The world of luxury train travel indeed is undergoing something of a golden age, beguiling sophisticated travelers from around the world. Luxury trains were once an antiquated mode of transit, but now they’ve become the shorthand symbol for lavish travel at a relaxed pace. As demand rises, operators like Belmond, Rocky Mountaineer and Glacier Express are changing the way we consider travel. The trains make for a unique way to explore some of the most beautiful corners of the world, allowing passengers a choice of private cabins, Michelin-starred meals and stunning views — but without the pressure that comes with modern travel.

Nations around the globe have caught onto the luxury train bandwagon, providing some of the most upscale travel experiences on earth. Specifically, countries such as Switzerland, the UK, Italy, Canada, and Peru has become leaders of the most developed services offered to train-riders. So let’s go into more details about these end points and the countries making waves in the future of luxury train travel.

The Best Luxury Train Amenities By Country

Switzerland: The Ultimate Destination for Luxury Train Travel

Switzerland has a long history of luxury train travel, and some of the world’s most famous luxury trains glide through the country’s stunning scenery. The most famous of them is likely the Glacier Express, which allows riders to take in panoramic vistas of the Swiss Alps. Travelling from Zermatt to St Moritz, the 8-hour journey includes a handful of secluded destination stops, ensuring passengers enjoy a truly exclusive and serene experience.

Switzerland’s luxury trains also are renowned for their dedicated customer service, which means gourmet dining that could contain local Swiss fare, such as barley soup, Graubünden dried beef and mountain cheeses. The Glacier Express and other Swiss trains are based in a dense infrastructure that spans the country and is an example of a well-regulated, well-comaintained public rail system helping to make Switzerland one of the top destinations for combining comfort with natural beauty.

UK: The Old World Elegance and History!

Some of the world’s most famous luxury train experiences run in the United Kingdom. Belmond Royal Scotsman, which ferries travelers through the Scottish Highlands, is celebrated for its classic, polished service and luxurious quarters. It features views of Scotland’s castles, whisky distilleries and rolling hills combined with private cabins, Michelin-starred dining and exclusive excursions.

And for day trips from London to historic sites such as the Canterbury Cathedral and Oxford, the Belmond British Pullman, which rolls with heritage plus service and luxurious accommodations. These trains have become synonymous with British luxury with which to explore the UK’s stunning countryside.

Italy: Finding Romance on Classic and Unlikely Itineraries

Italy has its own niche in the luxury train market, including the La Dolce Vita Orient Express, which will offer luxury road travel through Italy’s most appealing destinations, from the Amalfi Coast to the vineyards of Tuscany. The train offers exclusive cabins, luxury suites, and world-class dining, all with stunning views of Italy’s famous hills, beaches, and historic towns.

Budding Venetians: If you’re seeking a little bit of Venice, the Venetian ‘Orient Express’ is an incredible trip from Venice to Florence and beyond. If you know anything about fine dining, the best wines and the beauty of traditional Italy, then you can not but love Italy’s luxury train services!

Canada: The Wild Wonder of the Rocky Mountaineer

Here in Canada we have some of the most incredible landscapes on the planet and the Rocky Mountaineer lets you experience it the perfect way it should be done. On journeys through the Canadian Rockies, such as the famous First Passage to the West from Vancouver to Banff, the Rocky Mountaineer treats customers to a luxurious trip through awe-inspiring mountains, forests and barren wilds.

With its panoramic windows, gourmet dining, and personalized service this train makes for an immersion among both nature and luxury. The Rocky Mountaineer travels during the day with hotel stays overnight so that the stunning scenery can be enjoyed without the cover of night, it is a firm favourite of those seeking to view Canada’s scenic landscape in style.

Peru: Luxury Train Trip Through the Wonders of Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu For many, a trip to Peru without visiting the classic Machu Picchu is considered incomplete, and now there’s a more glamorous way to explore the journey to this ancient Incan city. A luxurious 4-hour experience from Cusco to Machu Picchu aboard the Belmond Hiram Bingham includes fine dining, Peruvian entertainment and stunning views of the Andes in Peru.

The train is equipped with fine dining, live music, and nothing but the best service, so that you can take all of the beauty Peru has to offer in style. For culture vultures this luxury trip is a unique way to see one of the globe’s most iconic sites.

Nationalities Behind the Luxury Train Boom

Luxury train adventures are popular with travelers around the globe, but different nationalities appear to have a particular fondness for these deluxe experiences. The popularity of luxury train travel has been largely pushed by wealthy travelers from the following countries:

United States

Luxury rail travel Travelers from the United States are among the most keen on luxury rail vacation, especially passengers in search of rarified off-the-beaten-path experiences. Growing numbers of American travelers looking to book a luxury train trip either in Europe or Canada has done much to help players like Belmond and Rocky Mountaineer raise their profiles.

United Kingdom

In spite of the UK’s excellent legacy of rail journeys, Britons are instinctively curious about a certain type of luxury travel experience on the rails, both in the UK and overseas. Photo: Venetian Orient Express The luxurious atmosphere of the Royal Scotsman and the Venetian Orient Express fits seamlessly with British traditions of history, tradition and top quality service.

Germany

Germans are also avid travelers, tapping into luxury trains as a way to see new landscapes at the high level of comfort and amenities they are accustomed to. Germany’s taste for exclusive rail travel is reflected in the popularity of services such as La Dolce Vita Orient Express in Italy and other European train routes.

China

With a burgeoning middle class and rising travel interest in luxury tourism, more and more Chinese are taking luxury train journeys, particularly those with a scenic or culturally instructive experience. China’s prosperity has meant increasing demand for destinations such as Machu Picchu in Peru and the Rocky Mountaineer in Canada.

Australia

Australians, who pride themselves on enjoying travel and adventure, have also latched onto the luxury train fad, booking on extended journeys such as the Ghan in Australia or international luxury lines through Europe. Their love of comfortable travel and new adventures is driving them to luxury rail journeys around the world.

The Impact on Tourism

The crave for luxury train travel is influenced tourism in countries which provide the upper crustal of its kind services. Nations such as Switzerland, Italy, Canada, and Peru are all benefiting from opulent rail travel as luxury trains add extra revenue, not to mention buzz, to destinations with high-net-worth visitors. These rail operations are not only huge tourist draws, but greatly benefit the businesses that accompany the trains such as nearby hotels, eateries and tour providers.

Luxury train journeys also support the development of sustainable travel. A lot of these trains run through inaccessible and eco-sensitive destinations and help tourists reduce their carbon footprint while offering an opportunity to experience nature and its beauty.

Luxury trains are also increasingly essential elements of luxury tourism itineraries — and fill up months, if not more than a year, ahead of time. A perfect combination of comfort, culture and adventure. These trains have become a point of reference in the international luxury tourism field.

Conclusion: Travel’s New Reality

Luxury train travel is increasingly seen as an emblem of elegance, a place where travelers can slow down, take in nature and immerse themselves in fine service en route. With destinations including Switzerland, Italy, Canada, Peru and the United Kingdom at the forefront of providing outstanding facilities, luxury rail transportation is becoming increasingly popular among high-end passengers. For the few who are looking for something different – something unforgettable, opulent, and exclusive – these high-end train experiences are leading the way into a new era of travel and tourism.