Luxury trains are special trains that are specifically designed to offer an elegant train ride, and evoke a strong sense of association in terms of history and heritage. Luxury trains operate in several countries and offer a luxurious and comfortable traveling option. Whereas some luxury trains (such as the Maharajas' Express) promote tourism in major destinations of an entire continent, other trains take guests on a long leisure ride, cutting across state borders but remaining limited to one specific country.
Nowadays, there is an increase in the global trend of luxury train travel, and travel proponents assert that it has several advantages over air travel. Whereas air travel can be monotonous, a ride on board a luxury train can provide ample opportunity for guests to witness the local environment, social and economic conditions, and a myriad of colours of the places they are traveling to. There are a number of reasons for the growing popularity of luxury trains over air travel, including spaciousness, restaurants and bars, comfortable sleeping and seating areas and even wash/bath rooms. Since the time of introduction of Pioneer in 1837 by American industrialist George Mortimer Pullman, luxury train travel has come a long way.
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History
In the past, train travel was quite an uncomfortable experience. Without sleeping and dining cars, long distance traveling used to be a harrowing experience. Things changed when Pioneer was introduced by Pullman in 1864. In 1867, "Hotel Cars" were introduced. Pioneer was the first railway carriage to introduce dining cars and sleeping cars in train leading to more comfort during travelling, especially on long distance journeys. Pullman Car Company was founded in 1880 and was one of the leading luxury passenger railroad car providers.
Another person credited with the beginning of luxury train travel was Georges Nagelmackers, founder of the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits. Inspired by the Pullman trains during his America visit, Nagelmackers returned to Europe and built a fleet of over 30 luxury trains which offered luxury train travel across several destinations in Europe. He is credited with the beginning of the age of luxury trains and grand hotels.
Since the dawn of the age of luxury trains, the most famous and revered luxury train is perhaps the legendary Orient Express, immortalized by Agatha Christie in her book "Murder on the Orient Express." Orient Express was the first luxury train in Europe. It embarked on its maiden journey on 5 June 1883 from Paris' Gare de l'Est across Europe. Today the Orient Express not only provides luxury train travel across Europe but several destinations around the globe. Besides Orient Express, a number of private operators as well as joint ventures between government parties and private tour operators are providing luxury train travel options in several countries.
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Global operators
Orient Express
Perhaps the single largest luxury train tour operators in the world, Belmond Ltd (formerly known as Orient Express Hotels Ltd) boasts of operating highest number of luxury train tours in the world. With services in Europe, Asia and South America, Belmond is the only private luxury tour provider (with the exception of Grand Trans Siberian Express) to offer pan continental luxury travel services. The company aims to recreate the ambiance of the Orient Express train of the 1920s and 1930s.
Venice Simplon Orient Express
The Venice-Simplon Orient Express, a private luxury train service which offers luxury train travels from London to Venice, is arguably one of the most popular luxury tourist trains in the world. It was also voted as the number 1 luxury train in the world.
Royal Scotsman
The Royal Scotsman, operated by Belmond Ltd, offers a luxury train cruise with only 36 passengers across selected scenic landscapes of Scotland.
Northern Belle
Northern Belle is a luxury train owned by Venice-Simplon Orient Express, operating railtours and charters that complement the programme of the British Pullman train. Introduced in 2000, the train consists primarily of British Rail Mark 2 coaching stock, refurbished internally and painted externally to resemble the vintage Brighton Belle coaches of the British Pullman. The buffet cars are British Rail Mark 1 coaches. Unlike the British Pullman, the train primarily operates in the north of England and Scotland. The train also has two British Rail Mark 3 sleeper coaches for its crew. The train embarks from a number of Northern UK cities, including Liverpool, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester. Northern Belle comprises six dining cars named after historic British houses.
Eastern and Oriental Express
The exclusive Eastern and Oriental Express, winding through some of the most exotic and spectacular locales from Bangkok to Singapore via Kuala Lumpur, offers an unforgettable ride through mystic landscapes. Covering over 2,000 km of peninsular South East Asia, the two-day journey offered by the Eastern and Oriental Express has frequent stops at scenic locations. This luxury train has three classes of coach, elegant decor and come equipped with contemporary amenities, including 24-hour steward service, international electric sockets (220 volts) and 110 volt adapter for razors, a personal safe and hairdryer. All coaches are fully air-conditioned and come with en suite shower and washbasin. Eastern and Oriental Express offer 4 distinct journeys which allow travelers to discover the mystique and enchantment of peninsular Asia.
U.K.
British Pullman
British Pullman train takes its name from George Mortimer Pullman founder of the Pullman Car Company. One of the key attributes which sets the British Pullman train apart is that it consists of the vintage carriages from the legendary Brighton Belle Pullman trains. British Pullman train comes with a total of 11 carriages which bear testimony to the history and legend that is Orient Express. Quaint decor, exquisite artistic skills art deco marquetry along with consummate hospitality gives an unmatchable character to this luxury train. Each carriage of this train is a walking gallery of grandeur. Each name has its own history, its own motif and its own legend. British Pullman can carry 226 passengers. The guests on board the British Pullman train are offered gourmet dining options and each course is accompanied by rare wines and finest champagnes.
The Belmond Grand Hibernian
The Grand Hibernian will be a luxury train operating in Ireland from 2016. It is being built in Ireland to begin operation summer, 2016. It will accommodate 40 persons in 20 cabins. The train will be a hotel-on-wheels operated by Belmond, which operates luxury hotels, trains and cruises around the world.
Spain
The network of luxury trains in Spain is state-owned and operated by Renfe Operadora. It runs from March until October on regular and charter trips. The main routes cross northern Spain and Andalusia, with special journeys throughout the peninsula.
Al Ándalus
The suite cars that today make up the Al Andalus were built in France for use by members of the British monarchy when travelling between Calais and the French Riviera. The main route takes clients from Seville to Cádiz, Jerez de la Frontera, Ronda, Granada, Úbeda, Baeza, Linares, Córdoba, Andalusia and back to Seville.
El Transcantábrico
The oldest tourist train in Spain, operating since 1983, the El Transcantábrico features original 1923 Pullman coaches. There are 2 routes:
- Gran Lujo train running from San Sebastián to Santiago de Compostela and back.
- Clasico train running from León to Santiago de Compostela through Bilbao and back.
El Expreso de la Robla
The common areas of El Expreso de La Robla are formed by three comfortable air-conditioned saloon coaches with permanent bar service. The saloons are laid out for conferences, talks, courses and meetings, with all the required technological facilities. All the interior areas of the train are connected, thereby allowing free movement of passengers throughout its length.
Russia
Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express
Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express, launched in April 2007, takes guests on a 6,000 miles (9,656 kilometres) journey, world's longest train journey, across two continents and 8 time zones. The Golden Eagle train traverses the course of the famous Trans-Siberian Railroad which connects Moscow and European Russia with the Russian Far East provinces, Mongolia, China and the Sea of Japan.
Canada
Rocky Mountaineer
The Rocky Mountaineer tours the Rocky Mountains with its snow-covered peaks, huge forests and glacier fed lakes in Canada. In 1990, Canada's national rail operator Via Rail sold off its Rockies by Daylight scenic train to a private company called Rocky Mountaineer Vacations, who renamed it the Rocky Mountaineer. The Rocky Mountaineer operates on four different routes in the Canadian Rockies.
Royal Canadian Pacific
The Royal Canadian Pacific is a luxury overnight passenger train based out of Calgary, Alberta. The train makes only full charter runs along Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) trackage during summer and fall, taking passengers into the scenic Rocky Mountains in Alberta and British Columbia. The program can still include a 6-day, 5-night round trip starting and ending at Calgary. However, the charter can also be shorter and fully customized. The train stables at night so passengers will enjoy scenery in daylight hours. The train consists of up to ten CPR luxury passenger cars built between 1916 and 1931, and two fully restored, 1950s built locomotives, along with an added booster unit. The company also owns a special modern-day diesel GP38-2, numbered 3084, as a backup.
Japan
Japan did not invest much in luxury trains, only recently that a luxury train was introduced in 2013.
Cruise Train Seven Stars in Kyushu
Seven Stars in Kyushu is a deluxe sleeping car luxury-cum-excursion train that has run in Kyushu Japan since October 2013. The name of the train is derived from the seven prefectures of Kyushu and the fact that the train is made up of seven cars. This train has piano, bar-counter, deluxe suites, mini kitchen, crew room, shower rooms and toilets.
The train serves two routes, a 2-day itinerary and a 4-day itinerary.
A two-day itinerary covers Hakata -> Nagasaki -> Aso -> Yufuin -> Hakata.
A four-day itinerary covers Hakata -> Yufuin -> Miyazaki -> Miyakonoj? -> Hayato -> Kagoshima-Chuo -> Kagoshima -> Aso -> Bungo-Mori -> Hakata.
India
- Palace on Wheels.
- Deccan Odyssey
- Golden Chariot,
- Royal Rajasthan on Wheels - two destinations, Khajuraho and Varanasi, were added to the itinerary of the train; this train, composed of 22 coaches, can carry 82 passengers in a journey with one super deluxe saloon, thirteen deluxe saloons and two restro-lounges; it has facilities like spa and fitness center on board
- Maharajas Express, owned and operated by Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC); a ride is the costliest luxury ride in India.
South Africa
Rovos Rail
Established in 1989, Rovos Rail, a South African luxury train company, began the maiden journey of its train, The Pride of Africa, on 29 April 1989. Rovos Rail offers pan-African luxury train journeys spanning more than 24 hours to a fortnight. Rovos Rail also offers private rail charters, golf tour and a special journey spanning over 7 African countries combining Rovos Rail, private plane and a five-star luxury cruise.
Rovos Rail is based in South Africa and offers trips within South Africa and beyond its border. The company was formed in 1989 by Rohan Vos, from whose name "Rovos" was derived. Its headquarters is located in Capital Park station, near Pretoria (capital city of South Africa).
Blue Train
Australia
The Ghan
The Ghan, a luxury train in Australia, connects 2,979 kilometres (1,851 miles) through the heart of the Australian continent from Darwin in the north to Adelaide in the south.
Indian Pacific
The Indian Pacific is a long-distance train connecting Sydney, which is located on the east coast and is Australia's largest city, to Perth on the west coast.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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