Train travel is gathering steam …
I have my eye on the versatile Express, Louis Vuitton’s latest bag designed by the women’s collection artistic director Nicolas Ghesquière. It’s apparently inspired by train platforms where “departing strangers, fleeting lovers and eternal unknowns cross paths”. Iconic films such as Casablanca and 2046 were on Ghesquière’s moodboard. Indeed, he staged his commuter-friendly AW26 show at L’Étoile du Nord, a former railway company headquarters located next to Paris’ Gare du Nord station – stay close by at the dreamy Hôtel Les Deux Gares.
He’s not the only designer inspired by trains. At Balenciaga, Pierpaolo Piccioli has models hopping on and off the Paris metro in wispy gowns or gym gear in campaign images for his pre-fall ’26 On The Move collection. The annual Prada Frames Symposium 2025 was held in the avant-garde Arlecchino (Harlequin), a mid-century electric train originally designed by Gio Ponti. It’s known for its colourful interiors, large ribbon windows and cinematic lounges to the front and rear, and can be booked for private trips.
Fashion and travel trends may be colliding, but this rail renaissance is not just about indulging in retro nostalgia. Thanks to quicker boarding, extra legroom, scenic views and a lower carbon footprint, modern train travel reflects an emphasis on the journey itself rather than merely getting to the destination as quickly as possible. It’s a less frantic form of travel and, in some cases, a luxurious way to see the world.
Launching in May is a new route which brings three of the most popular city break destinations onto one line – Prague, Berlin and Copenhagen. This summer, Venice Simplon-Orient-Express debuts a new three-day route from Paris to the Amalfi Coast. Passengers can opt to sleep in Historic Cabins, Suites or Grand Suites before disembarking for a swish two-day stay at Belmond Caruso hotel in Ravello where cookery and art lessons, a tour of Amalfi’s secret coves and a gala dinner in the hotel’s Wagner Gardens completes the trip. And if you want to travel in regal art deco style between Seville and Madrid, the new seven-day Al Andalus route includes visits to the Royal Palace of Aranjuez, the windmills of Campo de Criptana and Roman ruins of Mérida, before retiring to your Grand Class Room or Deluxe Suite, or relaxing in one of four 1920s-style lounges on board. The train carriages were originally used by the British royal family when travelling through France. Read on for further ideas and new routes …
DOLCE VITA DREAMS
Described as a “five-star rail cruise” with journeys which are all about tasting, seeing and feeling Italy, the new La Dolce Vita Orient Express has a fleet of six trains, designed by the Milan-based Dimore Studio. They ooze style and pay homage to 20th-century design legends Gio Ponti and Gae Aulenti, with a whiff of Wes Anderson. Itineraries vary from a one-day gourmet escape from Rome to Venice, to a five-day Grand Tour taking in the caves of Matera, the coastal beauty of Taormina and also Palermo. The Truffle Route to Piedmont and the Northern Greens for golfers are other offerings. All guarantee plenty of free time for passengers who may need to stretch their legs after top-notch dining by three-Michelin starred chef Heinz Beck.
ALPINE GLORIES
The new GoldenPass Express takes passengers from the pretty lakeside resort of Montreux to Interlaken in the Bernese Oberland. It’s a three-hour ride with four departures a day in both directions. For added luxury, opt for Prestige class, around €96 for a one-way ticket, where heated leather seats recline and rotate and are 15 inches higher than those in other carriages, meaning better views over the Lavaux region’s vineyards, valleys and glaciers. It’s a short but celebratory service with a menu featuring caviar from nearby Frutigen and bottles of crisp Duval-Leroy Brut Champagne.
If visiting Switzerland, investing in a Swiss Travel pass is a good idea; it entitles you to unlimited travel by train, boat or bus. Prices start from c.€284 for three days and can be extended to four, six, eight or 15. Included is access on the UNESCO-listed Bernina Express journey from Chur to Tirano – you only have to pay extra for seat reservation. This four-hour journey winds through the Swiss Alps, taking in the famous Montebello curve and the engineering marvel of the Brusio Circular Viaduct. I’d recommend getting off at Tirano and connecting to Lugano (via the Bernina Express Bus) one of my favourite lakeside resorts.
Another noteworthy train is the Glacier Express, connecting the chic resort of St Moritz with Zermatt (home of the Matterhorn). Possibly not suitable for those with acrophobia, this eight-hour journey through the dramatic Rhine Gorge – the Swiss Grand Canyon – and up to the dramatic Oberalp Pass is spectacular. To upgrade the experience, book Excellence Class, a special deluxe panoramic car, where complimentary drinks, a concierge and a seven-course regional menu are included. Once you arrive at St Moritz, stay in the posh, private Suvretta House, just a short walk from St Moritz Station, or hotfoot it to the new Chesa Marchetta, opened by art dealers Iwan and Maneuela Wirth, who also own acclaimed Scottish hotel The Fife Arms.
PASSAGE TO INDIA
In EM Forster’s novel, A Passage to India, the rhythmic rolling of the train sparks an existential crisis for its central character, Mrs Moore, who is discombobulated by the crowds and culinary activities on board. She remarks that a train is a “strange place to make tea in”. One train company offering an infinitely more soothing and spectacular way to see India is the Deccan Odyssey, which offers six immersive itineraries. The latest is the Indian Odyssey, which takes in the famous Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. This includes tiger-spotting in Ranthambore, exploring Udaipur and visiting the impressive Amber Fort outside the Pink City. I’d make a beeline to Nila House, Carole Bamford’s art and craft project, or pop into the striking Villa Palladio (pictured) – the ultimate place to have tea in Jaipur.
NIGHT TRAINS
Night trains are firmly on travellers’ radars, according to the experts at Rail Europe, particularly for those looking to avoid short-haul flights or absorb a day in travel and save on hotel costs. From March 26, the European Sleeper will run three times a week between Paris, Brussels, Aachen and Berlin and from Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin and Prague. Fares cost from €39.99, sharing a Budget compartment, to €159.99 for a Comfort compartment which can sleep three. A new night train connection from Amsterdam and Brussels to Milan will launch in June. Train buffs should visit the opulent Sala Reale inside Milan’s Central station – a stunning hidden gem built for the Italian royal family in the 1930s, accessible only on guided tours.
As for the iconic Caledonian Sleeper, it has a new departure point – Birmingham – where travellers can board and wake up in Scottish destinations including Aberdeen, Inverness, Fort William and Perth. I’d disembark in Pitlochry to stay at the former railway hotel, The Grandtully Hotel by Ballintaggart. This eight-bedroom hotel is known for its culinary delights and has a Michelin key.
TIME, TASTE, TRANQUILITY
If planning a train journey around South East Asia, essential reading is the Lonely Planet’s new guide Epic Train Trips of the World which offers inspiration on routes and is organised into three categories – everyday, luxury and epic; each journey includes a detailed map. For a high-end experience, The Vietage by Anantara offers exclusive rides between Da Nang and Quy Nhon (and Nha Trang) for only twelve passengers on each journey with gourmet dining, free-flowing drinks and spa treatments. Also debuting this year is SJourney’s eight-day culinary and cultural adventure. Thirteen elegant 1930s Indochine-style carriages carry guests more than 1,200 miles through Vietnam’s stunning landscapes.
OFF-PISTE PORTUGAL
The newly upgraded Beira Alta line (connecting to the main Lisbonto-Porto line) offers a greener connection across Portugal’s less touristy routes. Hop on at Pampilhosa do Botão, just outside the UNESCO-listed university town of Coimbra, which has an attractive old town and striking Romanesque cathedral. For an ornate base, stay in Palacio da Lousa boutique hotel. After exploring the surroundings – a must-visit is its schist stone villages (Aldeias do Xisto) – switch trains in Guarda and end the adventure in Vilar Formoso, a small town on the Spanish border, where the railway station is decorated with pretty azulejo tiles. The town served as an important refugee escape route during the Second World War and the poignant Frontier of Peace Museum is a worth a visit, as is the weekly flea market on the first Saturday of every month.
THAI TREASURE
Just launched is the new Blue Jasmine luxury sleeper train which is made from restored 1960s rolling stock and can transport 37 guests on a nine-day journey. It leaves from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong station taking in the ancient Siamese capital of Ayutthaya and the temple town of Utahi Thani, which is popular with residents but not tourists. It then travels to Chiang Mai and south through the Khun Tan mountains to the ruins of Sukhothai. Once back in Bangkok, a Chao Phraya river cruise completes this epic journey with the Luxury Holiday Company.
LET’S DO GDANSK
Gdansk has been named as one of Ryanair’s top five destinations for 2026. It’s also affordable and cool; stay in Hotel Gdansk which has great views of the old town and marina. From there, it’s a 20-minute tram ride to Wajdeloty Street, a cool district with trendy wine bars and 19th-century houses. Fast, frequent regional trains (SKM) from Gdansk makes further exploration effortless. Where to go? Sopot is an easy day trip and overnight experience for those in search of a classic seaside experience. It’s been known as a spa retreat for centuries.
PICTURESQUE PYRENEES
Celebrating 30 years in business, Irish-owned Travel Department is known for its expertise in escorted tours, solo and activity-based holidays. This year it adds new destinations (Colombia, Albania and South Korea) to its offering and several holidays with a focus on rail travel. Lake Garda, Venice & Verona by Rail is one, another is a seven-night Little Trains of the Pyrenees, from €1,199, with flights from Dublin to Barcelona included. Base camp is the seaside town of Roses on the Costa Brava, from where participants ride historic trains (with open-air carriages) such as the Little Yellow Train which meanders through the French Pyrenees to Mont-Louis. The Núria Valley Rack Railway climbs 1,000m with stunning views of the mountains. The Red Train passes through vineyards and castles on a 100-year-old railway line. For art enthusiasts, the tour is a chance to learn more about Salvador Dalí on trips to his birthplace in the pretty town of Figueres and to the Dalí Museum in medieval Girona.
TICKET TO RIDE
Flexible, efficient and cost effective, one of the best train passes is the Interrail Global Pass which allows holders to visit up to 33 countries at their own pace. The popular one-month pass, favoured by students, costs €522 but other options for shorter periods can be as little as €212. Trinity College Dublin student Grace Colville and her friends were fortunate to win a ticket in the DiscoverEU contest through @discovereuireland on Instagram. She explains: “This initiative gives away around 30,000 tickets across Europe, with around 400 winners in Ireland. We entered the draw to win an Interrail pass, which EU citizens are eligible to enter the year they turn 18. In May, we found out that four of us had won the pass, which meant the DiscoverEU initiative paid for both our outbound and inbound flights, as well as seven days of train travel. We planned our route in advance to make the most of our seven travel days, and booked the hostels via Hostelworld. We went to Berlin, Prague, Budapest, Vienna, Bled, Venice, Rome and Sicily. Budapest and Bled in particular were beautiful. The Drunken Monkey hostel in Prague (pictured) was a standout, with its sociable courtyard out back where they served food from a burger truck. I found train travel so much more efficient and relaxing than flying.”
