Ride the Rails
Around the World
TRAINS AND SUBWAYS
View this site
for complete of the world's subway trains.
Even as Amtrak's future remains unclear,
interest in rail travel--particularly luxury andrecreational--continues
to grow. Here are contacts for selected trains
around the world. (Note: Some numbers listed are for U.S.-based travel
agents.)
The Royal Orient
Express
Amtrak
Palace on Wheels
Rumania
US
India NORTH AMERICA
Alaska Railroad: Trains between
Fairbanks and Anchorage via Denali National Park; also from Anchorage
to Whittier and Seward; (800) 544-0552, fax (907) 265-2323,
Alaska Railroad. (http://www.akrr.com) Amtrak: Our national rail system,
highlighted by the new high-speed Washington-New York City-Boston Acela
Express; (800) USA-RAIL (872-7245), Amtrak.
For train discounts, select a train with a U (unreserved), and under
CODE, enter V822.
BC Rail: Trains in British Columbia,
including the imperiled North Vancouver-Prince George Cariboo
Prospector, the luxury Whistler Northwind and the Pacific Starlight
dinner train; (800) 663-8238, (604) 984-5505,
BC Rail.
(http://www.bcrail.com/bcrpass) VIA Rail Canada: Our northern
neighbor's equivalent of Amtrak, known for the Canadian, its scenic
transcontinental train between Vancouver and Toronto; (800) 561-3949,
Via Rail Canada.
http://www.a2btravel.com/trains/heritage.asp
Eurostar: High-speed passenger train linking London, Paris and
Brussels; (800) EURO-STAR (387-6782), 011-44-20-7928-5163 EuroStar
. Or see Rail Europe.
Rail Europe: Source of all European
rail passes (including British and Eurostar) as well as schedules,
individual tickets and reservations ;Rail
Europe
Seat 61- This site lists all European
and Asian train schedules Seat 61
Explore Norway
by Modern and Steam Driven Trains ASIA/AUSTRALIA
Great Southern Railway: Operator of
Australia's coast-to-coast Indian Pacific (Sydney to Perth), the Ghan
(Sydney/Melbourne to Alice Springs) and the Overland (Melbourne to
Adelaide) trains; (800) 423-2880, (310) 643-0044, fax (310) 643-0032,
or internationally 011-61-8-8213-4592, fax 011-61-8-8213-4490,
Great Southern Railroad
(http://www.gsr.com.au.)
Queensland Rail: In Australia, runs
the Queenslander, Sunlander, Kuranda Scenic Railway, more;
011-61-7-3235-1122, Queensland
Rail http://www.traveltrain.qr.com.au.
Japan Rail: Four decades of the
Shinkansen, or Bullet Train, and more; (310) 618-1181, or through Japan
Airlines, (800) 525-3663, Japan
Rail.
LUXURY AND CRUISE TRAINS
The Acadian Railway Co.: Tours of
Northeastern U.S. and eastern Canada, including fall foliage specials;
(866) 918-7246, The
Arcadian Railrod.
Al Andalus Expreso: "Hotel" train
that tours southern Spain; (800) 223-1356, fax (212) 686-0271, (818)
755-9333, fax (818) 755-0999 (agent also books El Transcantábrico, a vintage
train in northern Spain), The
Alandalusa Express.
American Orient
Express: Our domestic
version of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express offers eight itineraries,
including New England and Quebec, new this fall; (800) 320-4206,
The American Oriental
Express.
Blue Train: Southern Africa's classic
luxury train, recently refurbished and posher than ever, with three
routes; (800) 768-9020 or internationally 011-27-12-334- 8459, fax
011-27-12-334-8464, South Africa
Luxury Train Tour
http://www.bluetrain.co.za.
Montana Rockies Rail Tours: Two-day
excursions from Sandpoint, Idaho, to Livingston, Mont., with possible
motor coach add-ons to Yellowstone and Glacier national parks, other
Rockies highlights; (800) 519-7245, (208) 265-8619,
Montana Rockies Rail Tours
http://www.montanarailtours.com.
Palace on Wheels: Tour India like the
maharajas; (800) 421-5643,India
Palace
on Wheels (http://www.indianpalaceonwheels.com or
http://www.indianrail.gov.in.
)
Rocky Mountaineer: Daylight tours
between Vancouver and Jasper or Banff/Calgary; (800) 665-7245, Rocky Mountaineer
(http://www.rockymountaineer.com).
Rovos Rail: Luxury rail tours in
South Africa with historic coaches, spacious accommodations; (800)
524-7979, Rovos Rail
{http://www.rovos.co.za.)
Royal Canadian Pacific: Elegant excursions in the Canadian Rockies with
refurbished plush cars once used by railroad execs; (877) 665-3044, Royal Canadian Pacific
(http://www.cprtours.com.)
Royal Scotsman: Super-luxury,
country-house-type experience; (800) 323-7308, The Royal Scotsman
(http://royalscotsman.com)
(http://www.royalscotsman.com.)
Sierra Madre Express: Train tours to
Mexico's Copper Canyon; (800) 666-0346., Sierra Madre Express
(http://www.sierramadreexpress.com)
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express:
Besides the London-Paris-Venice VSOE, the company operates the Eastern
& Oriental Express through Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore; the
Great South Pacific Express in Australia; and two day-excursion trains
in Great Britain, the British Pullman and the Northern Belle; (800)
524-2420, Orient Express
(http://www.orient-express.com)
DAY EXCURSION TRAINS
Algoma Central Railway: Operates
Ontario's Agawa Canyon Tour Train, a scenic route from Sault Ste. Marie
to northern Ontario, other service; (800) 242-9287,
Canadian Ontario Tour.
Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad:
Spectacular steam-powered, narrow-gauge railway in Colorado and New
Mexico; (888) CUMBRES (286-2737), Colorado and New Mexico Train Tour.(http://www.cumbrestoltec.com)
Grand Canyon Railway: From Williams,
Ariz., historic train to the heart of national park; (800) THE-TRAIN
(843-8724), The Grant Canyon Train
Tour.
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge
Railroad: Cousin of C&TS, above, a splendid steam-powered ride
through Colorado's Animas Canyon; (888) 872-4607,
Colorado Canyon Tour.
