Luxury trains

An illustration from the 1885 Chicago & Alton Railroad timetable

Before sleeping and dining cars were introduced, long-distance train travel was an uncomfortable experience. George Pullman's first sleeping car, the Pioneer, was introduced in 1865 and was followed two years later by "hotel cars".[1] The Pioneer was the first railway carriage with dining and sleeping areas,[2] and the Pullman Car Company was founded in 1880.[1]

Georges Nagelmackers founded the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits, creator of the Orient Express. Inspired by Pullman trains in the United States, Nagelmackers returned to Europe and built a fleet of over 30 luxury trains which traveled to several European destinations. He is credited with beginning the age of luxury trains and grand hotels.

The best-known luxury train was the Orient Express, the setting of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express. Europe's first luxury train, it began its maiden journey across Europe on 5 June 1883 from Paris' Gare de l'Est. Although the original Orient Express ceased operations in 2009, private operators and public-private joint ventures provide luxury train travel in several countries.[3]

Venice-Simplon Orient Express in Switzerland

Class 67, no. 67,006 Royal Sovereign hauling the Northern Belle

Bangkok-bound Eastern and Oriental Express train at the Kuala Lumpur railway station

According to Belmond[4] (formerly known as Orient Express Hotels),[5] the company operates the highest number of luxury train tours in the world. With service in Europe, Asia and South America, Belmond is the only private luxury tour provider (with the exception of Russia's Golden Eagle Trans Siberian Express) to offer continental or intercontinental service.[6]

The Venice-Simplon Orient Express, with service from London to Venice, was voted the top luxury train in the world in 2009.[7] The Royal Scotsman offers service across Scotland and, occasionally, the rest of Britain. The Belmond Grand Hibernian began operations in Ireland on 30 August 2016.

The Eastern and Oriental Express has service from Bangkok to Singapore (via Kuala Lumpur) and to Vientiane. Covering over 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi)[8] of peninsular Southeast Asia, its two-day journey has frequent stops at scenic locations.[9]

The Belmond Andean Explorer services Arequipa to Cusco and vice versa[10] and the Belmond Hiram Bingham, named after the explorer who rediscovered the Inca citadel Machu Picchu, runs from the Sacred Valley to the landmark.

Former Brighton Belle Pullman carriage at London Victoria, now part of the Venice-Simplon Orient Express fleet

British Pullman cars were used on the Brighton Belle out of London Victoria station.[11]

Spain's state-owned network of luxury trains is operated by Renfe Operadora and runs from March to October on scheduled and charter trips. The main routes cross northern Spain and Andalusia, with special tours throughout the peninsula.

The Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express began operation in April 2007 and takes passengers on a 6,000-mile (9,656 km) trip (the world's longest train journey)[6] across two continents and eight time zones. The Golden Eagle follows the Trans-Siberian Railway, which connects Moscow and European Russia with the Russian Far East, Mongolia, China, and the Sea of Japan.

Seven Stars in Kyushu[19] is a deluxe sleeping-car excursion train which has toured the island of Kyushu since October 2013. Its name derives from Kyushu's seven prefectures and the train's seven cars.[20] The train has a piano, bar, suites, a mini-kitchen, a crew room, shower rooms, and toilets. It has two- and four-day round trips, departing from Hakata Station. The two-day tour visits Nagasaki, Aso and Yufuin, and the four-day tour visits Yufuin, Miyazaki, Miyakonojō, Hayato, Kagoshima-Chuo, Kagoshima, Aso, and Bungo-Mori.

Luxury trains in India include the Palace on Wheels, Deccan Odyssey, Golden Chariot and Maharajas' Express. Two destinations have been added to Royal Rajasthan on Wheels: Khajuraho and Varanasi.[21] The 22-coach train can carry 82 passengers and has 13 compartments, two lounges, a spa and a fitness center.[22] The Maharajas' Express is owned and operated by Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).[23]

The Blue Train, covering about 1,600 kilometres (990 mi) between Pretoria and Cape Town, is South Africa's oldest and most well-known luxury train service. Rovos Rail started its Pride of Africa service in April 1989, offering pan-African luxury-train journeys spanning seven African countries by rail, air and water.[24]

The Ghan, a luxury train, runs 2,979 kilometres (1,851 miles) through the heart of the Australian continent from Darwin in the north to Adelaide in the south.[25] The Indian Pacific is a long-distance train connecting Sydney on the east coast, Australia's largest city, with Perth on the west coast.[26]

• 
  Dining car on Seven Stars in Kyushu
• 
  Rovos Rail deluxe suite
• 
  Dining car on the Blue Train
• 
  The Ghan approaching Alice Springs, 5 July 2015

• Heritage railway

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for tourist trains.