Luxury trains expand global routes and upscale amenities

From Angola to Turkmenistan, sumptuously outfitted railroad cars are taking passengers on over-the-top journeys that trade speed for a sense of being transported back in time. Demand has climbed: Railbookers, a Boston-based agency, saw revenue from luxury rail bookings grow 135 percent over the past three years, with a 41 percent jump in the last year.

Nostalgia figures prominently — “You picture Agatha Christie and the Hapsburgs,” says Joan Roca, founder of Essentialist — but operators are also adding modern luxuries, from Dior-branded spas on Belmonds Royal Scotsman to larger cabins like the Venice Simplon-Orient-Expresss new LObservatoire suite.

"It really is a blast to have a full-body massage on a rolling train," says Eleanor Flagler Hardy of the International Society of Railway Travelers. Examples of new and expanded offerings run the gamut: Belmonds Britannic Explorer, launched in summer 2025, runs routes in Cornwall, Wales and the Lake District with chef Simon Rogan overseeing dining and fares from about $8,348 for three days in the Lake District.

Canyon Spirit operates day-focused glass-domed runs in the Rockies with hotel nights and packages from about $2,147. La Dolce Vita Orient Express channels 1960sand70s Italy, with dining by Heinz Beck and itineraries such as the three-day Truffle Route from about $10,207.

Key Topics

Culture, Luxury Trains, Belmond, Golden Eagle, Orient Express, Rovos Rail