Ride the rails in style: 5 new train journeys
From a new bullet train line in Japan to added stops on the Trans-Siberian, there’s never been a better time to see the world in luxury
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Your support makes all the difference.Eschewing busy roads and packed planes, train travel is seeing a welcome renaissance, with old carriages being polished to perfection and put back in action, and new, modern services being launched. This year also weighs in as the centenary year of the Trans-Siberian Railway and undiscovered places have been put on the route map to celebrate.
Japan: Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate Hokuto
The hotly anticipated new bullet train line from Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate Hokuto opened last week, cutting the journey time from nearly six hours (with lots of changes) down to a direct service of four hours and two minutes, making the lesser-visited island of Hokkaido with its hot springs, volcanoes and views of the majestic Mount Hakodate easily accessible. Inside Japan (0117 370 9751; insidejapantours.com) runs a 14-night Wild Hokkaido package based around the new rail service from £2,450pp, excluding international flights. It includes 14 nights’ B&B, train tickets, some meals, guiding and experiences, plus domestic flights and car hire.
Ireland: Belmond Grand Hibernian
This August the Belmond Grand Hibernian (0845 077 2222; belmond.com) will become Ireland’s first luxury touring train, with 20 en-suite cabins, an observation deck and two dining cars, Wexford and Sligo. Its inaugural journey will be Legends and Loughs, speeding through the Irish countryside from Cork to Killarney, Galway and Westport. Stops are made to visit the Jameson’s Whiskey Distillery and kiss the Blarney Stone. The four-night package starts from £4,011pp. On-board accommodation, all meals, drinks, entertainment and excursions are included, but not flights.
Australia: Elements of Byron
The 94-villa Elements of Byron (61 2 6639 1500; elementsofbyron.com.au) resort opened this February on the shores of Byron Bay’s Belongil Beach. The owners have re-instated an old train link that lay shut for over 10 years, connecting the resort with Byron Bay town, and the train has been restored to its former glory in heritage colours. Starting mid-2016, the hourly service will have space for surfboards and will initially run on diesel, but there’s plans to covert it to solar power. B&B in a two-bedroom villa costs from £359 plus unlimited train use. It will also be open to the public for a fare of A$3 (£1.60) one way.
Italy: Vintage steam train
Step back in time and navigate Sardinia’s spectacular scenery and rugged terrain via narrow gauge railways on a specially chartered vintage steam train. Departing from Sardinia’s capital, Cagliari, in plush carriages, you’ll speed through lush forests and rural villages, stopping in at the medieval fortress at Bosa, the walled city of Algehero and the south-western port of Arbatax. There’ll al fresco Italian lunches en route. The Railway Touring Company’s (01553 661 500; railwaytouring.net) Sardinia and the Emerald Coast package costs £2,155pp and includes all rail and coach transport, flights from London to Cagliari, nine nights’ B&B, most meals and all transfers.
Russia: Trans-Siberian Railway
Celebrating the centenary year of the Trans-Siberian Railway, Golden Eagle Luxury Trains (0161 928 9410; goldeneagleluxurytrains.com) is making a special journey on 26 July with three additional stops in Nechinsk, Sretensk and Blagoveshchensk. The route will begin in Moscow with a private viewing of the Kremlin and then travel 11,000km to Vladivostok, taking in folk performances and swimming in Lake Baikal along the way. Onboard this once-in-a-lifetime journey will be Christian Wolmar, author of the Great Railway Revolution, giving talks. There is currently a no-single-supplement offer, with prices from £9,895pp, for 12 nights on board the Golden Eagle in an en-suite cabin, two nights’ hotel accommodation, guided excursions, plus arrival and departure transfers. Flights not included.
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