Rocky Mountaineer’s luxe train journeys take passengers through some of the continent’s iconic landscapes, like Ruby Canyon on the Utah-Colorado border.Rocky Mountaineer/Supplied
Whether it’s the Eurostar between Great Britain and Europe or the Shinkansen of Japan, train travel is attracting voyageurs as a relaxing, scenic and sustainable alternative to flying. And as luxury hospitality brands continue to invest in heritage trains, they’re becoming destinations in their own right. At a time when the world feels increasingly like a whirlwind, slowing down to indulge in the romance of train travel has never been more appealing.
Iconic train routes around the world top many bucket lists, from the Rocky Mountaineer’s winding path that runs from Banff to Vancouver and canyon country in the U.S. to The Ghan’s traverse across Australia and, of course, the famed Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE). Under the guidance of the LVMH-owned Belmond, the world’s most famous train journey continues to evolve to delight today’s traveller, with some of its individual carriages having been transformed into suites that rival any five-star hotel. Next year, the VSOE will unveil l’Observatoire, a sleeper carriage with interiors conceptualized and designed by the French photographer and artist JR that will feature a bedroom with a double bed, ensuite and wardrobe, a lounge area, library and secret tea room with a fireplace.
Accor, the hospitality group behind Raffles and Fairmont properties, is betting big on train travel as well with the introduction of its own Orient Express portfolio. Launching next year, this collection of trains, hotels and sailing ships is aimed at bringing the myth and spirit of the Orient Express to life for the 21st century.
But make no mistake – these are more than just hotels on wheels. Climb aboard and it’s evident that there are plenty of special touches that turn the accommodations and amenities into an unforgettable experience.
“It’s something that really shows a certain level of luxury in a different light and it’s not necessarily this Toto-toilet experience that we’re seeing at the modern hotels,” says Jamsheed Pocha, co-founder of The Pelican Club, a membership-based club specializing in bespoke travel and lifestyle planning. “It’s really focused on slowing down and immersing yourself into what was really the original immersive travel experience. It’s not about getting from one place to another as fast as possible but about taking the time to enjoy the journey.”
Indeed, it’s easy to lose yourself in the bygone era of the ambiance on board. The train’s old-world interiors, like that of the British Pullman, which features a carriage reimagined by film director Wes Anderson, not to mention the views passing by the window, make for excellent social-media fodder, a flex that’s made the trains covetable locales for global luxury brand to stage over-the-top events. In March, Jean Paul Gaultier bought out the entire VSOE for an overnight journey from Paris to Venice, filling the suites with a coterie of influencers starring in a new fragrance campaign, which was photographed aboard the train.
The Andean Explorer, a Belmond train journey in Peru, offers travellers routes not reachable by car or plane. Belmond has partnered with Veuve Clicquot to give passengers a Champagne tasting experience while on board.Richard James Taylor/Supplied
To further augment the journey, some trains are introducing partnerships on board that span the culinary, fine wine and beauty worlds. In 2017, The Andean Explorer, another Belmond option, became the first luxury sleeper train in South America, opening up a new way to experience areas of Peru that are not as accessible by car or plane. Earlier this year, chef Jorge Muñoz took the culinary helm onboard Andean Explorer, introducing new menus that pay homage to the different regions of Peru. They also partnered with Veuve Clicquot on this journey to offer guests Champagne tastings under the expert guidance of their cellar master. “Trains are not just a way to transport, trains are the best way to feel the country,” says Javier Carlavilla, general manager of the Andean Explorer.
In Asia, Belmond has tapped Dior for the Dior Spa Eastern & Oriental Express, a carriage with two treatment cabins adorned in the Toile de Jouy motif where travellers can unwind with one of the Malayan-inspired massage services as the scenery passes by.
It’s this vision of creating a world to escape into that transforms the train from means of transportation to an unforgettable holiday. Pocha, who has made a career out of the best luxury travel around the world, says that nothing beats his journey aboard the VSOE. “It’s not an affordable experience but, when you do it, it’s a bucket-list trip.”