10 Spectacular train routes from around the world

History of rail transport has about 500 years. Many railways that run through beautiful scenery, until recently, been a popular form of public transport. But with the invention of aircraft, these beautiful and sometimes treacherous routes are usually converted into tourist attractions.



1. Konkan Railways (Konkan Railway), India

Konkan Railway is a railway line which runs along the Konkan coast of India. It stretches from the village Tokur (Thokur), located near the city of Mangalore (Mangalore) in Karnataka (Karnataka) to the train station Roch (Roha), located in the state of Maharashtra (Maharashtra) through Goa, along the west coast of India and the mountain chain called The Western Ghats (Western Ghats).

Konkan Railways provide a lot of impressions, both local and foreign tourists. Travelers can enjoy the stunning views: the beaches of the Arabian Sea, stormy falls, distant mountains - but a few examples of the landscape that can be seen while traveling on the Konkan railway from Mumbai to Goa.

Foreigners can get a real pleasure to travel from Goa to Mumbai or vice versa, with the Konkan Railways. Besides enjoying the beautiful Indian landscape, they may also be affected, which means that travel on Indian railways.

Indian Railways are an icon of Indian culture. At the same train people travel from across India, so you can get an idea about the various cultures and traditions of India.


2. Resolute Climber (Rocky Mountaineer), Canada

Travel company "Resolute Climber" offers more than 45 vacation packages in Canada and four unique rail routes - three train trips through British Columbia (British Columbia ) and Alberta (Alberta) Banff (Banff), Lake Louise (Lake Louise), Jasper (Jasper) and Calgary (Calgary), and one excursion train from Vancouver to Whistler (Whistler).

This world renowned, luxurious train passes in the afternoon through the wild beauty of Canada's West and is the best way to enjoy the majesty of the Canadian Rockies (Canadian Rockies). In 2013, the "Resolute Climber" introduces a new three-day rail route, Coastal Passage (Coastal Passage), connecting Seattle and Canadian Rockies.

In 2005, the "immovable climber" was awarded the title "The best experience of traveling by train in the world» (World's Leading Travel Experience by Train). In 2006 and 2007, to award "World Travels» (World Travel Awards), «Society of International Railway Travelers» (Society of International Railway Travelers) has included it in the list of "top 25 trains of the world» (World's Top 25 Trains), and in 2007 the magazine «National Geographic» recognized his achievements in the provision of one of the "best in the World Travel» (World's Best Journeys).

In 2009, "Society of American travel writer" (Society of American Travel Writers), the largest organization of professional journalists and photographers traveling, acknowledged the trip to the "unwavering Mountaineer" the best ride in the world.


3. Gerda train Argo (Argo Gede Train Railroad), Indonesia

way from Jakarta (Jakarta) to Bandung (Bandung) ply only two trains: Parahyangan Express (Parahyangan Express) and train administrative class Argo Gerda.

three-hour trip to Bandung by train Argo Gede is particularly comfortable. During this trip you will enjoy amazing views of the lush landscapes of mountains and valleys.

Train rides on rails located above the cave in the plains. You will pass through the charming string of tea plantations, rice fields, cascading streams and pastoral villages.


4. Railroad "Jungfrau» (Jungfrau Railway), Switzerland

During this unique sightseeing tour of the circular route on modern cogwheel train you first visit the mountain pass of Kleine Scheidegg (Kleine Scheidegg) , located at an altitude of 2,061 meters at the foot of the famous Eiger North Face (Eiger North Wall). Hence railroad "Jungfrau" rises to the railway station Eygergletsher (Eigergletscher), famous for its mountain restaurant and kennels, which contain polar dogs.

trip continues through the Eiger tunnel to the stations on the Aygervand (Eigerwand) and Aysmir (Eismeer), on each of which the train is delayed for five minutes. Tourists can enjoy the spectacular views from the large windows opening observation, carved in solid rock alpine.

And then you arrive at the Jungfraujoch (Jungfraujoch), in the heart of the magnificent ice world, located on the the roof of Europe! Excellent views all the way down to the tops of mountains Vosges (Vosges Mountains) in France and the Black Forest (Black Forest) in Germany. On the Jungfraujoch Great Aletsch glacier begins (Great Aletsch Glacier), a length of 22 kilometers, which is the longest ice stream in the Alps and the pinnacle of Europe.


5. The railway company Rovos Rail (Rovos Rail), South Africa

Rovos Rail is a private railway company operating on the route, starting at the station of the capital of the park (Capital Park Station) in Pretoria ( Pretoria), South Africa. "Society of International Railway Travelers' constantly train called" The Pride of Africa »(Pride of Africa), one of the" top 25 trains of the world "because of its excellent facilities, public spaces, services, food and beautiful scenery that can be enjoyed by going off him.

Trains hotels Rovos Rail regularly circulate on various routes throughout southern Africa from South Africa to Namibia and Tanzania. Trains are made up of restored carriages of "Rhodesia Railways» (Rhodesia Railways) with two living rooms, two dining cars, private sleeping compartments, each with a private bathroom.

The train offers three types of residential rooms, the smallest of them is Pullman (Pullman), whose size is 7 square meters, and the largest is the Royal Suite (Royal Suite), which occupies half of the car, or 16 square meters. All rooms have a shower, sink and toilet. The Royal suite also has a private in the style of the Victorian era.

Train combines the golden age of rail travel with modern amenities, creating an unforgettable extravagant elegance of a bygone era.


6 . Railway Kuranda Scenic (Kuranda Scenic Railway), Australia

Railway Kuranda Scenic Railway is the name of the line that runs from Cairns (Cairns), in the State of Queensland (Queensland) , Australia to the nearby town of Kuranda. Tourist train route zmeitsya up massif McAllister (Macalister Range) and is no longer used for regular passenger services.

Before his arrival in Kuranda passes through the suburb of Stratford, called Freshuoter ( stop at the station Freshuoter) and Redlinch (Redlynch). The line is used for some transport services and other passenger services, such as motor cars of "Savannahlander» (Savannahlander). The length of the railway is 37 kilometers. The journey from the beginning to the end of the journey takes about 45 minutes.

Tropical Gardens Kuranda railway station is a famous landmark in the area. Going down the hill, railroad tracks cut through the National Park Barron Gorge (Barron Gorge National Park). Tourist train stops at the observation platform, which offers a spectacular view of the Falls Barron (Barron Falls). Driving further along the route, you can see a number of smaller waterfalls, such as the waterfall Stoney Creek (Stoney Creek Falls), which are located just a few meters from the train route. As the train climbs the hills and down with them guide explains in detail about the construction of the railway track.


7. Autenikua Chu Tdzho (Outeniqua Choo Tjoe), South Africa

Autenikua Chu Tdzho was the last remaining passenger steam locomotive standing in Africa, which ceased operation in 2009. Construction of the railroad was completed in 1928, it connects the city of George (George) and Knysna (Knysna), located in the Western Cape (Western Cape), South Africa.

During the three-hour journey the train stopped in cities such as Wilderness (Wilderness), Gukamma (Goukamma), and Sedgefield (Sedgefield). Scenic 67-mile route hugs the rugged coastline of the Garden Route (Garden Route) before finalizing the trip, passing through the bridge over the lagoon in Knysna.

In 1992, this route was officially declared iron road under the protection of the state. At the time of the railway transported about 40,000 passengers a year. In ten years, the number of passengers has increased to 115,000 passengers a year, with 70 of them were foreign tourists.


8. The railway line Albula - Bernina (Albula-Bernina Railway Line), Switzerland

Albula Railway line - Bernina is provided by the "Rhaetian Railways» (Rhaetian Railway), the Swiss transport company, which owns the largest network of all the private railways in Switzerland. The most famous trains circulating on the railway line Albula - Bernina are the "Glacier Express» (Glacier Express) and "Berninsky eksperss» (Bernina Express).

Crossing the Swiss Alps, Berninsky eksperss connects Swiss city of Chur (Chur) or Davos (Davos) to cities Poschiavo (Poschiavo) and Tirano (Tirano) in Italy. Throughout much of its path, the train also passes by and through places, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Rhaetian railway passing through the landscape in the Albula / Bernina» (Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina Landscapes).

Glacier Express crossing the viaduct Landwasser (Landwasser Viaduct)

Glacier Express comes from Zermatt (Zermatt) in the city of Davos and St. Moritz (St Moritz) approximately seven hours. Glacier Express, which is circulated in 1930 was named the "slowest express train in the world." It moves at a speed of 36 kilometers per hour. A trip on the Glacier Express, a journey lasting seven and a half hours, during which the train crosses 291 bridges, 91 and the tunnel passes through the Oberalp Pass (Oberalp Pass) at its highest point, at an altitude of 2033 meters.

Railway Albula and Bernina lines were jointly declared a World Heritage Site in 2008. A trip to the Berninskom Express is a four-hour journey by rail through the World Heritage Site is a place in which the train crosses 196 bridges and passes through 55 tunnels and overcomes the Bernina Pass (Bernina Pass) at its highest point, at an altitude of 2253 meters.

Reyluey Bernina Railway Company (Bernina Railway) built a line of Bernina between 1908 and 1910, and then independently operated it until 1940, when the line moved on to the company "Rhaetian Railroad" . Bernina Express is a 7 per cent gradient to compensate for the difference in height at a distance of approximately 1800 meters from the top of the mountain, from the City Ospitsio Bernina (Ospizio Bernina) to Tirano.

9. Railroad La Mure (Chemin de Fer de La Mure), France

Railroad La Mure is a tourist railroad in the department of Isère (Isère) near the city of Grenoble (Grenoble), France.

After threatening to close in mid-1970, the line was saved due to the oil crisis, given the chance to further life to become one of the top tourist railways in Europe with spectacular views of the dam, lake and mountain scenery.
away and can be easily reached by road from Grenoble, or catch one of the trains that circulate through the National Company of French Railways (SNCF) to the town of Gap (Gap).

Conway Scenic Railroad is a cultural and historic railway in North Conway (North Conway), in the state of New Hampshire (New Hampshire ). On the railroad has two historic railway route: line in North Conway Conway, which was formerly part of Conway Branch Railroad Boston and Maine (Boston and Maine Railroad); and a line from North Conway through Crawford Red Night (Crawford Notch) in Fabian (Fabyan) which was once part of the Mountain Division Rail central Maine (Mountain Division of the Maine Central Railroad).

rail line is owned by Conway Conway Scenic and Mountain Division has staff New Hampshire. The owner and president of Conway Scenic is Russ Seybold (Russ Seybold). The main terminal of the railway is located in the historic center of North Conway Mount Washington Valley (Mount Washington). In 1979, the station complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places (National Register of Historic Places).

Bonus:
route Chennai - Rameswaram (Chennai-Rameswaram Route), India

The only way to reach the island of Rameshwaram, located on the southern coast of India, passes through a dangerous path, the route Chennai - Rameswaram.

Rameswaram route runs along the southern coast of India , crossing sea bridge Rameswaram, built over the Indian Ocean. Because of the prevalence of strong winds, the trip can take more than fifteen minutes, and this route was the scene of an accident many accidents.