Those are the reasons why many tourists choose train routes to explore.
According to the travel news on the Canoe (Canada) website, there are at least eight dreamlike train routes waiting for tourists in 2013.
The Jacobite Railway (Scotland)
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| The Jacobite Railway passes through beautiful stretches of road - Photo: westcoastrailways.co.uk |
For fans of fantasy novelsHarry Potterby author K. Rowling, the route of The Jacobite train (also known as the Poudlard Express) will take them to the world ofHarry Potterwhile passing through some of the most beautiful Scottish Highland scenery used as the backdrop for these films.
The train travels along the long lochs along the valley floor of Scotland's stunning landscape before passing under the majestic Glenfinnan viaduct, often chosen as a setting for filmmakers... Many travel experts have not hesitated to call The Jacobite "The Greatest Railway Journey in the World".
The route passes through the highest mountain in England, the deepest lake in Europe, Loch Nevis, the shortest river, the Mallaig Road at Glenfinnan, home to some of the world's most beautiful fishing villages and silver beaches that have appeared in many movies...
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (India)
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| Darjeeling Himalayan Railway in India - Photo: Fotolia |
While railways in India are less popular with tourists due to their poor safety record and lack of amenities, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling in Bengal was honored when it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.
Since its first appearance in 1881, this steam train has carried millions of passengers over the rugged mountains of the Himalayas, across vast tea fields in a small size that the world often calls a "toy train".
The construction of this legendary steam train was considered a feat as it ran through seemingly impassable terrain. However, today visitors can no longer see steam locomotives as the 130-year-old train has gradually been replaced by diesel locomotives.
Machu Picchu Railway (Peru)
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| A stop on the Machu-Picchu train line in Peru - Photo: Fotolia |
Because of the considerable distances between regions in South America, trains are a popular means of transportation. Not to mention, the railways also pass through some of the most beautiful, heavenly landscapes, such as the shores of Lake Titicaca.
With the tourist train route connecting the ancient Inca city of Cuzco to the village of Aguas Calientes at the foot of Machu Picchu, despite the not-so-affordable ticket price, tourists still compete to buy it. The luxuriously designed tourist train on this route will take visitors through many unique attractions such as local villages, winding through the narrow Pomatales canyon, to the Sacred Valley of the Incas...
On this route, visitors also have the opportunity to admire the magical transformation of the diverse ecosystem in the area before reaching Machu Picchu.
Rocky Mountaineer Railway in western Canada
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| Rocky Mountaineer Railway in western Canada - Photo: cruisespecialists.com |
Through the glass windows of the Rocky Mountaineer tourist train, which takes passengers from Calgary to Vancouver, the entire magnificent landscape of the mountains from Alberta to British Columbia is captured in the eyes of tourists. Currently, the Rocky Mountaineer Railway Company has up to four routes to explore the wild beauty of the far west of Canada through the regions of British Columbia, Alberta Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, Calgary.
Visitors will admire the masterpieces of nature such as the proud shape of the high rocky mountains in the Canadian Rockies (North American mountain region in Canada), the picturesque towns in this region... In 2013, Rocky Mountaineer launched a new tourist railway called Coastal Passage, lasting three days, from Seattle to the Canadian Rockies.
Since its inception, the Rocky Mountaineer Tourist Railway has won "World's Leading Train Travel Experience" awards in 2005, 2006 and 2007, as recognized by Travel Magazine.National Geographicrecognized as a "world journey" in 2007...
The Trans-Siberian Railway through Russia, Mongolia and China
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| The Trans-Siberian Railway through Russia, Mongolia and China - Photo: Fotolia |
The 9,288km railway line runs from Moscow to Vladivostok. Visitors will not regret experiencing the interesting blend of East and West through more than 990 stations (the tourist train only stops at 50 stations).
On the Trans-Siberian route, from the typical forest landscapes of the land of birch trees to the cold deserts of Siberia appear through the train window before giving way to the endless steppes of Mongolia. And during this six-day journey on the train, visitors will have to remember the impression of walking along the length of the majestic Great Wall of China...
Route of the Orient Express (Italy)
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| The route the Orient-Express train takes in Italy - Photo: Fotolia |
According to many travelers, the Orient Express is truly a railway cruise ship, combining elegance and luxury. On the way from the "city of water" Venice in Italy to London, England, the train travels across Europe with stops in Vienna (Austria), Paris (France), Prague (Czech Republic) and Istanbul (Turkey).
Besides the five-star services, the poetic landscapes along this route will make visitors feel that the 31-hour train journey will become too short...
Coast Starlight Railroad (USA)
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| The Coast Starlight train on the Los Angeles and Seattle route in the US - Photo: posterlounge.co.uk |
Trains are a popular means of transport for those who love to explore the west coast of the United States. The Coast Starlight Railway, a 2,216km journey from Seattle to Los Angeles, passing through Washington, Oregon and California in 35 hours, is always a top choice.
The large windows allow visitors to freely admire the coastal landscape, the steep cliffs against the vast Pacific Ocean. Not only that, visitors also have the opportunity to take in spectacular views such as the snow-capped Cascade Range and Shasta Mountains reflecting brilliantly in the blue sky, the lush green forests, the fertile valleys stretching along the coastal road...
Stops in dozens of cities along the way will allow travelers to relax with short sightseeing tours before reaching the romantic beaches of Santa Monica.
The Old Patagonian Express (El Viejo Expreso Patagonico) in Argentina
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| The route the tourist train The Old Patagonian Express runs on - Photo: flick |
This historic railway line is locally called La Trochita (as for narrow gauge railway) and is now operated by the Patagonia Express Company for tourists. La Trochita train is famous for converging many rare things with many historical and cultural values.
The first rarity is that the train still runs on special steam locomotives from the early 1920s. But it is the train's unique 402km journey (starting from Ingeniero Jacobacci to Esquel) through the extraordinary landscapes at the foot of the Andes in the provinces of Chubut and Río Negro that attracts visitors from all over the world.
In 1999, the Argentine government declared La Trochita a national historical monument of Argentina.
DAN THY (According to Canoe)
