Tourist Railways
While a standard train gets you to work, a tourist railway gets you inspired. These lines are curated specifically for the view outside the window and the experience inside the carriage. From soaring mountain passes to lush coastal tracks, tourist railways turn the journey into the main event.
Unlike heritage railways, which focus strictly on historical preservation, tourist railways are designed for spectacle and comfort. They often utilize modern technology to showcase nature’s most inaccessible wonders.
Panoramic Views: Many lines feature "observation cars" with floor-to-ceiling windows or open-air carriages for unobstructed photography.
Narrated Journeys: Learn about the local folklore, geology, and wildlife through onboard commentary or digital guides.
Access to the Inaccessible: These tracks often wind through national parks, canyons, and peaks where cars simply cannot go.
Europe
Switzerland (The Gold Standard)
Glacier Express / Known as the "Slowest Express Train in the World," connecting Zermatt and St. Moritz. / www.glacierexpress.ch
Bernina Express / Crosses the Alps from Chur to Tirano (Italy) via the Landwasser Viaduct. / www.rhb.ch
GoldenPass Express / Runs between Montreux and Interlaken; famous for its "Prestige Class" and lake views. / www.gpx.swiss
Gotthard Panorama Express / A unique combination of a boat trip and a panoramic train ride. / www.sbb.ch
United Kingdom
The Jacobite Steam Train / Scotland / The "Harry Potter train" that crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct. / www.westcoastrailways.co.uk
Settle-Carlisle Railway / England / England's most scenic line, featuring the massive Ribblehead Viaduct. / www.settle-carlisle.co.uk
Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways / Wales / Historic narrow-gauge steam through Snowdonia National Park. / www.festrail.co.uk
Northern Europe
The Flåm Railway / Norway / One of the steepest standard-gauge railways in the world, descending to the Sognefjord. / www.norwaysbest.com
The Rauma Line / Norway / Runs between Dombås and Åndalsnes; famous for its "Trollveggen" mountain views. / www.sj.no
Inlandsbanan / Sweden / An 800-mile journey through the wild heart of Sweden. / www.inlandsbanan.se
Southern & Central Europe
Le Petit Train Jaune / France / An open-air tourist train in the French Pyrenees. / www.letrainjaune.fr
El Transcantábrico / Spain / A luxury tourist train exploring the "Green Spain" northern coast. / www.renfe.com
Belgrade to Bar Railway / Serbia-Montenegro / Famous for the Mala Rijeka Viaduct, one of the world's highest bridges. / www.srbvoz.rs (Serbia) or www.zcg-prevoz.me (Montenegro)
Semmering Railway / Austria / A UNESCO World Heritage site and a masterpiece of mountain engineering. / www.oebb.at