Travelling A-Class

These aren’t just train journeys that take you from point A to B. They are an experience in themselves. With these trains, not only will you travel through some of the most spectacular scenery of the world, you will do that in the lap of decadence, with butlers, private bell service and Champagne in tow.

- Aparajita Mukherjee

In the modern world of aviation, trains can seem a bit of a superfluous way to travel, and yet, if you have time on your side, then what better way to make your journey than let the world slip by, while you sit ensconced in your private corner. And if that argument is not convincing enough, then this list of the World’s Greatest Rail Journeys will definitely make you change your mind. Trains such as the Orient Express, Palace on Wheels, and the Trans-Siberian are old-timers on the list of The world’s most luxurious trains, and appeal to lovers of nostalgia. These trains continue to define “travelling A-class” with meticulous attention to hospitality, silver service in dining cars, and old-school sophistication, while you gorge on rolling landscapes. Other inclusions in the list, such as South Africa’s Rovos Rail, Japan’s Kyushu Seven Stars and Ireland’s Grand Hibernian are newer entrants, and while they break new grounds with inventive décor, they reenact the legendary service of their peers. “I have seldom heard a train go by and not wished I was on it,” says the great travel writer, Paul Theroux. These luxury trains will put you in this frame of mind forever....Take a look.

ROVOS RAIL, SOUTH AFRICA

Love watching wild beasts in their natural habitats but not the risk that comes with it? Jump on to the Rovos Rail’s ‘Pride of Africa,’ a locomotive that harks back to the golden era of steam engines, and runs through some of the most densely populated game reserves as well as spectacular southern African scenery.

-Jump on to Rovos Rail’s ‘Pride of Africa,’ that harks back to the golden era of steam engines and runs through densely populated game reserves.