Whilst the pleasures of train travel in the UK are few and far between (well, with a few exceptions), whilst exploring abroad it can be one of the very best ways to get around. Slowing the pace down to relaxed, you can get much closer to spectacular scenery, catch a glimpse of life at a local level and, in some cases, even get to sit down with local travellers and chat. Countries such as India, Burma, Malaysia and Vietnam all have railways built during their time under European colonial rule, whilst China and Japan have built highly modern and efficient rail networks a lot more recently. Whichever sort of train journey piques your interest, here are our favourites:
The Reunification Express, Vietnam
Not it’s official name, but perfectly capturing its essence, this French built line from 1926 connects Hanoi in the north to Saigon in the south – 1,762 kilometres away. Comfortable but by no means luxury, it is the scenery that the train passes through that makes the experience. From the rice paddies and karst landscapes around Ninh Binh to meandering along the dramatic coastline between Vinh and Danang, there is much magnificence to see. There are six trains daily, with two nights spent onboard with options for hard seater, hard sleeper and soft sleeper.
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
India is a land known for its train travel, and there are a number of fantastic options, but none quite as scenic as Darjeeling’s ‘Toy Train’. A narrow gauge railway built by the British between 1879 and 1881 to transport tea down from Darjeeling to be shipped around the world, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, along with two other railways, is UNESCO-listed. The tourist line between Darjeeling and Ghoom (India’s highest station) is plied by a beautiful vintage British built B Class steam locomotive, which puffs its way through the lush tea plantations on the 2 hour journey.
Qinghai-Tibet Train
Opened in 2006, the line between Xining and Lhasa makes up the world’s highest railway, passing 5,072 metres at Tanggula Pass. Connecting China’s capital Beijing with Tibet’s capital Lhasa in about 46 hours, the line passes through magnificent plateau scenery, from lakes and mountains to yaks, crossing high passes and permafrost. An incredible feat of engineering, taking the train rather than flying gives you the chance to view much more of Tibet’s epic landscapes than those you fly into Lhasa. Opt for the hard sleeper or soft sleeper for a more restful experience.
Eastern and Oriental Express
Operating a number of routes in Thailand and Malaysia, and part of the Orient Express group, the ‘classic’ route between Bangkok and Singapore is a luxurious travel experience. Evoking a bygone era of luxury travel, the sumptuous train serves up good food, good wine and a convivial atmosphere. Departing from either Singapore or Bangkok, wind through the countryside of Malaysia and Thailand, passing the cosmopolitan city of Kuala Lumpur, exploring colonial Georgetown and crossing the infamous bridge over the River Kwai in the utmost comfort.
If this blog has inspired you to consider travelling Asia by rail, please call us for more information on your plentiful options – whether you want to do it in the utmost luxury of a first class locomotive or sitting amongst the locals on a more basic train.