Luxury trains - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Luxury trains are special trains designed specifically to offer a sumptuous yet elegant train ride, and evoke a strong sense of association as in history, heritage and decadence of a leisure ride. Luxury trains operate in several countries and offer a luxurious and comfortable traveling option to the luxury travelers. Whereas some luxury trains offer whirlwind tour across major destinations of a country/area other trains take the guest on a long leisure ride, cutting across state borders.

Introduction

Nowadays there is an increase in the trend of luxury train travel around the world. Luxury train travel has several advantages over travel on airplanes. Whereas during air travel the monotony of the journey is occasionally broken by the view of clouds, hovering here and there, through the plane's window, a winding luxury ride on board the trains provides ample opportunity to the guests to witness the myriad colors of the places they are traveling to. There are a number of reasons for the growing popularity of the luxury trains over air travel, which includes ample space, restaurants and bars, spacious and comfortable sleeping and seating area and even wash/bath rooms. Since the time of introduction of Pioneer in 1864 by American industrialist George Mortimer Pullman, luxury train travel has come a long way.

History

In the past, train travel was quite an uncomfortable experience. Without sleeping and dining cars, long distance traveling used to be a harrowing experience. Things changed when Pioneer was introduced by Pullman in 1864. In 1867, "Hotel Cars" were introduced. Pioneer was the first railway carriage to introduce dining cars and sleeping cars in train leading to more comfort during travelling especially a long distance journey. Pullman Car Company was founded in 1880 and was one of the leading luxury passenger railroad car providers.
Another person credited with the beginning of the luxury train travel was Georges Nagelmackers

Georges Nagelmackers

Georges Nagelmackers was the founder of the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits, the company known for the Orient Express trains....

, founder of the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits. Inspired by the Pullman trains during his America visit, Nagelmackers returned to Europe and built a fleet of over 30 luxury trains which offered luxury train travel across several destinations in Europe. He is credited with the beginning of the age of luxury trains and grand hotels.
Since the dawn of the age of luxury trains, the most famous and revered luxury train is perhaps the legendary Orient Express immortalized by Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie

Dame Agatha Christie DBE was a British crime writer of novels, short stories, and plays. She also wrote romances under the name Mary Westmacott, but she is best remembered for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections , and her successful West End plays.According to...

in her book “Murder on the Orient Express

Murder on the Orient Express

Murder on the Orient Express is a work of detective fiction by Agatha Christie featuring the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot.It was first published in the United Kingdom by the Collins Crime Club on January 1, 1934 and in the US by Dodd, Mead and Company later in the same year under the title of...

”. Orient Express happens to be the first luxury train in Europe. It embarked on its maiden journey on 5 June 1883 from Paris Gare de l'Est across Europe. Today the Orient Express not only provides luxury train travel across Europe but several destinations around the globe. Besides Orient Express a number of private operators as well as joint ventures between government parties and private tour operators are providing luxury train travel options in several countries.

Orient Express

Perhaps the single largest luxury train tour operators in the world, Orient-Express Hotels Ltd

Orient-Express Hotels

Orient-Express Hotels Ltd is a hotel and leisure company that operates high end hotels, cruise and train services around the world. As of 2008 it owns or partly owns more than 40 individual deluxe hotels, three restaurants, six tourist trains and two river cruise businesses in more than 25...

boasts of operating most numbers of luxury train tour in the world. With services in Europe, Asia and South America, Orient Express

Orient Express

The Orient Express is the name of a long-distance passenger train service originally operated by the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits. It ran from 1883 to 2009 and is not to be confused with the Venice-Simplon Orient Express train service, which continues to run.The route and rolling stock...

is the only private luxury tour provider (With the exception of Grand Trans Siberian Express) to offer pan continental luxury travel services.

Venice Simplon Orient Express

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Venice-Simplon Orient Express

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is a private luxury train service that travels from London to Venice that is popularly referred to as the Orient Express....

, a private luxury train service which offer luxury train travels from London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

to Venice

Venice

Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...

, is arguably one of the most popular luxury tourist trains in the world. It was also voted as the number 1 luxury train in the world.

Royal Scotsman

The Royal Scotsman

The Royal Scotsman is a Scottish luxury charter train run by Orient-Express Hotels Ltd.The train is composed of nine cars; two dining cars, five state cars, one crew car, and one observation car....

, operated by Orient-Express Hotels Ltd

Orient-Express Hotels

offers an unhurried luxury train cruise with only 36 passengers across selected scenic landscapes of Scotland

Scotland

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...

Hiram Bingham

Providers of luxury train tours in Peru, Hiram Bingham is one of the luxury Orient Express

Orient Express

service. This train charts the course of scenic Machhu Picchu, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Northern Belle

Northern Belle is a luxury train owned by Venice-Simplon Orient Express, operating railtours and charters that complement the programme of the British Pullman train. Introduced in 2000, the train consists primarily of British Rail Mark 2

British Rail Mark 2

The Mark 2 family of railway carriages were British Rail's second design of carriages. They were built by British Rail workshops between 1964 and 1975...

coaching stock, refurbished internally and painted externally to resemble the vintage Brighton Belle

Brighton Belle

The Brighton Belle was a named train which ran on the Southern Railway from Victoria Station in London to Brighton, on the Sussex coast. The first electric all-Pullman service in the world, it ran from 29 June 1934 till 30 April 1972.-History:...

coaches of the British Pullman. The buffet cars are British Rail Mark 1 coaches. Unlike the British Pullman, the train primarily operates in the north of England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

and Scotland. The train also has two British Rail Mark 3

British Rail Mark 3

British Rail's third design of standard carriage was designated 'Mark 3' , and was developed primarily for the InterCity 125 High Speed Train...

sleeper coaches for its crew.

The train embarks from a number of Northern UK cities, including Liverpool

Liverpool

Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...

, Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...

, Glasgow

Glasgow

Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...

and Manchester

Manchester

Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...

. Northern Belle comprises six dining cars named after historic British houses.

Eastern and Oriental Express

The exclusive Eastern and Oriental Express

Eastern and Oriental Express

The Eastern & Oriental Express carries passengers in luxury between Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. The train travels through dense rainforests and towering mountains past golden temples; rubber plantations and fields of frangiapani, tapioca, sunflowers and mango orchards; and remote towns and...

, winding through some of the most exotic and spectacular locales from Bangkok

Bangkok

Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...

to Singapore

Singapore

Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...

via Kuala Lumpur, offers an unforgettable ride through mystic landscapes. Covering over 2,000 km of peninsular South East Asia, the two-day journey offered by the Eastern and Oriental Express

Eastern and Oriental Express

has frequent stops at scenic locations. This luxury train has three classes of coach, elegant decor and come equipped with contemporary amenities, including 24-hour steward service, international electric sockets (220 volts) and 110 volt adapter for razors, a personal safe and hairdryer. All coaches are fully air-conditioned and come with en suite shower and washbasin. Eastern and Oriental Express offer 4 distinct journeys which lets you discover the mystique and enchantment of peninsular Asia

Asia

Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...

British Pullman

Pullman train (UK)

Pullman trains in Great Britain were mainline luxury railway services that operated with first-class coaches and a steward service, provided by the British Pullman Car Company.-Origins:...

train takes its name from George Mortimer Pullman founder of the Pullman Car Company. One of the key attributes which sets the British Pullman train apart is that it consists of the vintage carriages which ran on the legendary 1920's services of the original Orient Express. British Pullman train comes with a total of 11 carriages which bear testimony to the history and legend that is Orient Express. Quaint decor, exquisite artistic skills art deco marquetry along with consummate hospitality gives an unmatchable character to this luxury train. Each carriage of this train is a walking gallery of grandeur. Each name has its own history, its own motif and its own legend. British Pullman can carry 226 passengers. The guests on board the British Pullman train are offered gourmet dining options and each course is accompanied by rare wines and finest champagnes. British Pullman train is arguably the best way to discover the British countryside.

Rovos Rail

Established in 1989, Rovos Rail

Rovos Rail

Rovos Rail is a private railway company operating out of Capital Park Station in Pretoria, South Africa. The Society of International Railway Travelers has regularly named the Pride of Africa, as the train is called, as one of the World's Top 25 Trains because of its excellent accommodation, public...

, a luxury train in Africa began its maiden journey on 29 April 1989. Rovos Rail offers pan African luxury train journeys spanning over 24 hours to a fortnight. Rovos Rail also offers private rail charters, golf tour and a special journey spanning over 7 African countries combining Rovos Rail, private plane and a 5 star luxury cruise.

Palace on Wheels

Palace on Wheels, voted as the 4th best luxury train in the world is a luxury train in India. Palace on Wheels

Palace on Wheels

The Palace on Wheels is a luxury tourist train. It was launched by the Indian Railways to promote tourism in Rajasthan, and has been highly popular since its launch....

offer a luxurious ride to the guest across destinations in Rajasthan

Tourism in Rajasthan

Rajasthan is one of the most popular tourist destination in India, for both domestic & international tourists. Rajasthan attracts tourist for its historical forts, palaces, art and culture. Every third foreign tourist visiting India also travel to Rajasthan as it is part of the Golden Triangle for...

along with Agra. Palace on Wheels has 14 coaches named after the princely states of erstwhile Rajputana. The aesthetics and decor of the salons reflects the heritage, culture and opulence of the Maharajas of the bygone era. The train also houses two pantry cars, a bar and a lounge for the pleasure of the guests. This train is operated by Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation Ltd., a government of Rajasthan undertaking.

Maharajas Express

A joint venture between Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and Cox & Kings, Royale Indian Rail Tours Ltd (RIRTL). is the official operator of Maharajas Express, the latest luxury train in India. Billed as one of the most luxurios train in the world and India's answer to the Orient Express, this train offers 4 signature journeys to the guests across major tourist destinations in India. A ride on board the Maharajas Express

Maharaja Express

The Maharajas' Express is a luxury train operated on the Indian Railways from early 2010. It is a joint venture between Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation and the travel agency Cox and Kings India Ltd....

is the costliest luxury ride in India.

Royal Rajasthan on Wheels

This Indian luxury train commenced its service from December 2009. Royal Rajasthan on Wheels

Royal Rajasthan on Wheels

The Royal Rajasthan on Wheels is a luxury tourist train run by Indian Railways. It is modelled on the Palace on Wheels, and follows a similar route through Rajasthan...

was launched on the queue of Palace on Wheels (RRoW), the most revered and popular luxury train in India. Royal Rajasthan on Wheels takes the guests on a regal ride of destinations in Rajasthan. Recently two destinations, Khajuraho

Khajuraho

The Khajuraho Group of Monuments in Khajuraho , a town in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, located in Chhatarpur District, about southeast of New Delhi, are one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. Khajuraho has the largest group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples, famous for...

and Varanasi

Varanasi

-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...

, were added to the itinerary of the train. This train, composed of 22 coaches, can carry 82 passengers in a journey with one Super Deluxe saloon, thirteen Deluxe Saloons and two restro-lounges. With facilities like spa and fitness center on board, Royal Rajasthan on Wheels is one of the most luxurious trains in the world.

Rocky Mountaineer

Featured on the BBC TV's list of 50 Things to do Before You Die Rocky Mountaineer Rail takes the guest on a once in a lifetime tour along the Rocky Mountains with its snow covered peaks, huge forests and glacier fed lakes in Canada. In 1990, Canada's national rail operator VIA Rail sold off it's 'Rockies by daylight' scenic train to a private company called Rocky Mountaineer Vacations, who renamed it 'The Rocky Mountaineer'. The Rocky Mountaineer

Rocky Mountaineer

Rocky Mountaineer is a Canadian tour company offering Western Canadian vacation packages that operates trains on four rail routes through British Columbia and Alberta.-Background:...

operates on four different routes in the Canadian Rockies, through spectacular scenery with truly world class service on board.

Blue Train

Winner of the prestigious 'Africa's Leading Luxury Train' award for two years in a row (2009–10), Blue Train combines the best of a luxury 5 Star hotel interiors and the irresistible allure of leisure train travel. Blue Train

Blue Train (South Africa)

The Blue Train travels an approximately journey in South Africa between Pretoria and Cape Town. It is one of the most luxurious train journeys in the world...

offer luxury rides across several destinations in South Africa. This train is also available for private charter.

The Golden Chariot

The Golden Chariot is a luxury tourist train that connects the important tourist spots in the Indian states of Karnataka and Goa. It is named after the Stone Chariot in the Vitthala Temple at Hampi. The 19 coaches on the train are coloured purple and gold, and sport the logo of a mythological...

, a luxury train in India offers a whirlwind luxury tour across important tourist destinations in South India along with Goa

Goa

Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...

. The Golden Chariot offers two distinct itineraries to the guests which are the Southern Splendor and Pride of the South.

The Ghan

The Ghan, a luxury train in Australia, connects 2,979 kilometres of breathtaking locales through the heart of the Australian continent from Darwin in the north to Adelaide in the south.

Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express

Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express launched in April, 2007 takes the guests on a 6000 miles luxurious journey, world's longest train journey, across two continents and 8 time zones. Golden Eagle train traverses the course of famous Trans-Siberian Railroad which connects Moscow and European Russia with the Russian Far East provinces, Mongolia, China and the Sea of Japan.

External links

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