| Do the locomotion
Train travel just gets better and better. The usual suspects still charm us with tradition and history and the new, space age trains choof us into another dimension. Compiled by Bev Malzard Following are a few rail trips that smack of adventure, romance and history. It's a great way to travel – sit back and chug along, through the countryside without the worry of traffic, bad weather, or the fear of stopping at roadside cafes for terrible food. Doing the locomotion these days is accessorised with linen napkins, gourmet meals, down pillows and crisp bed linen and not a speck of soot on the horizon. All aboard now… King of Fjords Rail
A classic rail trip offered in Scandinavia is 'Norway King of Fjords' Rail Tour, which encompasses glorious glaciers, thundering waterfalls, deep, rich valleys, as well as the stunning Norwegian fjords which will mesmerise the most discerning traveller. The five-day train tour travels from Oslo to Mydal for a ride on the spectacular Flam Railway where for two hours you zigzag upward passing snow-covered mountains, look down into valleys and chug past waterfalls. After this train trip you'll cruise the famed Sognefjord and then on to the massive Fjaerland Glacier via one of the most beautiful fjords in Norway. Next day on to Bergen to board the train to cross the countryside of Norway to Oslo. The mighty Ghan
The Ghan begins its journey at the bottom of the Australian continent, points north and choofs all the way up the centre of the country to the top end city of Darwin – it runs between Adelaide, Alice Springs in the Red Centre to Darwin. Operated by Great Southern Railway, the journey takes 48 hours to travel the 2979km. The service's name is an abbreviated version of its previous nickname The Afghan Express, which comes from, and is in honour of, the Afghan camel trains that trekked the same route before the advent of the railway. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
The little blue and red Darjeeling Himalayan steam train climbs over 2000 metres into the mountains after leaving Siliguri at the foot of the Himalayas and peaks at Ghum to reach Darjeeling at 2200 metres above sea level.
In 1881, the Eastern Bengal Railway Company opened a treacherous, crazy trail of loops and steep gradients. It was gradually improved and is now owned by the Indian Railway Company, but it's still the most thrilling, history-infused steam train ride you could experience.
It was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 1999 and now only carries passengers. You ride over gorges, beneath ancient steel bridges, view mountain panoramas, forests, towering rock faces and terraces of tea plantations. Rovos Rail
In the wood-panelled, gleaming five-star luxury of a more gentle era, Rovos Rail traverses half the length of Africa, from Dar es Salaam in the east across to central Zambia, Zimbabwe and down to Swaziland, Lesotho, Johannesburg and all of South Africa's major cities, branching up again and west into Namibia. This experience is one of the best ways of viewing the amazing country of Africa. These trains have large suites, some with full-size bathrooms. It's luxury all the way inside the train and an epic wilderness to discover outside the windows. The Sunlander
Taking the train from Brisbane to Cairns in Queensland is a mighty fine way to see the countryside. An overnighter with meals that have you lining up early – think afternoon tea with fresh scones – think hot and cold seafood platter, with the seafood delivered straight to the train in Townsville! This coastal journey is one to kick-start a mammoth journey through Queensland – offering a splendid preview of the beauty of the coastal district while sitting in comfort. The Rocky Mountaineer
One of the most beautiful train routes in the world is travelled with the Rocky Mountaineer in Canada. This beautiful experience starts in Vancouver and gives travellers extraordinary sights of magnificent mountains, forests, craggy valleys and serene lakes as it moves from Vancouver to Banff. Or take the Fraser Discovery Route – from Whistler in British Columbia to Jasper National Park, Alberta. The 'Rocky' is one of the most popular trains for Australians to travel on – and why not, with great views, food, service and the thrill of being so close to the mountains. Visit: http://www.rockymountaineer.com Trans-Siberian Railway
The name alone evokes steaming samovars, adventure, revolution, romance and noire ambience. The Trans-Siberian rail system is the world's longest and in addition to the basic stop-start trip, a number of operators now offer a multitude of tailored trips – from the original Trans-Siberian to the Dr
Zhivago. The trips vary from a few days' jaunt to an epic, month-long voyage, or from a restful sightseeing tour to a full-blown expedition. Moscow to Beijing in the right season can include the Ural Mountains, snowmobile rides, scuba diving (true!), the Gobi Desert, the Great Wall of China and the Harbin Ice Festival. And there's… The Hiram Bingham to Machu Picchu in Peru; The legendary Blue Train travelling between Pretoria and Cape Town (and vice versa); The Train to the End of the World, in Tierra del Fuego; The Royal Hungarian Express, built for an emperor and his wife; The Orient-Express for romance, adventure and mystery, Europe; the West Coast Wilderness Rail, Tasmania; The William Tell Express, Switzerland; The Copper Canyon Railway, Mexico; the Bluebell Railway, Crawley UK, the futuristic Bullet trains of Japan. The list goes on and on. You don't have to be a rail buff to appreciate the charm of train travel, just someone who has a sense of history, and is willing to go that extra mile for an experience!
For fun, Google 'Great Train Journeys of the World'. Great Train Journeys of the World is a post from: Traveling China
from Traveling China http://www.chinaya.org |
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