The most beautiful scenery is on the road, this may be the common aspiration of people on the journey. And when you embark on a journey by train, the world outside the window of the car passing by or slowly retreating always gives you a sense of reality that it’s totally worth it.
This article summarizes the 4 most beautiful railway travel lines. Let's get on the train and enjoy the beautiful scenery along these railway lines!
1. Europe: Orient Express
Whether you've traveled to Europe or not, you've probably heard the name "Orient Express". The Orient Express is the most legendary train in the history of European railways. When it set sail in 1883, the train sailed from the European continent to Istanbul, Turkey. Later, "Murder on the Orient Express", a detective novel that made countless readers love it, was born, making the Orient Express even more legendary.
The original Orient Express was discontinued in 2009. The current Orient Express is operated by Belmond and is one of the world's leading luxury trains. It is decorated in a luxurious style, creating rooms and carriages that resemble aristocratic palaces.
The tables and chairs in the car are made of high-quality wooden furniture, and every detail is full of extravagance. At present, the European Orient Express mainly travels through major cities in Europe, spanning the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Slovakia, Poland, Romania, and all the way to Istanbul, Turkey.
2. Australia: The Ghan
The long-established Ghan runs through central Australia, connecting the north and south coasts. The train line is 2000 miles long and takes three days along the way, starting from Adelaide and stretching all the way to Darwin Harbour on the north coast. The train passes through the boundless plains and yellow-brown mountains along the way and enters the barren red earth center.
The blue sky and rust-red land are the most beautiful natural scenery in the Australian mainland. This railway line was used to transport camels in the 19th century. The stops along the journey of the Great Ghan train are all good places to enjoy the beauty of central Australia. Passengers can walk through the wilderness with a guide, take in panoramic views from a helicopter, and even have the opportunity to ride a camel across the desert.
3. USA: California Zephyr
The United States has the largest rail system in the world, and Amtrak has many famous long-distance sleeper trains, providing a number of rail journeys that rail fans flock to. Among them, the California Zephyr is known as the longest and most beautiful railway line in the United States. The California Zephyr was built in 1949. It still runs in both directions every day.
It takes 52 hours and runs 2,438 kilometers from Chicago to San Francisco. The California Zephyr travels through seven states in the United States. The first stop of the train will be in Salt Lake City for three hours. Passengers can enjoy the breathtaking scenery brought by the majestic peaks and lush forests.
Passengers can also admire the splendor of the Rocky Mountains from the window, which is once again unforgettable as the train accelerates through the bluffs and canyons of the upper Colorado River and into the deserts of Utah and Nevada. The dizzying Sierra Nevada pass is the last stop before reaching San Francisco and the Pacific, and it's the perfect ending to this cross-country adventure.
4. United Kingdom: West Highland Railway
This breathtaking railway line connects the west coast city of Maragh with Scotland's largest city, Glasgow. The 90-minute railway line is surrounded by lakes, gorges, marshes, and castles, and once you reach the blue coast of Maragh, you can see the small islands of Aig, Mook, and Ram.
The Glenfinnan Viaduct, which was passed on the way to Manager, was the filming location of the Hogwarts Express in the movie "Harry Potter". For tourists, the best time to travel this route is in spring when gorse and rhododendrons are in bloom.
