold in Australia in 2023, for example, a 91 per cent increase on pre-Covid sales in 2019. And with this resurgent worldwide demand comes new and refurbished luxury trains, a wider range of routes, and new developments.
All aboard for the latest trends on the tracks:
1. Luxurious new rail journeys
Train travel is going through a glow-up with a flurry of refurbished and new luxury trains hitting the rails.
Already, a lucky few have stepped aboard to experience the nostalgic glamour of The Eastern & Oriental Express, A Belmond Train in Southeast Asia. Relaunched in February after a long hiatus, the 15 restyled carriages include eight sleeping cars, a piano bar car, two restaurant cars, and the open-air observation car.
Meanwhile, this month resort group Anantara launched a second Vietage train carriage in Vietnam operating a new five-hour route between beach towns Nha Trang and Quy Nhon. On board, there’s a lavish afternoon tea, and to add to the relaxation factor, guests receive a free massage.
WHAT’S NEXT: In next year’s European spring, hotel and resort group Accor will introduce La Dolce Vita Orient Express, a new luxury train traversing Italy. The design harks back to Italy in the 1960s. Think mid-century modern bold geometric prints and curves. La Dolce Vita, named after the Fellini movie from 1960, will operate overnight routes on nine journeys of one or two nights, taking in such destinations as Venice, Rome and Portofino. Expect to savour the finest Italian cuisine and wines in the dining cart. Bookings are open now.
TIP: Choose the coast-to-coast route from Venice to Portofino on La Dolce Vita and begin your Italian stay with a side 3.5-hour train trip to Lake Como. Book through Rail Europe and stay at the glorious Mandarin Oriental Lake Como.
2. The rise of sleeper trains
Sleeper trains are enjoying a resurgence, especially in Europe. According to Hugo van Vondelen, train travel expert and product specialist at Eurail, sleeper trains (that is, trains you sleep on which travel through the night) are growing in popularity. “Not only because they offer a time- and money-saving way to explore Europe, but also because they’re a more nostalgic, slow and sustainable mode of travel,” Hugo says.
WHAT’S NEXT: Late last year, a new night train service, the OBB Nightjet connecting Vienna, Innsbruck and Hamburg, was launched. The OBB Nightjet offers a new type of sleeping pods for maximum privacy. And the latest addition to OBB Nightjet services now connects Brussels and Paris to Berlin. The latter, previously known as the City Night Line, has not operated since 2014.
For added luxury, consider crossing Europe from Paris to Istanbul (or vice versa). Golden Eagle Luxury Trains’ new eight-day journey aboard the Golden Eagle Danube Express includes crossing the Unesco-listed Semmering Pass. The ensuite cabins include a personal cabin attendant. The journeys begin in May 2025.
TIP: According to Rail Europe, many tour operators are moving towards train travel rather than coach touring (with hotel stays) in Europe because it’s a more convenient and sustainable travel option.
3. New rail travel classes
Whichever way you wish to travel by train, there’s an array of choice across different price points. With more travellers keen to ride the rails comes more demand for choice. Traditionally, tickets in second class generally cost about a third of first-class fares, and in Europe, both are usually quite comfortable.
There are other names for the classes as well, Australian operator Journey Beyond has introduced a new gold premium class on The Ghan (and soon to be on The Great Southern). Sitting between gold and platinum, the gold premium suite option includes a three-quarter-size double bed plus a fold-down upper berth and a lounge area.
WHAT’S NEXT: In June, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, a Belmond Train, will travel to the Ligurian coast connecting Paris and Portofino for the first time in its four-decade history. Belmond has added eight new suites, which means travellers can choose from a trio of cabin categories. These include the Historic Cabins, where a daytime lounge transforms into cosy upper and lower berth beds, new Suites offering twin or double beds with marble ensuite bathrooms, or one of the six opulent Grand Suites.
TIP: Travelling on the Eurostar linking London with Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels? There is not too much difference between first and second class, except a more spacious seat and better recline. Save your money and go second.
4. Better accessibility
Railways and train stations around the world are upping their game to make train travel truly accessible for all.
Accessibility in rail travel is more than structural adaptations such as ramps or elevators. It also means providing assistive technologies and passenger information that is intelligible to all. For example, for those considering a US rail adventure, it’s good to know that Amtrak has invested $US800 million into complying with the All Stations Accessibility Program Act to provide an accessible passenger experience. On Amtrak trains, for example, newly designed accessible bathrooms are being added to 23 Superliner and Coach cars.
WHAT’S NEXT: Prefer a European rail adventure? A report on Europe’s most accessible railway nations by booking site Omio found that Norway scores extremely well in wheelchair access to platforms and trains, guidance for the visually impaired, and the availability of digital visual passenger information. Tour company UpNorway offers an Arctic Circle Express Train itinerary taking in such delights as travelling on the Rauma Railway from Åndalsnes to Dombås and experiencing the Nordland Railway (also known as the Polar Express).
TIP: Train booking site Rail Europe has a handy guide on how to book accessible train travel in Europe.
5. Travellers choosing trains over planes
Tired of delays, cancellations and price gouging, travellers are looking at train travel instead of flying. It’s also better for the environment. Opting for a train instead of a domestic flight would reduce your emissions by around 86 per cent.
We’re increasingly willing to stay on track for 11 hours from Sydney to Melbourne or reverse rather than catch a plane. Look at the statistics: monthly patronage on the night train services has jumped by about 3000 on average between 2013 and 2023. We’re going to have to wait for an upgrade to these trains, though, with 2026 likely to be the year new Spanish-built trains will come into service.
WHAT’S NEXT: Heading to Japan? Instead of catching a plane to the island of Kyushu, take the shinkansen train. There, JR Kyushu’s new Limited Express D&S train, Kanpachi Ichiroku, launched last month, connecting not only major cities within Kyushu but also smaller towns and rural regions. The five-hour journey train departs from Hakata Station and traverses the Yufu Kogen Line, passing through Yufuin before reaching Beppu Station six times a week. The best part? Included in the fare is a bento box meal sourced from esteemed local eateries in Fukuoka and Oita. Beats an airplane meal any day.
TIP: Wendy Wu Tours has a 22-day Japan by Rail tour taking in Kyushu, Honshu and Hokkaido.
6. Solo travellers flocking to rail travel
Do whatever you like, go where you want to go – no wonder solo travel is more popular than ever. It’s no secret that solo travel has been on the rise since the pandemic – Google searches for “solo travel” have quadrupled since 2020. Encounter Travel director and solo travel expert Justine Waddington says it’s a different landscape to when her agency launched in 2006. “Back then, the solo traveller was either not considered or not catered for by tour, cruise or rail companies,” she says.
Train travel could be the perfect mode of transport for those going it alone. On select lines, affordable single sleeping quarters are on offer, and in the entertainment and dining carts, you can socialise if desired.
WHAT’S NEXT: Encounter Travel is offering a Ghan Expedition Solo Group tour from Darwin to Adelaide in October. The group takes up a whole carriage on board Journey Beyond’s The Ghan, using 16 solo cabins. Included are immersive off-train excursions in Katherine, extended time in Alice Springs and a full day in Coober Pedy. The tour includes a pre-rail night in Darwin and post-journey stay in Adelaide.
TIP: Journey Beyond also offers Gold Single cabins on the Indian Pacific which journeys from Sydney to Perth (and vice versa). This train trip across the Nullarbor is perfect for solos wishing to have time out with a good book and an excellent view.
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Originally published as Rail travel boom: These new train trends are the hottest tickets of 2024
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