10 fascinating and unique railway routes from around the world

The history of rail transport spans more than two centuries. Many railways that pass through beautiful landscapes were, until recently, a popular form of passenger transport. But with the rise of air travel, these beautiful and sometimes challenging routes have usually been turned into tourist attractions. Today, travellers can enjoy these scenic journeys during the day and relax in the evenings with entertainment options, such as playing at Richard Casino, which adds a modern twist to a classic travel experience.

1. Konkan Railway, India

The Konkan Railway is a railway line that runs along the Konkan coast of India. It stretches from the village of Thokur, located near the city of Mangalore in the state of Karnataka, to Roha railway station in the state of Maharashtra, passing through Goa along the west coast of India and the mountain range known as the Western Ghats.

The Konkan Railway impresses both local and international tourists with its beauty. Travellers can enjoy stunning views: the beaches of the Arabian Sea, rushing waterfalls, distant mountains – these are just a few examples of the landscapes seen when travelling on the Konkan Railway from Mumbai to Goa.

International visitors can fully enjoy travelling from Goa to Mumbai or vice versa on the Konkan Railway. In addition to the beautiful Indian landscape, they can also experience what it means to travel on Indian railways.

Indian railways are a cultural icon. People from different regions of India travel on the same train, giving you an idea of the diverse cultures and traditions of the country.

2. Rocky Mountaineer, Canada

The Rocky Mountaineer travel company offers more than 45 vacation packages in Canada and four unique rail routes — three train trips through British Columbia and Alberta to Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper and Calgary, and one train trip from Vancouver to Whistler.

This world-famous luxury train travels through the beauty of wild Western Canada during the day and is one of the best ways to admire the grandeur of the Canadian Rockies. In 2013, the Rocky Mountaineer introduced a new three-day rail route, the Coastal Passage, connecting Seattle and the Canadian Rockies.

In 2005, the Rocky Mountaineer was named the World's Leading Travel Experience by Train. In 2006 and 2007, at the World Travel Awards, the Society of International Railway Travellers included it in its list of the World's Top 25 Trains, and in 2007, National Geographic magazine recognised it as offering one of the World's Best Journeys.

In 2009, the Society of American Travel Writers, the largest organisation of professional journalists and photographers, recognised the journey on the Rocky Mountaineer as the best trip in the world.

3. Argo Gede Train Railroad, Indonesia

There are only two trains running between Jakarta and Bandung: the Parahyangan Express and the Argo Gede executive-class train.

The three-hour trip to Bandung on the Argo Gede is particularly comfortable. During this journey, you can enjoy views of the remarkably lush landscapes of mountains and valleys.

The train runs smoothly along the tracks above the plains. You pass a charming sequence of tea plantations, rice fields, cascading streams and pastoral villages.

4. Jungfrau Railway, Switzerland

During this unique excursion on a circular route on a modern cog railway, you first visit the Kleine Scheidegg mountain pass, located at an altitude of 2,061 metres at the foot of the famous Eiger North Wall. From here, the Jungfrau Railway climbs to the Eigergletscher railway station, known for its mountain restaurant and its kennels for sled dogs.

The route continues through the Eiger Tunnel to the stations at Eigerwand and Eismeer, where the train stops for five minutes at each. Tourists can enjoy breathtaking views through large observation windows carved into the solid Alpine rock.

And then you arrive at Jungfraujoch, in the heart of the magnificent ice world at the top of Europe. The spectacular views stretch all the way to the peaks of the Vosges Mountains in France and the Black Forest in Germany. Jungfraujoch is the starting point of the Great Aletsch Glacier, 22 kilometres long, which is the longest ice flow in the Alps and truly the top of Europe.

5. Rovos Rail, South Africa

Rovos Rail is a private railway company operating on a route that begins at Capital Park Station in Pretoria, South Africa. The International Railway Travellers Society has consistently named the Pride of Africa train one of the ‘25 best trains in the world’ because of its magnificent facilities, spaciousness, service, food and the beautiful scenery enjoyed while travelling on it.

Rovos Rail’s hotel trains regularly run on various routes throughout southern Africa, from South Africa to Namibia and Tanzania. The trains consist of refurbished Rhodesia Railways carriages with two lounges, two dining cars and private sleeping compartments, each with a private bathroom.

The train offers three types of accommodation, the smallest of which is the Pullman, measuring 7 square metres, and the largest is the Royal Suite, which occupies half of the carriage, or 16 square metres. All rooms have a shower, sink and toilet. The Royal Suite also has a Victorian-style bathtub.

The train combines the golden age of rail travel with modern amenities, creating an unforgettable sense of extravagant elegance from a bygone era.

6. Kuranda Scenic Railway, Australia

The Kuranda Scenic Railway is a railway line that runs from the city of Cairns in Queensland, Australia, to the nearby town of Kuranda. The tourist route winds its way up the Macalister Range and is no longer used for regular passenger transport.

Before arriving in Kuranda, it passes through the suburbs of Stratford, Freshwater (stopping at Freshwater station) and Redlynch. The line is still used for some transport services and other passenger operations, such as the Savannahlander motor coaches. The railway is 37 kilometres long, and the journey from start to finish takes approximately 45 minutes.

The Kuranda Railway Tropical Gardens are a well-known attraction in the area. As the railway descends the slope, the tracks cut through Barron Gorge National Park. The tourist train stops at an observation deck, which offers a breathtaking view of Barron Falls. Further along the route, several smaller waterfalls, such as Stoney Creek Falls, are only a few metres from the train. As it climbs and descends the hills, the guide provides detailed information about the construction of this railway line.

7. Outeniqua Choo Tjoe, South Africa

The Outeniqua Choo Tjoe was the last continuously operating passenger steam train in Africa, ceasing operations in 2009. The railway was completed in 1928 and connected the cities of George and Knysna, located in the Western Cape Province of South Africa.

During the three-hour journey, the train stopped at towns such as Wilderness, Goukamma, and Sedgefield. The picturesque 67-kilometre route hugged the rugged coastline of the Garden Route before completing its journey by crossing a bridge over the lagoon in Knysna.

In 1992, this route was officially declared a heritage railway and is protected by the state. At that time, it carried around 40,000 passengers per year. Ten years later, the number of passengers had grown to 115,000 per year, 70% of whom were international tourists.

8. Albula-Bernina Railway Line, Switzerland

The Albula-Bernina Railway Line is operated by the Rhaetian Railway, a Swiss transport company that owns the largest network of private railways in Switzerland. The most famous trains on the Albula-Bernina Railway Line are the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express.

Crossing the Swiss Alps, the Bernina Express connects the Swiss cities of Chur or Davos with Poschiavo and Tirano in Italy. For most of its journey, the train passes by and through UNESCO World Heritage sites known as the Rhaetian Railway in the Albula/Bernina Landscapes.

The Glacier Express travels from Zermatt to Davos or St. Moritz in approximately seven hours. Running since 1930, it has been called ‘the slowest express train in the world,’ travelling at a speed of 36 kilometres per hour. A trip on the Glacier Express is a seven-and-a-half-hour journey, during which the train crosses 291 bridges, 91 tunnels and passes through the Oberalp Pass at its highest point, at an altitude of 2,033 metres.

The Albula and Bernina railway lines were jointly declared a World Heritage Site in 2008. A trip on the Bernina Express is a four-hour journey through this World Heritage Site, during which the train crosses 196 bridges, passes through 55 tunnels, and climbs the Bernina Pass at its highest point, at an altitude of 2,253 metres.

The Bernina Railway built the Bernina line between 1908 and 1910 and operated it independently until the 1940s, when it was transferred to the Rhaetian Railway. The Bernina Express runs at a 7% gradient to compensate for the difference in altitude over a distance of approximately 1,800 metres, from Ospizio Bernina to Tirano.

9. La Mure Railway (Chemin de Fer de La Mure), France

The La Mure Railway is a tourist railway in the Isère department near Grenoble, France.

After facing closure in the mid-1970s, the line was saved due to the oil crisis, giving it a new lease of life and allowing it to become one of the best tourist railways in Europe, with breathtaking views of dams, lakes and mountain landscapes.

It is easily accessible by road from Grenoble or by taking one of the trains operated by the French National Railway Company (SNCF) to the town of Gap.

10. Conway Scenic Railroad, USA

The Conway Scenic Railroad is a cultural and historical railway in North Conway, New Hampshire. It operates two historic routes: the North Conway line in Conway, which was formerly part of the Conway branch of the Boston and Maine Railroad, and the line from North Conway through Crawford Notch to Fabyan, which was once part of the Mountain Division of the Maine Central Railroad.

The Conway Railroad is owned by Conway Scenic Railroad, while the Mountain Division is owned by the State of New Hampshire. The owner and president of Conway Scenic Railroad is Russ Seybold. The main terminal of the railway is located in the historic centre of North Conway in the Mount Washington Valley. In 1979, the station complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places.