Why Travel Experts Are Ditching Jet Fuel for Steel Rails
I stepped off the train platform in Tirano, Italy, with the scent of woodsmoke and freshly ground espresso clinging to my wool coat. My ears were still ringing with the metallic click-clack of steel wheels rolling down iron rails. For the previous four hours, I hadn't looked at a phone screen, worried about overhead bin space, or swallowed a dry, foil-wrapped airplane meal. Instead, I had leaned out an open carriage window, feeling glacier-chilled air cut across my face as we crossed a stone viaduct suspended over a deep valley.
Flying gets you to a place; train travel introduces you to it. Air travel strips away the context of geography, turning rugged mountain ranges and cascading river valleys into flat, gray shapes thousands of feet below.
Rail travel, by contrast, gives you a front-row seat to the planet's rough edges. Across the travel industry, seasoned writers, photographers, and transit strategists are shifting away from short-haul flights. They are choosing high-altitude, slow-paced rail lines that offer unmatched views, locally sourced meals, and an immersive look at the landscape.
If you want to trade airport security queues for panoramic glass domes and steep alpine passes, here are the train journeys that beat flying every single time.
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1. The Bernina Express: From Swiss Glaciers to Italian Palms
``` Route: Chur, Switzerland to Poschiavo / Tirano, Italy Distance: 122 km (76 miles) | Duration: 4 hours 15 minutes ```
The Experience
The Bernina Express does not just cross the Alps; it scales them without using a cogwheel system. Rising to 2,253 meters (7,391 feet) above sea level at the Ospizio Bernina, this UNESCO World Heritage route links northern and southern Europe through dramatic changes in terrain.
You begin among the pine forests and stone villages of eastern Switzerland, pass blue glacial lakes, and wind down to the sunlit, tile-roofed towns of northern Italy. The train maneuvers through 55 tunnels and crosses 196 bridges, including the Landwasser Viaduct—a curved, six-arched masonry structure that drops directly into a sheer rock cliff.
Insider Sensory Details
As the train curves around the circular Brusio Spiral Viaduct, you can hear the low squeal of iron wheels against the track. The scent shifts within an hour: cold, crisp ozone and alpine larch give way to warm breezes carrying the smell of chestnut trees and stone-baked pizza dough in Tirano.
Pro-Tips for the Track
- Seating Strategy: Sit on the right side of the train when traveling south from Chur to Tirano. This gives you the best view down into the Zügen Gorge and an unobstructed look at the Landwasser Viaduct.
- The Glare Hack: The official panoramic cars feature huge curved windows, but they create glare on camera lenses. Instead, book a ticket on the regional train attached to the same line. These cars feature drop-down windows that let you snap clear, glare-free photos of the passing peaks.
- Culinary Pause: Order a slate board of Bündnerfleisch (air-dried beef) and a glass of local Pinot Noir from the onboard bistro car while passing through the Albula Tunnel.
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2. The West Highland Line: Scotland’s Wild Atlantic Frontier
``` Route: Glasgow to Mallaig, Scotland Distance: 264 km (164 miles) | Duration: 5 hours 15 minutes ```
The Experience
Skip the short flight from London to the Scottish Highlands. The West Highland Line takes you straight through Britain's largest area of untouched wilderness. Leaving Glasgow’s urban landscape behind, the train tracks trace the edge of Loch Lomond before climbing onto the open expanse of Rannoch Moor—a high plateau of peat bogs, granite boulders, and dark lochs where no roads exist for miles.
Insider Sensory Details
Rain rolls across the windows in heavy waves, turning the moss-covered mountainsides a brilliant green. The train smells faintly of damp wool, wet oak, and diesel soot. As the train crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct, look out for herds of red deer running across the heather-covered hillsides below.
Pro-Tips for the Track
- The Budget Move: Skip the expensive, tourist-heavy Jacobite Steam Train. Book the standard ScotRail service instead. It runs on the exact same tracks, crosses the same viaduct, offers larger windows, and costs a fraction of the price.
- Seating Strategy: Sit on the left side leaving Glasgow to enjoy views of Loch Lomond. Switch to the right side after Fort William to look down over Loch Eilt and get the classic view of the Glenfinnan Monument.
- Local Pitstop: Book a ticket that lets you hop off at Corrour Station—the highest, most isolated railway station in the UK. Have a warm bowl of venison stew at the station restaurant before catching the evening train to Mallaig.
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3. The Rocky Mountaineer: First Passage to the West
``` Route: Banff / Lake Louise to Vancouver, Canada Distance: ~900 km (559 miles) | Duration: 2 days (Daylight travel only) ```
The Experience
Flying across Western Canada shows you little more than a flat white sea of cloud cover. The Rocky Mountaineer cuts directly through the heart of the Canadian Rockies, following river canyons and historical railway passes forged by 19th-century engineers.
Because the train runs exclusively during daylight hours—stopping overnight in Kamloops so passengers do not miss any scenery—you catch every detail of the terrain, from snow-capped peaks to raging river gorges.
Insider Sensory Details
In the open-air vestibule between carriages, you can feel the cool spray of the Kicking Horse River and smell the sharp scent of Douglas fir trees crushed by the breeze. Inside, white-gloved hosts serve hot, flaky croissants, followed by slow-roasted Alberta prime rib paired with British Columbia VQA wines.
Pro-Tips for the Track
- GoldLeaf vs. SilverLeaf: Upgrade to GoldLeaf Service. The bi-level glass-domed coaches offer full panoramic views overhead, which are essential for looking up at towering rock faces like Castle Mountain.
- Best Season: Travel in mid-September. The golden larch trees turn a bright yellow across the pass, salmon run in the rivers below, and hungry grizzly bears often come down to the water’s edge to feed.
- Hidden Engineering Feat: Keep your eyes peeled at the Spiral Tunnels. You can watch the front of your own train emerge from a mountain tunnel directly above the rear carriages entering below.
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4. The TranzAlpine: Crossing New Zealand’s Southern Alps
``` Route: Christchurch to Greymouth, New Zealand Distance: 223 km (138 miles) | Duration: 4 hours 30 minutes ```
The Experience
New Zealand’s South Island features some of the most varied terrain on the planet, and the TranzAlpine covers it all in under five hours. Starting from the flat, green Canterbury Plains, the train rises along the canyon walls carved out by the Waimakariri River, crosses high steel viaducts, dives through the 8.5-kilometer Otira Tunnel, and drops down into the rainforests of the West Coast.
Insider Sensory Details
The air turns noticeably cooler as you enter Arthur’s Pass. Out on the open-air viewing carriage, you are hit with the sound of rushing alpine rivers and the call of native kea parrots soaring overhead. The landscape shifts quickly from dry gold grass to dark green beech forests covered in moss.
Pro-Tips for the Track
- The Open-Air Strategy: Head straight to the open-air viewing car as soon as the train approaches the Waimakariri Gorge. The lack of glass gives you clean, sharp camera shots of the turquoise river water below.
- Weather Realism: Do not worry if the forecast calls for rain on the West Coast. The rain creates hundreds of temporary, roaring waterfalls along the rock faces near Otira.
- Greymouth Fuel: Once you arrive in Greymouth, walk ten minutes to the historic Monteith’s Brewing Co. to taste a glass of dark ale before taking the return train or picking up a rental car.
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5. The Flåm Railway (Flåmsbana): Norway’s Vertical Marvel
``` Route: Myrdal to Flåm, Norway Distance: 20 km (12.4 miles) | Duration: 1 hour ```
The Experience
While short, the Flåmsbana is one of the steepest standard-gauge railway lines in the world. Running on a 1:18 gradient, the train descends 863 meters from the high mountain junction at Myrdal down to the edge of the Aurlandsfjord. It crawls down narrow mountain ledges, loops through 20 tunnels, and passes rushing waterfalls tumbling down sheer rock walls.
Insider Sensory Details
The train moves slowly, letting you hear the roar of the Kjosfossen waterfall long before you pull up beside it. The spray reaches the open carriage windows, filling the train car with cold mist and the fresh smell of mountain water and wet pine needles.
Pro-Tips for the Track
- The Connection Strategy: Take the main Bergensbanen line from Oslo to Bergen, get off at Myrdal, and switch to the Flåmsbana. This gives you a seamless cross-country trip across Norway's highest mountain plateau.
- Seating Strategy: Sit on the right side heading down from Myrdal to Flåm for the best early views of the valley floor and historic wooden churches.
- The Zipline Combo: Get off at Vatnahalsen station (one stop before Flåm) and take the Scandinavia region's longest zipline down into the valley. You can pick up your luggage down at the fjord base later in the afternoon.
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6. The Belmond Hiram Bingham: High-Altitude Luxury to Machu Picchu
``` Route: Poroy (Cusco) to Aguas Calientes, Peru Distance: 92 km (57 miles) | Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes ```
The Experience
Flying over the Peruvian Andes strips away the dramatic change in elevation and ecology that makes approaching the Sacred Valley so special. The Belmond Hiram Bingham—styled after 1920s Pullman carriages with polished wood and brass accents—winds through the valley alongside the churning, yellow-green waters of the Urubamba River.
As you travel, the landscape shifts from dry, high-altitude Andean plains to dense, orchid-filled cloud forests at the foot of Machu Picchu.
Insider Sensory Details
The air inside smells of warm mahogany polish, fresh mint, and citrus peel. Guests gather in the observation car to drink Pisco Sours made with local pisco, fresh key lime juice, and egg whites, accompanied by live Andean musicians playing charangos and pan flutes.
Pro-Tips for the Track
- Avoiding Altitude Sickness: Take the train directly down into the Sacred Valley upon landing at Cusco airport. Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes sit thousands of feet lower than Cusco, making it much easier to acclimatize while watching the scenery pass by your table.
- The Departure Point: Book your departure from Ollantaytambo Station instead of Poroy during the rainy season (November to April). This cuts out two hours of slow, winding bus traffic through the mountain passes outside Cusco.
- What to Eat: Save room for the four-course gourmet lunch. The kitchen serves trout caught fresh from local rivers, paired with native Andean potatoes and local cocoa desserts.
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7. The Eastern & Oriental Express: Southeast Asia’s Jungle Rail
``` Route: Singapore to Penang and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Distance: ~1,000 km (621 miles) | Duration: 3 Nights / 4 Days ```
The Experience
Flights between Singapore and Malaysia are brief, dark, and miss the region's landscape entirely. The recently restored Eastern & Oriental Express moves through the core of the Malay Peninsula. It carries passengers through dense, ancient rainforests, limestone karst hills, rubber plantations, and coastal towns, offering an unhurried look at Southeast Asia's countryside.
Insider Sensory Details
The teak-paneled corridors smell of lemongrass, sandalwood, and fresh orchids. Standing on the rear teak observation deck at dusk, you feel the warm, humid tropical air and hear the loud drone of cicadas echoing out from the jungle canopy as the train cuts through the trees.
Pro-Tips for the Track
- The Wardrobe Rule: Pack a lightweight linen outfit for daytime sightseeing on the observation deck, but bring formal dinner wear. The evening dress code is strict, adding to the classic atmosphere of the dining car.
- Excursion Selection: Choose the Taman Negara National Park excursion. You will ride deep into one of the world's oldest rainforests with local park rangers before reboarding the train for afternoon tea.
- Timing the Sunset: Head to the open observation car at 5:30 PM sharp. Watch the sun dip down behind the palm oil plantations and limestone peaks while drinking a cold, jungle-bird cocktail.
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Logistics, Budgeting & Booking Master Guide
Planning a long-distance rail trip requires a different mindset than buying a flight ticket. Rail tickets often open for sale on strict rolling schedules, and prices can swing depending on seasonality and seat class.
Train Route Comparison Table
| Route Name | Est. Cost Range ($ USD) | Peak Season / Best Months | Secret Booking Tip / Platform | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Bernina Express | $70 - $160 | June – September / Dec – Feb | Buy a Swiss Travel Pass; it covers the full fare (you only pay a small seat reservation fee). | | West Highland Line | $30 - $85 | May – September | Book 12 weeks out via ScotRail for Advance Single fares; avoid third-party markups. | | Rocky Mountaineer | $1,500 - $3,200+ | Mid-September to October | Book during early-bird sales (Nov–Jan) for free extra hotel nights in Vancouver. | | TranzAlpine | $120 - $220 | November – March | Select Scenic Class directly on KiwiRail; add an open-dated return if driving back. | | Flåm Railway | $65 - $90 | May – September | Combine with a "Norway in a Nutshell" ticket to seamlessly link train, fjord ferry, and bus legs. | | Belmond Hiram Bingham | $500 - $1,100+ | May – October | Includes entry tickets and shuttle bus to Machu Picchu; factor that into your overall cost. | | Eastern & Oriental | $3,400 - $7,000+ | November – February | Book through a specialized luxury rail broker to secure middle-car cabins away from the engine. |
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The Art of Slow Rail Travel: 3 Essential Rules
- Pack Light, Pack Soft: Unlike airplanes with huge belly holds, trains require you to carry your luggage up narrow steps and fit it into overhead racks or under your seat. Use soft-sided duffel bags rather than hard-shell suitcases.
- Bring a Portable Power Bank: While modern luxury trains feature outlets at every seat, older regional carriages (like standard Scottish or Norwegian regional lines) may only have a few outlets per car. Keep a charged power bank in your daypack.
- Don't Over-Schedule Connections: Trains run on real-world schedules subject to weather, track maintenance, and freight delays. Always leave at least a 45-minute buffer between connecting trains—especially if you need to switch platforms at major hubs like Myrdal, Chur, or Glasgow Queen Street.
Stepping off a plane leaves you tired, dehydrated, and adjusting to a new city without any sense of how you got there. Stepping off a train leaves you grounded, connected to the land, and full of memories from every mile of the journey.
Pack your bags, reserve a window seat, and leave the airport stress behind.
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