The 7 Best Railway Trips (PHOTOS, POLL)

In our hectic day to day life, vacation is a time to relax. In fact, sometimes the best part is getting there. Skip the plane, take the train, and check out our list of the top railway trips ever. Enjoy the ride.

 

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The Glacier Express - Switzerland

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This seven-hour trek connecting the Swiss mountain resorts of St. Moritz and Zermatt carries you along the Rhine river through 91 tunnels, across 291 bridges and over the Oberalp pass at its highest altitude of 6670 feet. The journey's signature structure, the Landwasser viaduct (pictured), is one of the most photographed bridges in Europe due to its enormous yet delicate beauty.

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This seven-hour trek connecting the Swiss mountain resorts of St. Moritz and Zermatt carries you along the Rhine river through 91 tunnels, across 291 bridges and over the Oberalp pass at its highest altitude of 6670 feet. The journey's signature structure, the Landwasser viaduct (pictured), is one of the most photographed bridges in Europe due to its enormous yet delicate beauty.

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This Train

Rank #2  |  Average: 4

No Way Jose Chuga Chuga Chuga Chuga CHOO CHOO!

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Comments

[RasAlula]

01:27 AM on 07/29/2010

Why is such a simple things as distinguishing countries within Africa so difficult for so many people? Just as it is written "Russia, Mongolia and China" so could it been written "South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Tanzania".

AFRICA IS A CONTINENT, not a country. When talking of Germany do you say Europe, as if they are synonymous?

[Aesthete]

02:12 PM on 07/29/2010

There is a great amount of ignorance about geography here, even about the United States. Many also do not understand that the countries in Africa can be very different from each other. There are impoverished countries (i.e. Zimbabwe) where the people live under a totalitarian dictator and there are countries (i.e. Botswana) that have western-style democracy and relative prosperity. Out of ignorance, many want to lump all of subSaharan Africa together as one big mess. In fact, people I've know who are from Africa identify themselves by their country of origin, not as "Africans."

[Aesthete]

10:42 AM on 07/28/2010

Now that the technology for high-speed rail travel exists I would like to see it become more widespread as an alternative to air travel.

[mrm3]

03:22 PM on 07/27/2010

Wrong.

the coolest plane trips are those that are along normal travel lines for the 'natives' of the area. You get to hear the language, see how people dress, eat, and act in public, and go through real towns where real people live

[springsm]

07:27 PM on 07/26/2010

I took a ride on the "skytrain" from Chengdu to Tibet in 2007 and it was wonderful. We had three americans in our cabin and one man from china...it didn't matter that we had not more than a few years of Manderin..we had a great time. Some one else in our party had a Tibetan man with his 6 year old nephew who had been traveling for three months and were returning home..to a big celebration btw, and they also were fun and we learned alot from this travel. Great train ride. Good people, food left alittle to be desired. LOL We carried alot of our own and used their very hot water to fix it. If you ever have a chance...go..before the tundra melts.

[Yang Qiang]

06:54 AM on 09/16/2010

I also took a train through the whole Qingzang Railway.It is a long distance from Beijing to Lhasa.All lines were completed roadbed 78.53 million cubic meters of earth and stone, bridge six hundred seventy-five, nearly sixty thousand linear meters; culvert two thousand and fifty, thirty-seven thousand six hundred sixty-two cross linear meters; tunnel seven, nine thousand and seventy-four extension meters.
The "skytrain" is the miracle of the world.

[WDB]

12:57 PM on 07/26/2010

I'd add the Copper Canyon railway in Mexico to the list as well.

[Euterpe360]

11:01 AM on 07/26/2010

Hoisted by your own petard, HP!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/23/swiss-tourist-train-derai_n_657124.html?ir=Travel

[Grant in Calgary]

06:18 PM on 07/25/2010

Okay, maybe the Glacier Express is not the best one to ride. Good thing it didn't derail on that bridge in the picture. Then again, bridges have additional safety rails to stop the train wheels from sliding laterally, at least in North America they do.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/23/swiss-tourist-train-derai_n_657124.html

[DemiCrat]

08:22 PM on 07/24/2010

Suck on it, Amtrak.

[Dots]

12:29 PM on 07/24/2010

Is there a train that goes beside the Columbia River in the NW?

[kolbpilot]

08:40 PM on 07/23/2010

I was going to comment on another article about a Swiss train crash. I've always enjoyed trains (I think we all do) & spent time on a lot of Dutch commuter trains in the 70's & some American trains later. And the ride is impressive, but everything has to be just right. To me, it can all go wrong in hurry. But I'll get on one any day.

[Fairie Dust]

01:45 PM on 07/23/2010

Arlo Guthrie--City of New Orleans. I've done this a couple times. Good times.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfxoM6trtZE

[MajorKong]

11:36 AM on 07/23/2010

I fly for a living. The last thing I want to do when I'm on vacation is get in a freakin' airplane.

[Aesthete]

10:44 AM on 07/28/2010

I see your point and love your perspective. There are four aviators in my family and have no doubt that they share your point of view.

[anastasia222]

10:20 AM on 07/23/2010

My favoriate train trip took me from Paris to Milan then onto Rome and was spectacular (especially the coffee), especially coming through the Alps in the middle of the night. I too wish there was more train travel in the US! When I was in my teens used to love to take the train from Kansas City to Chicago. It would take you straight into downtown. US train service needs to work on their food (the basics)

[YankeeCanuck]

12:46 PM on 07/22/2010

What?? No Rocky Mountaineer?? Spectacular scenery, top-drawer service--and they stop the train for wildlife sightings.There are several routes, even a short haul from Vancouver to Whistler--the Sea to Sky route, taken by Olympic athletes.

[yannb]

01:55 PM on 07/22/2010

Nice, but pales totally in comparison to the ones selected. Really.

[YankeeCanuck]

02:00 PM on 07/22/2010

Lake Louise and Jasper are pretty spectacular. Not many wildlife sightings in Switzerland.
I was also surprised not to see the Copper Canyon in Mexico.

[WhatTheWhatThe]

11:38 AM on 07/22/2010

When I saw "skip the plne, take the train" I was hoping for trips in the US. You can't "skip the plane" because you still have to get to the location where the trains are. Whil there may not be many, there are still train trips possible in the US. If people start taking those trips, there could be more support for more rail systems including high speed.