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Rail travel is fast becoming the most pleasurable way to holiday, with faster connections, improved services and new itineraries.
But some trains are pulling out all the stops.
From panoramic carriages to opulent sleeping compartments, here are five trains around the world voted the best by travellers.
Two are also planning new routes for 2026.
Explore evergreen forests and glacial lakes on this panoramic Canadian route
The ranking, chosen by readers of the magazine Travel + Leisure, highlights five trains with “a reputation for providing a curated, high-end experience on scenic routes”.
The number one spot went to the Rocky Mountaineer, which winds its way through British Columbia and Alberta in Canada, as well as Colorado and Utah in the United States.
The standout feature of this train is the glass-panelled windows and roof, allowing passengers to fully take in staggering scenery like soaring canyon walls and towering mountain peaks.
One of the most popular routes scythes through the Canadian Rockies, connecting Vancouver to the mountain town of Banff.
Next year, the operator will add another limited-time route.
Between June and July 2026, to coincide with FIFA World Cup events taking place in Vancouver, the train will travel between Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper.
Named ‘Passage to the Peaks’, the trip is ideal for exploring “evergreen forests, sparkling glacial lakes, and towering mountains”, according to the company.
Passengers can choose the package as a two-day journey with an overnight stay in a hotel, or extend the trip for up to nine nights.
Travel like royals on the British Pullman in the UK
Second place went to British Pullman, run by the operator Belmond. An icon of historic luxury, this service travels sedately around the UK.
Passengers are whisked back to the “golden age of travel” aboard the 1920s carriages featuring antique-style marquetry, vintage lighting and heritage upholstery.
Destinations and excursions are equally distinguished, from historic cities like Bath and York to stately homes like Blenheim Palace and Sandringham and iconic events such as the Chelsea Flower Show and Royal Ascot.
The train is also billed as an ‘epicurean escapade’ serving up British fare with an innovative twist. Think roasted heirloom cauliflower, confit of English Chalkstream trout, hand-rolled truffles and a great British cheeseboard.
If you choose to travel on the British Pullman, you join the ranks of previous passengers that include Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip.
Sip wine in the most sophisticated surroundings on the Napa Valley Wine Train
Another classic journey comes in third place. The Napa Valley Wine Train has been chugging through California’s vineyards since the 1980s.
The 100-year-old railcars let passengers travel back in time as they sip wine sitting on antique furniture at white-tableclothed dining tables.
The train offers daytime or nighttime experiences. During the day, you can take trips of between three and six hours for three, four or seven-course meals or afternoon tea.
Some experiences include wine pairings, from a rich Cabernet to an oak-aged Chardonnay, sourced from five Napa Valley American Viticultural Areas (AVAs).
In the evening, the same multi-course dinner options are offered, as well as a special 1920s-themed Murder Mystery dinner.
Free-flowing champagne and midnight lobster rolls on the Orient Express
The undisputed icon of luxury historic rail travel takes the fourth spot. Another Belmond train, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express now offers dozens of overnight routes around Europe.
Some of the most popular routes include the five-nighter Paris to Istanbul, and the one-night Brussels to Venice and Paris to Rome.
Whatever the journey, the experience is one of unrestrained, unapologetic extravagance. The carriages date from the 1920s and 30s with distinguished features like refined marquetry, René Lalique glass, and Art Deco fan-shaped lamps.
Passengers are treated like royalty, from the free-flowing champagne and 24-hour butler service to the lavish evening parties and lobster rolls for midnight brunch.
Seasonal dining menus are designed by Chef Jean Imbert with gourmet local ingredients and classical precision – turbot in champagne sauce, brioche with pollen Chantilly cream, and a prime selection of caviar.
See Andalusia in sumptuous style on board the Al Ándalus train
Spain’s Al Ándalus sleeper was one of the country’s first luxury trains when it began operating in 1985. The wagons were originally bought from the British royal family.
Now run by state-owned rail company Renfe, passengers can journey sedately around the Andalusia region in sumptuous Belle Époque style, sleeping in the refurbished 100-year-old carriages.
There are also four lounge cars dating from 1928 and 1930, which dazzle with scarlet velvet upholstery and soft gilded lighting.
In the restaurant, dishes exalt Spanish ingredients like olive oil, sherry wine, and Jabugo Iberian ham.
Starting in 2026, the itinerary will include new stops, beginning and ending in the Spanish capital.
It will run between April and October with trips of seven days and six nights. You can choose to follow the itinerary in either direction, from Madrid to Seville or vice versa.
During the dreamy journey, passengers stop at some of Spain’s most magnificent cities and storied attractions.
In the La Mancha region, there is a visit to an artisanal cheese factory and a wine cellar, while in Jerez de la Frontera, guests attend a famous equestrian ballet set to Spanish music.
In Aranjuez, you can visit the Royal Palace and its gardens, while in Córdoba, passengers take a tour of the extraordinary Mosque-Cathedral.
The experience on board is a fabulous time-warp. The suites and rooms are inside carriages that were built in France at the beginning of the last century to take the members of the British monarchy between Calais and the Côte d’Azur.
