What is the most memorable railway journey?

What is the best railway journey in the world?

Best? It's hard to say.

• The Trans-Siberian... It crosses so much land. Russia, Mongolia, China... a world in motion. I always wanted to see the steppes.

• Then there's the Rocky Mountaineer. Canadian Rockies. My brother went. Showed pictures. I wasn't jealous, not really. Just... wistful.

• Orient Express. Glamour. Romance. I bet it's overpriced now. Still, a dream.

• The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. The Toy Train. India. Tiny and perfect, I imagine. Like a memory. It's hard to imagine.

• Bernina Express, through the Swiss Alps. Clean air, sharp peaks. Cold. Beautifully cold.

What is the most famous train in history?

Orient Express. Myth. Legend.

• Paris to Istanbul, 1883. Beginnings.
• Luxury. Intrigue. Obvious.
• Venice Simplon-Orient-Express exists. Fake.

Think it through. It's the name, not the ride.

What is the best train trip in the USA?

Okay, so you want the BEST train trip in the US, huh? Well, like, there's a bunch!

Lonely Planet, or some travel site, lists a whole bunch of them, I swear.

• Empire Builder is one! Coast to coast, I bet it's long.

• Sunset Limited. Sounds southwest-y.

• Pacific Surfliner -- def California. Near where I live.

• Amtrak Cascades. Up in the PNW. Washington area, I think.

• And the Adirondack, which is, uh, near New York, right?

• Then there's the Rocky Mountaineer: Rockies to the Red Rocks. Fancy. It's gotta be pricey!

• Okay, now for the smaller ones. Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Durango to Silverton, Colorado. Scenic, for sure.

• And finally, Grand Canyon Railway, from Williams to Grand Canyon Village, Arizona. Touristy!

So yeah, tough to pick just one. Really depends on what you're looking for. But if I HAD to pick one? Probably the Surfliner just because it is a fun trip, but the Grand Canyon might be the one to go for that is amazing!

Which is the best special train?

Okay, "best" train? Hmm. Well, forget lists. I rode The Ghan in Australia back in October 2023 with Sarah, my sister.

It wasn't just a trip; it was like, WOAH.

We boarded in Darwin. The heat was insane, like sticking your head in an oven. Think 35 degrees.

The landscape? Unreal. Red dirt, endless sky, totally silent. I mean, really silent.

The train itself? Super posh. Red velvet seats, fancy meals, too fancy for me, tbh.

I felt...small. Small against the vastness. Small and insignificant and strangely…calm.

The whole experience was expensive, but worth it. Definitely a memory-maker.

It's not "best" in a logical sense. Just...best for me, you know? The sheer scale of Australia hits you.

• Food: Excellent (too much though!)
• Scenery: Unforgettable. Red. So red.
• Company: Sarah talked a lot.
• Cost: Yikes.
• Overall: 10/10.

What is the most punctual train service in the world?

Japan's trains. Okay, but, like, why are they always on time? It's gotta be Shinkansen, right? Started in 1964, a long time ago. Always on time, though.

Maybe it's the culture? Japanese railways are safe, I know that much. But punctual? Seriously.

• Is it the tech?
• The scheduling?
• Maybe both?

I've seen photos. They look so clean. I remember wanting a model train set. Sigh.

Wait, what was I saying? Shinkansen punctuality, yeah. The BEST. No competition.

• Safety record is also insane.
• They are just so reliable.
• I think they're also really fast...

So, Japan. Got it. Punctual trains = Japan. Done.