As rail has a renaissance, Sasha Wood picks some of the best new train holidays around the world
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1. Colorado to Utah
The famous Rocky Mountaineer is extending its range to the American west this year with a new Rockies to the Red Rocks route.
The two-day journey from Denver, Colorado, to Moab, Utah, includes an overnight stay in Glenwood Springs and transports travellers through the awe-inspiring Colorado Rocky Mountains to the rust-red Arches National Park, passing vast canyons, natural archways and towering hoodoos (tall, spindly rock formations).
The luxury train offers gourmet dining and spectacular views in glass-domed coaches.
Book it: A week with Premier Holidays, including a two-day Rocky Mountaineer trip and time to explore the national parks, costs from £3,699.
premierholidays.co.uk
2. London to Bath with Wes Anderson
Film director Wes Anderson, famous for stylised movies such as The Darjeeling Ltd and The Grand Budapest Hotel, redesigned a vintage carriage for Belmond’s British Pullman train last autumn – and now the train is being deployed on new routes.
With UK trips harking back to rail’s golden era, guests can watch the world go by from the comfort of a plush carriage with five-star dining.
Hop aboard for a trip from London through Kent with a murder mystery lunch, or take a trip from London to Bath, with free time to stop and explore.
Book it: Belmond offers Historic Bath day trips from London, with prices starting at £560.
ffestiniogtravel.com
3. Slow South Africa
A slow journey aboard the luxury Blue Train lets clients relax and soak up the views of the vast wildlife reserves and savannahs of South Africa.
Fred Holidays’ new rail collection features a two-week trip starting with a stay in a bush lodge on the edge of Kruger National Park before boarding the five-star hotel on wheels for a two-day north-to-south adventure.
Book it: A 15-day trip staying in Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge with a two-night journey on the Blue Train from Pretoria to Cape Town costs from £6,369.
fredholidays.co.uk
4. Vienna on the Orient Express
Evoking the romance of old world rail journeys, the Orient-Express is the epitome of sophisticated luxury train travel. And there are now several new European Orient-Express routes, one of which whisks passengers from London across France and Germany to the spires of Austrian capital Vienna, passing Alpine peaks, lakes and meadows.
A five-day trip includes an overnight stay aboard the Orient-Express with champagne dining and two full days in Vienna.
Book it: Railbookers offers a five-day trip to Vienna on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express from £4,149.
railbookers.co.uk
5. Europe by day and night
Sleeper trains are experiencing a revival, and operators are putting together fresh itineraries that spirit travellers across Europe under the cover of night – to wake up the next morning in gorgeous cities such as Zurich, Munich and Rome.
A handful of new Nightjet services started crisscrossing Europe from Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels this winter with comfortable sleeper carriages that are surprisingly affordable.
Book it: Slow travel specialist Byway has a 10-day return rail journey between London and Rome, including journeys aboard the Eurostar, Bernina Express and Nightjet, with stays in Zurich and Lake Como, from £999.
byway.travel
PICTURES: Salvador Lopez; Blue Train; Shutterstock/Nick Beer
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