The blurry vignettes of life whizzing past, the gentle whirr of the tracks gliding underneath and antique brass drinks trolleys rattling through the carriages. There is certainly something romantic about train travel. Delicious highlights the world’s most luxurious trains that will not only take you from A to B, but back in time, too.
Travelling an approximately 1,600-kilometre journey in South Africa between Pretoria and Cape Town, The Blue Train is a moving five-star hotel, with opulent marble and gold-fitted bathrooms, plush monogrammed towels and Egyptian cotton sheets.
With its polished wood, sumptuous upholstery and antique fixtures, the Venice-Simplon Orient Express epitomises the glamour and elegance of the Golden Age of travel. While it’s hard to tear your eyes away from the plush interiors, the landscapes outside are equally as stunning, with journeys criss-crossing Europe from London to Venice to Prague and beyond.
Traveling to some of Europe’s lesser known destinations – including the magnificent cities of Prague, Budapest, Venice and Istanbul – the Golden Eagle Danube Express features 8.6 m2 deluxe sleeper cabins with daytime lounges, king size beds and two sweeping windows for gazing at the landscape rushing past.
Crowned as World’s Leading Luxury Train for six consecutive years, Maharajas’ Express is reminiscent of a centuries-old royal palace, with opulent velvet fabrics and bright bursts of colour, matching the grandeur of the country itself. The train visits most major cities, from Jaipur to Agra in the north to Goa and Mysore in the south.
As the first luxury sleeper train in Japan, Seven Stars made its inaugural run in 2013. The interiors were a collaboration between revered designer Mitooka and a number of local artisans, and is filled with masterpieces blending classic and contemporary. The train travels through Fukuoka, Oita, Miyazaki, Kagoshima and Kumamoto, with many excursions along the way.
South America’s first luxury sleeper train, the Belmond Andean Explorer glides from Cusco, the capital of the Inca Empire, across the lofty Andean plains to the white city of Arequipa. In contrast to the striking landscape that glides past, each twin or double cabin offers a soothing blend of signature Peruvian accents and in-built oxygen for additional comfort at high altitudes.
With a Michelin-starred restaurant, chandelier festooned dining room and suites featuring fireplaces, the Train-Suite Shiki-Shima, operated by East Japan Railway Company, is one of the world’s most exclusive – and expensive trains. It hosts only 34 passengers at a time at a cost of from ¥740,000 ($8413) a night, a person, twin share.
