Tuesday, August 20, 2024 Luxury train travel is experiencing a renaissance, offering travelers a relaxing, scenic, and sustainable alternative to flying. Iconic routes like the Eurostar between Great Britain and Europe, and Japan’s Shinkansen, are just a few examples of how trains are becoming more than just a mode of transportation—they are turning into destinations in their own right. In an era where life often feels fast-paced and overwhelming, the slow, immersive experience of luxury train travel has never been more appealing.
Around the world, legendary train journeys top bucket lists. The Rocky Mountaineer, for instance, takes passengers through breathtaking landscapes from Banff to Vancouver and across the canyon country of the U.S.
The Ghan offers a stunning traverse across Australia, and the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE), perhaps the most famous of all, continues to enchant travelers. Under the stewardship of LVMH-owned Belmond, the VSOE is continually evolving. In 2025, it will debut l’Observatoire, a luxurious sleeper carriage designed by French artist JR, featuring a bedroom, ensuite, lounge area, library, and even a secret tea room with a fireplace.
Luxury hospitality brands are also betting big on the revival of train travel. Accor, known for its Raffles and Fairmont properties, is launching its own Orient Express collection next year. This venture includes a portfolio of trains, hotels, and sailing ships designed to bring the spirit of the original Orient Express into the 21st century.
These luxury trains are more than just hotels on wheels. They offer unique, unforgettable experiences that go beyond mere transportation. According to Jamsheed Pocha, co-founder of The Pelican Club, a bespoke travel and lifestyle planning membership, luxury train travel is about slowing down and immersing oneself in the journey.
It’s about enjoying the process of travel rather than just rushing to the destination. The charm of these trains lies in their old-world interiors and the spectacular views outside the windows. The British Pullman, with a carriage designed by filmmaker Wes Anderson, and the VSOE, which was recently chartered by Jean Paul Gaultier for a fragrance campaign, are prime examples of how these trains have become coveted locations for high-end events and social media moments.
To enhance the travel experience, many luxury trains are introducing exclusive onboard partnerships in the realms of cuisine, wine, and even beauty. The Andean Explorer, another Belmond train, became South America’s first luxury sleeper train in 2017, offering routes through parts of Peru not accessible by car or plane. Recently, chef Jorge Muñoz introduced regionally inspired menus aboard the train, while a partnership with Veuve Clicquot brings Champagne tastings guided by their cellar master.
In Asia, Belmond’s Dior Spa Eastern & Oriental Express offers travelers a unique experience with two treatment cabins designed with the iconic Toile de Jouy motif, where passengers can enjoy Malayan-inspired massages while taking in the passing scenery. This trend of transforming train travel into an immersive luxury experience is creating a new kind of holiday, where the journey itself is the destination. For luxury travel expert Jamsheed Pocha, nothing compares to the experience aboard the VSOE, which he describes as a once-in-a-lifetime, bucket-list trip.
Whether it’s for the stunning views, the lavish accommodations, or the unique onboard experiences, luxury train travel is redefining what it means to travel in style..
