Europe’s railways have rarely inspired as much excitement as they have recently. Train companies, eager to capitalize on this new-found enthusiasm, have been racing to add new destinations, revive old ones or simply provide more seats on popular routes. Others have gone for luxury charters aimed at re-creating the opulence of train travel in the past.
Here are some tried and tested routes that are easily accessible and offer the kind of beautiful scenery that has been a source of delight to travellers for decades, or more:
Eurocity Transalpin, Austria: The Transalpin from Zurich to Graz, Austria, is one of only a handful of trains with the Swiss Federal Railways’ first-class panorama car. Its high, curved windows rise above the seats to reveal sweeping views of the Alps. In good weather, you can spend most of the nine-and-a-half-hour journey gazing at a rolling landscape of mountains, meadows, clear lakes and peaceful villages.
Crossing nearly all of Austria, the train stops at popular mountain resorts, which have increased their variety of year-round activities, such as hiking, mountain biking, water sports and farm stays, to complement traditional winter sports.
The dining car serves schnitzel, knödel and other local dishes with Austrian wines and there’s a seasonal menu with vegan and vegetarian options.
Graz, Austria’s second largest city, has a pleasant historic quarter on the banks of the River Mur and is a good starting point for a Central European adventure, thanks to good connections to Vienna, Prague, Budapest and beyond.
Tickets from the Austrian Federal Railways start at 40 euros ($62.30) in second class and 60 euros in first.
Treno Gottardo, Switzerland: The Gotthard Railway, one of Switzerland’s main Alpine gateways to Italy, combines dramatic views with spectacular engineering feats. To make the most of the scenery, board the Treno Gottardo, a direct service from Basel or Zurich to Locarno. The train travels through the original Gotthard Tunnel from 1882 at above 3,000 feet. It spends about 10 minutes in the tunnel. You may be tempted to stop and explore the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, at the southern end of the route, before heading on to Milan or Venice on direct trains.
South of Lake Lucerne, the train climbs a series of bridges and spiral tunnels to reach snowy peaks before descending to Locarno on the palm-tree-lined shores of Lake Maggiore. The lake, with blue waters bordered by steep slopes, straddles Switzerland and Italy, and its tiny islands are home to elegant palazzos and lush gardens.
Tickets to Locarno start at 32 Swiss francs ($53.60) for rides departing from Basel or 24 francs from Zurich.
Intercity Notte to Sicily, Italy:Â The trips from Milan or Rome to Sicily are among the longest direct train routes you can embark on in Europe. Though perhaps slightly too great a distance to travel by day, it can be a comfortable length for night.
Two trains that once ran this route, the Freccia del Sud, or Southern Arrow, and the Treno del Sole, or Sunshine Train, played a role in the large-scale migration of Italians from the rural south to the industrial north after The Second World War.
Today’s travellers can order dinner or go to bed shortly after boarding and wake up to southern sunshine and coastal views. The highlight comes around breakfast time, when the train cars are loaded onto Europe’s last passenger train ferry (complete with tracks) to sail across the Strait of Messina to Sicily. The final leg of the journey is a scenic coastal ride to Palermo or Syracuse.
Tickets from Trenitalia to either Milan or Rome start at just under 50 eurosÌý($78)Ìýfor a couchette in a basic four-person compartment.
West Highland Line, Scotland: Shortly after leaving Glasgow, this line turns north, travelling between glistening lochs, and heads into untamed highland wilderness. After three hours, trains reach the Corrour station, set in a vast moorland accessible only by foot or rail. Corrour has a café and many walking routes.
Farther on, Fort William is the ideal stop for a hike up Ben Nevis, Scotland’s highest mountain. And before reaching Mallaig, trains cross the Victorian-era Glenfinnan Viaduct, popular with filmmakers From the port of Mallaig, you can catch a ferry to the Isle of Skye to explore its castles and dramatic shores.
The local carrier ScotRail runs several trains daily. One-way tickets start at around 20 pounds ($36.40).
Train de la Côte Bleue, France: Named after the blue waters of the Mediterranean, this train trip from Marseille to Miramas takes less than two hours. The route owes its popularity to its first section — to the fishing town of Martigues — which skirts white cliffs directly along the sea.
The best approach for this day trip, leaving from the heart of Marseille, is hopping on and off the train along the coast to enjoy local attractions. From L’Estaque station, you can embark on a walking tour of sites that inspired painters Paul Cézanne and Georges Braque. A seaside trail from Niolon to Cap Méjean takes you through a succession of calanques, rugged limestone coves resembling miniature fiords.
The port of Sausset-les-Pins is a short walk from the train station and has several spots for dining on the water. And in Martigues, a bus can take you to the centre of town, where canals are lined by pastel-colored houses.
Tickets from the French national railway company SNCF start at 13.20 euros ($20.55).
This article originally appeared in .
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