Alaska Railroad, Alaska, USA
The South Alaska to North Alaska Railroad runs nearly 500 miles through some of the most beautiful countryside between Anchorage and Denali. The road is occasionally flooded when the tides are over 3 feet. Travelers will see majestic snow-capped mountains, vast plains, and the occasional wildlife sighting, such as moose or bears.
Cumbres & Toltec Railroad, Colorado/New Mexico, USA
This 914 mm gauge railway connects Antonito, Colorado, with Chama, New Mexico. Built in 1881, it is one of the oldest railways in the US, with a length of 64 km, passing through many loops, tunnels, Cumbres Pass (the highest rail pass in the US, over 3,053 m) and Toltec Canyon in the southern Rocky Mountains.
Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway, Colorado, USA
This is the highest railway in North America, reaching an elevation of 4,302 m on Pikes Peak in Colorado. The railway has its base in Colorado, near Colorado Springs, and primarily takes passengers to Pikes Peak in the Rocky Mountains. Since 2006, the railway has operated six to eight trains a day during the peak season. On other occasions, it runs one to five trains, with the number of trains varying depending on demand. The line has been in operation since 1891 and is currently undergoing repairs before reopening in 2021.
Mount Washington Cog Railway, New Hampshire, USA
Opened in 1869, this 150-year-old railroad in New Hampshire takes passengers to an elevation of 6,200 feet on Mount Washington. At the highest point in the Northeast, passengers will see a colorful national forest and enjoy panoramic views of mountains and valleys from New Hampshire to Vermont. On clear days, travelers can see as far as Maine and Canada. Biofuel-powered trains still run on this railroad today.
Rocky Mountains Railway, Canada
Running from Toronto through Jasper and on to Vancouver, the Rocky Mountaineer was the first railway to reach western Canada, and is one of the most scenic train journeys in Canada, if not the world. Travelers will be treated to breathtaking views of the pristine waters of Fraser Canyon and the steep slopes along the Thompson River in luxury carriages, and overnight in the riverside city of Kamloops before continuing their journey through the stunning snow-capped peaks of the Rocky Mountains.
La Polvorilla Railway Bridge, Argentina
The arched bridge in Salta province is the world's highest railway bridge, connecting northwestern Argentina to the border with Chile, crossing the Andes Mountains at 4,182 m above sea level. Trains operating here carry oxygen tanks and medical staff to assist passengers with altitude sickness. This is one of the three highest railway lines in the world, also known as the "Train to the Clouds" railway. Completed in 1932, this railway bridge is known as the most beautiful railway in South America. Initially, this railway was built for economic purposes, but now it is open only to serve tourists.
Abra la Raya Railway, Peru
The Puno-Cusco train passes Abra la Raya, the second highest peak in the world at 4,350 m. Here, visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of the Andes and explore the local market. Another attraction on the train line is the world's highest navigable lake, Lake Titicaca.
Aguas Calientes Railway, Urubamba Province, Peru
No trip to Peru is complete without a visit to Machu Picchu, the site of Peru’s ancient Inca civilization located 2,360 meters above sea level in the Urubamba River Valley of the Andes Mountains. Visitors to Peru can enjoy a trip aboard the Aguas Calientes train to this popular tourist destination.
Serra Verde Express Train, Curitiba, Brazil
With its luxurious interior, this express train takes you through the beautiful and varied landscapes of Curitiba province. It is one of the most popular journeys for tourists in Brazil. Every year, this train carries around 150,000 tourists from Paranaguá to Curitiba and back.
Nariz del Diablo Railway, Guayaquil & Quito Railway, Ecuador
The Nariz del Diablo railway is literally called “Devil’s Nose” for a reason. Often described as one of the scariest railways in the world, the Guayaquil & Quito railway has two sharp hairpin turns at Nariz del Diablo, giving travelers a roller coaster-like experience. The 2,750-meter-high crossing over the Andes is enough to make the journey terrifying, so much so that passengers are no longer allowed to climb onto the roof of the train to fully enjoy the views.
Ribblehead Railway Bridge, North Yorkshire, England
Built to connect the Midlands and Scotland, the Settle-Carlisle Railway passes through some of the most beautiful wilderness in Britain, with more than a third of the route passing through the Yorkshire Dales National Park, offering visitors a glimpse of rolling hills, lush green valleys and stone-built warehouses dotted around the highlands. Standing 31 metres high and 400 metres long over moorland, the Ribblehead Viaduct forms part of the picturesque Settle-Carlisle Railway. Situated between the Three Peaks, on the border of Cumbria and Yorkshire, the bridge was built in 1874. The Ribblehead Viaduct consists of 24 stone arches, crossing three Yorkshire peaks: Ingleborough, Whernside and Pen-y-ghent. The views are stunning at sunset. Even when it rains, the scenery is still amazingly beautiful, and the rain seems to make the wild yet majestic natural scenery even more charming.
Snowdon Mountain Railway, Wales
If hiking to the top of Wales’ highest mountain is too taxing, let the Snowdonia train do it for you. Departing from Llanberis station, the train has been carrying passengers to the summit of Snowdon since 1896 using a narrow gauge, rack and pinion mechanism. The train stops for about 30 minutes to allow passengers to take in the breathtaking, sweeping views of the surrounding landscape, with mountains and lakes stretching out before them from 1,085 m above sea level. And don’t forget to enjoy a sweet cup of coffee right at the top of the mountain!
Rhaetian Railway, Valposchiavo, Switzerland
The Bernina Express scenic train runs on the Trans-Alpine Railway from the oldest village of Chur in Switzerland to the charming town of Tirano in Italy. Part of this route has been recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site. The Bernina Express passes through many beautiful scenic spots such as the Brusio spiral viaduct, which is 110 m long, has a horizontal radius of 70 m, and a vertical gradient of 70%, and is considered the most spectacular structure on the Bernina high-speed railway.
Zermatt - Gornergrat Railway, Switzerland
Connecting the two resorts of St. Moritz and Zermatt in the Swiss Alps, the Glacier Express takes you on a 33-minute journey through the high peaks of Switzerland. This railway passes through 291 bridges and 91 tunnels. Passengers will have an unforgettable experience when participating in the journey to explore the railway, including the opportunity to admire the beauty of the famous Matterhorn peak.
Diakofto - Kalavrita Odontotos Railway, Greece
The Odontotos Railway is one of the most unique routes in the Balkans. It is the narrowest railway in Europe with a width of only 75 cm, the trail winds along the gorge and the Vouraikos River, through dense forests and countless narrow tunnels carved in stone and crosses a total of 49 bridges. Along the way, you will admire the amazing cave systems and impressive stalagmites. Besides, the ecosystem here is also very rich, you will have the opportunity to see bats, frogs, golden eagles, kangaroos, freshwater turtles... right on the slopes of Helmos mountain or many colorful butterflies flying on wildflowers. Opened in 1891, the Diakofto - Kalavrita section of this railway was originally for steam trains and today is replaced by electric - diesel trains. Passengers on the train will have the opportunity to admire the majestic mountain ranges to the picturesque village of Kalavrita.
Trans-Siberian Railway, Russia
If you want to explore the world by train, you cannot miss the Trans-Siberian Railway, known as the longest railway line in the world, crossing the Eurasian continent with a length of nearly 9,289 km. The railway will take you on a journey across Russia, with many opportunities to observe the spectacular natural scenery of the birch country from Moscow to Vladivostok in the Far East.
Victoria Falls Bridge, Zambia/Zimbabwe
Spanning Victoria Falls on the Zambesi River, this bridge has been a popular viewing spot since 1905. Passengers will have the opportunity to see the African wilderness through game reserves in Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Kandy - Ella Railway, Sri Lanka
The list of the most beautiful railways in the world cannot fail to mention the Kandy - Ella, Sri Lanka. The journey of this train will last about 6 hours and pass through extremely beautiful and peaceful towns and villages. With tropical forests surrounding on both sides, this is considered one of the most scenic railways in the world. Besides, visitors will be able to see the green tea hills of Sri Lanka like the scene in the movie.
"Train Street", Hanoi, Vietnam
Called by tourists"train street", the railway section running through Hanoi's Old Quarter is part of the 1,600 km long Reunification train from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. Since 2014, the British newspaper Daily Mail has published a series of impressive photos of train lines running through densely populated areas in Hanoi. After that, the famous Natgeo Travel website suggested that tourists to Hanoi "enjoy a cup of egg coffee, chat with friends and feel "clearly" the noise when the train passes through small villages".
Considered "one of the most dangerous railway lines in the world", posing many dangers to both residents and tourists, the "train street" has beenclose the doorfrom October 2019.
Hue - Da Nang Railway, Vietnam
Located between the Truong Son mountain range and the East Sea, this railway is the most difficult section of the North-South railway but is also a fascinating railway, with breathtaking scenery such as Lang Co beach or Hai Van pass. The Hue - Da Nang railway runs on the mountainside, through 18 bridges and 6 tunnels, of which the shortest tunnel is 85 m, the longest tunnel is 600 m, with a steep slope, many winding bends with a small radius. On this railway, visitors can admire the majestic natural scenery. From the train, you can see the steep cliffs in the West and the East Sea right below; from the train window, you can see the whole train winding along the mountainside. There are sections where the train runs close to the sea, passengers on the train can see the sea right below...
Even though the road now has the Hai Van tunnel through the mountain, many people still choose to take the train to enjoy the amazing scenery of Hai Van Pass, the intersection between the North and South, a place known as "The most majestic pass in the world".
