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The Top 20 Most Scenic (And Affordable) Rail Journeys
Slide Nr 1Some of the most beautiful rail journeys in the world are eye-wateringly expensive, but dig a little deeper and you’ll find budget alternatives, affordable rail passes and local transport routes priced without the tourist markup. Kick back and take in the scenery without worrying about your bank balance.
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The Top 20 Most Scenic (And Affordable) Rail Journeys.
Slide Nr 2South Africa – Shosholoza Meyl, the melodious name for South Africa’s budget alternative to the famous Blue Train, roughly means “going forward a long way”. It travels the same (long) route as its luxurious competitor and offers a high level of comfort (fully licensed restaurant car, private sleeper with crisp linen and cabin service) at a fraction (like, one twentieth) of the price. It’s notoriously unreliable, so factor in at least some delay when you check in for the 1,530-kilometre journey from Cape Town to Johannesburg. [Photo: Gerry Labrijn/Flickr]
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The Top 20 Most Scenic (And Affordable) Rail Journeys.
Slide Nr 3East Africa – For a truly epic African rail adventure, luxury travellers board the Pride of Africa for a 15-day jaunt through South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Tanzania. The affordable version of this journey is less straightforward, involves navigating several less than user-friendly websites and factoring in some connecting buses or even taxis, in order to visit the must-see sights along the way. Nevertheless, budget travellers allowing for delays and schedule changes, planning ample time for stopovers en route and sticking to the usual common sense rules of travel, will be rewarded with the best of East Africa. Check out the train services in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Botswana. [Photo: Wikimedia Commons]
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The Top 20 Most Scenic (And Affordable) Rail Journeys.
Slide Nr 4Morocco – Morocco is due to become the first African country to launch a high-speed train when the TGV connecting Tangier, Casablanca and Marrakech takes up regular operations in 2018, after successful test runs in late 2017. It’s likely to be a far cry from the eclectic journey on the Marrakesh Express serenaded by Crosby, Stills and Nash in 1969. A semblance of the journey undertaken by songwriter Graham Nash in the country’s hippie heyday can still be found on the regular intercity services, especially those cheaper trains classified as Ordinaire. [Photo: Wikimedia Commons]
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The Top 20 Most Scenic (And Affordable) Rail Journeys.
Slide Nr 5USA – Don’t let anyone tell you it’s impossible to travel without a car in the USA. Amtrak is a surprisingly comfortable and affordable way to get around much of the country, and arguably the best way to see the West Coast in a relaxed fashion. The Coast Starlight Express takes in some of the country’s hippest cities, with stops in Seattle, Portland, Oakland/San Francisco and Los Angeles. The undisputed highlight, however, is the spectacular landscape, best enjoyed from the stupendously comfortable “Sightseer Lounge Car,“ a panoramic observation lounge with swivel seats and floor-to-ceiling windows. [Photo: Pacific Surfliner, © Amtrak]
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The Top 20 Most Scenic (And Affordable) Rail Journeys.
Slide Nr 6Canada – If an escape from civilisation is what you’re seeking, the Rocky Mountaineer is probably a more suitable North American adventure for you. From Vancouver, this luxury train takes travellers deep into the Canadian Rockies, encountering nothing but vast expanses of spectacular mountain scenery, dotted with a few ski resorts, along the way. The budget alternative is by no means uncomfortable. Board the VIArail Canadian to Jasper for an infinitely cheaper ride on a route identical to the luxurious “Journey through the Clouds”, or – even better – stay on board all the way to Toronto. The entire cross-country trip in a private sleeper will cost roughly the same as the four-day Rockies jaunt, and only a third of the price if you can handle travelling in a seat for four days straight.
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The Top 20 Most Scenic (And Affordable) Rail Journeys.
Slide Nr 7Ecuador – Ecuador’s Train of Wonders, running from from Quito to Guayaquil or – as the brochure puts it – from the Andes to the Pacific, is currently reserved for visitors paying big bucks. The route along the “Avenue of Volcanoes” was reopened in 2013 after an extensive and costly restoration project, and the luxury train is designed to fill the coffers before regular service resumes. However, budget travellers aren’t completely cut out. Tren Ecuador offers eight affordable day trips, covering stages of the larger route, including the journey across the famously steep and challenging “Devil’s Nose” pass. [Photo: David Brossard/Flickr]
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The Top 20 Most Scenic (And Affordable) Rail Journeys.
Slide Nr 8Peru – Obviously, the ultimate way of getting to Machu Picchu is on foot, along the Inca Trail. If you don’t feel up to the hike, the train is a very good alternative – with plenty of options to choose from. Really cheap fares are only available on the local train, which is strictly off-limits to tourists. Two private companies offer different services that cater to all other price levels, from basic and affordable to luxurious and expensive. The PeruRail Expedition, while not exactly cheap, is the most affordable option for visitors on a budget.
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The Top 20 Most Scenic (And Affordable) Rail Journeys.
Slide Nr 9Australia – Unfortunately, both the AusRail unlimited travel pass as well as the Red Tourist Class service have been discontinued on the legendary Ghan and Indian Pacific trains, making it that much harder to travel across Australia on a budget. However, the rail passes covering most of the East Coast are still a great option. A combination of available passes can take you all the way from Melbourne to Cairns, via Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane, taking in stunning and diverse scenery ranging from coast and mountains to rainforests and beaches along the way. [Photo: Michael Greenhill/Flickr]
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The Top 20 Most Scenic (And Affordable) Rail Journeys.
Slide Nr 10India – With one of the largest rail networks in the world, India is one of the few countries that tourists on every budget like to explore by rail. Those with rupees to burn can choose between evocatively titled trains like the Palace on Wheels, the Maharaja Express or the Golden Chariot (to name but a few Indian luxury trains). Others can buy a first- or second-class ticket on National Rail services for a fraction of the cost (although admittedly without the pomp and literal red carpet treatment provided on the big-name trains). Budget travellers can get up close and personal with the travelling masses on commuter trains for pennies.
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The Top 20 Most Scenic (And Affordable) Rail Journeys.
Slide Nr 11China to Tibet – The Lhasa Express, the world’s highest railway line, is your “rocket to the roof of the world.” You can start the journey to Tibet from Beijing, Shanghai and several other Chinese mainland cities, but the 21-hour, almost 200-km trip from nearest provincial capital Xining to Lhasa is quite enough to do in one sitting. A luxury train planned by Qinghai-Tibet Railway Corporation has yet to materialise, and even travellers on Golden Eagle Luxury Train tours have to disembark their sumptuous rail cars to join the general population aboard the regular Lhasa Express, which costs less than 100€, even in the more comfortable Soft Sleeper class. [Photo: Wikimedia Commons]
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The Top 20 Most Scenic (And Affordable) Rail Journeys.
Slide Nr 12Southeast Asia – According to luxury group Belmond, the Eastern & Oriental Express “evokes the atmosphere of the 1932 Marlene Dietrich film Shanghai Express.” While not inspired by a Hollywood classic, the regular passenger trains that traverse Southeast Asia, passing through the same lush landscapes, are also comfortable and reliable. The epic journey through Thailand and Malaysia, embarking and/or arriving in bustling Bangkok and Singapore, covers almost 2,000 kilometres and offers ample opportunities to stop off for bus or ferry transfers to tourist hotspots like Koh Samui, Phuket, Krabi or the famous Bridge on the River Kwai.
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The Top 20 Most Scenic (And Affordable) Rail Journeys.
Slide Nr 13Vietnam – Vietnam’s Reunification Express positively oozes history, even if many of the trains operating on this route are of a modern standard (the type of train and class makes a huge difference in price, ranging from dirt cheap to very affordable). The route is a living relic, still going strong despite having recently celebrated the 80th anniversary of the completion of the line linking Hanoi and Saigon (now known as Ho Chi Minh City). The reunification referred to in the name is, of course, that of the country’s Communist North and the US-supported South, in 1976. You’ll be traversing the entire length of the country, so stop off along the way to see the traces that decades-long divide left behind – and the beauty of the reunited country.
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The Top 20 Most Scenic (And Affordable) Rail Journeys.
Slide Nr 14Japan – Arguably the best country in the world to visit by rail, Japan offers a comprehensive train network, reliable service and the well-priced unlimited travel Japan Rail Pass that allows travellers to explore the entire country on public transport. Experience everything, from the view of Mount Fuji whizzing past the Shinkansen Bullet Train on the line between Tokyo and Kyoto, to the leisurely meandering Hisatsu line on Kyushu island, with its river, ocean and mountain views, all on one handy ticket. [Photo: hans-johnson/Flickr]
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The Top 20 Most Scenic (And Affordable) Rail Journeys.
Slide Nr 16London to Venice – The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express evokes a nostalgic travel experience that harks back to the lavish journeys immortalised by Agatha Christie. However, if you’re simply looking to get from London to Venice, enjoying the scenery en route on a budget, and don’t mind booking your journeys through three different national operators, then you can catch the Eurostar from London to Paris, the TGV high-speed train to Turin and a daily scheduled service to Venice for under 100€. Unless, of course, you are an EU citizen turning 18 in 2018, in which case you can do the trip for free thanks to a new European Union scheme providing free Interrail passes to Europeans as they come of age.
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The Top 20 Most Scenic (And Affordable) Rail Journeys.
Slide Nr 17Scotland – If you’ve ever fantasised about charging through the wall at Platform 9 and 3/4 in Kings Cross to board a Hogwarts-bound train, then the Royal Scotsman is the luxury rail experience for you. The old-worldly train travels through Highlands scenery made famous by the Harry Potter films, including the instantly recognisable Glenfinnan viaduct. If its pricing is beyond your reach, you can ride the actual Muggle train used in the films. The Jacobite steam train takes you on a short but stunning journey across that same viaduct. The West Highland Line to Mallaig covers more ground in a regular, modern train.
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The Top 20 Most Scenic (And Affordable) Rail Journeys.
Slide Nr 18Spain – El Transcantábrico, the classy Spanish tourist train that traces part of the famous Camino pilgrimage route, is not quite as forbiddingly expensive as some of its international competitors (which is only to say that it doesn’t come with a minimum 4-digit price tag). It’s still a lot more expensive than a trip on scheduled services that travel the same tracks along the Northern Spanish coast. These, however, are extremely difficult to find and book online, as the national rail provider Renfe doesn’t list them in its regular schedules. You can find some of the connections in the Renfe Feve planner devoted entirely to the country’s narrow-gauge trains. Their speeds – and the difficulty of booking and planning ahead – mean that, much like the Camino pilgrimage, the journey should be your ultimate destination. [Photo: Simon Pielow/Flickr]
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The Top 20 Most Scenic (And Affordable) Rail Journeys.
Slide Nr 19Serbia to Montenegro – The Balkan Odyssey aboard Golden Eagle Luxury Trains’ Danube Express is considered one of the ultimate European rail journeys, but intrepid travellers can piece together the entire journey on regular scheduled services. The luxury train detours from Belgrade to Mostar, but Serbian Railways offer an arguably more scenic journey that takes you all the way from the Serbian capital to the Adriatic in Montenegro. A trip on the Belgrade to Bar railway line is as good a glimpse of the Balkan scenery, at a much lower price. [Photo: Ky0n Cheng/Flickr]
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The Top 20 Most Scenic (And Affordable) Rail Journeys.
Slide Nr 20Mongolia and China – The Trans-Siberian Railway is one of the first epic rail journeys that comes to mind when talking about train travel bucket lists – and also one of the few that isn’t automatically assumed to equate a luxury experience. Sure, you could do the world’s longest train journey on the Golden Eagle Luxury Train and spend almost two weeks in the lap of luxury, at a price. You could also travel on the regular Trans Mongolian, Trans Manchurian or Trans Siberian trains for a more reasonable – and possibly adventurous – trip, especially if you really rough it in third class. [Photo: Boccaccio1/Flickr]
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