7 of the best new rail holidays

Roll around the world in style with these new train trips for 2025

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The romance of rail travel is hard to resist: the slow simmer of a destination as passengers journey past windswept coastlines, vertiginous mountains and tiny villages, enjoying it all from their carriage window.

Appetite shows no signs of abating, with Mintel’s 2024 UK Holidays by Rail Market Report finding three-quarters of travellers agree that “travelling by train makes the journey feel like part of the holiday experience”. With demand on the rise, these are some of the best new train journeys your clients could be hopping aboard.

1. Switzerland

The scenic Swiss towns of Montreux and Interlaken are worthy destinations, but the real joy is in the three-hour train ride that connects them. “The GoldenPass Express can now travel all the way from Montreux to Interlaken without the need to change, with beautiful views along the route,” says Hannah Green, senior product executive at Inghams.

Panoramic windows will make passengers feel as if they’ve bagged a front-row seat to Switzerland’s Alpine scenery as the train meanders among wildflower meadows, chocolate-box villages and glassy lakes.

Book it: Inghams’ seven-night bespoke GoldenPass Express itinerary starts from £2,128 per person, based on two sharing, with return train travel from London, four nights in Montreux, three in Interlaken and tickets for the GoldenPass Express.
inghams.co.uk

2. Alaska

Mother Nature outdid herself with the larger-than-life landscapes of Alaska and a new Trafalgar tour knits together its natural jewels, from the icy vistas of Denali National Park to aurora spotting by night. This trip puts the four-hour Alaska Railroad Aurora Winter Train – one of the best ways to appreciate Alaska’s scenery – front and centre, and dips into its Indigenous heritage with cultural museum visits.

Kelly Jackson, managing director at TTC Tour Brands, says: “Cosmic activity is at an all-time high, so it’s a wonderful time to book a trip to see the northern lights.

We even have a professional night photographer to ensure everyone walks away with a high-quality photo.”

Book it: Trafalgar’s seven-day Alaska Northern Lights itinerary starts from £3,325 based on two sharing.

Includes accommodation, excursions, six breakfasts, two lunches and three dinners, but not flights.
trafalgar.com

3. Wales

Belmond needs no introduction as a curator of indulgent rail journeys, but Britannic Explorer takes things up a notch. Fred Holidays, which released a new-look rail brochure in December, makes the most of the new route, whisking clients from London to Wales for a gentle glide through the craggy Pembrokeshire coast and the rugged scenery of Snowdonia.

Sally Barlow, rail product manager at Fred Holidays, says: “England and Wales’ first luxury sleeper train – from the makers of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express – is a work of art in motion.”

Book it: Fred Holidays’ Britannic Explorer, A Belmond Train: Wales & London Stay itinerary starts from £5,999, including one night in London with breakfast and a three-night all-inclusive rail journey.
fredholidays.co.uk

4. Peru

Walking the Inca Trail might be the most famous way to reach Machu Picchu, but the Vistadome train is a lot more comfortable. This year, its carriages have been upgraded with panoramic windows for all-encompassing glimpses of the Sacred Valley. Passengers are treated to theatrical performances en route, from Andean dances to an alpaca clothing fashion show.

“From the jagged peaks of the Andes to the fascinating juxtaposition of Inca culture and colonial architecture in its vibrant cities, Peru is one of the most intriguing South American countries to visit,” says Christian Locke, head of long-haul product at Riviera Travel.

Book it: Riviera Travel’s 13-day Signature Peru Escorted Tour starts from £3,999 per person, based on two sharing. Includes flights and transfers departing October 16, 10 nights’ accommodation, breakfasts, plus some meals and experiences.
rivieratravel.co.uk

5. The Deep South

Devastated by hurricane Katrina in 2005, the rail links along the US Gulf Coast are getting a new lease of life 20 years later thanks to the rebirth of Amtrak’s twicedaily service from New Orleans, Louisiana, to Mobile, Alabama.

Scheduled to start in summer (but subject to change), the route will stop at four places in Mississippi along the way, offering doses of small-town America. Cath Pusey, product director at America As You Like It, says: “A twin-centre holiday between these two cities is now much easier, because it doesn’t require visitors to have a car.”

Book it: America As You Like It sells a six-night holiday to New Orleans and Mobile from £1,555 per person, based on two sharing. Includes flights, three nights in New Orleans, three nights in Mobile and train tickets.
americaasyoulikeit.com

6. Australia

Few train journeys are as epic as those on the Indian Pacific – an odyssey through rust-red plains, wine regions and Gold Rush history.

Bookended by Perth and Sydney, the trip is even more impressive in 2025, with an extra night and new off-train excursions. “These experiences tell a unique story of the land, providing a sense of place, people and culture,” explains Renee Cornelissen, group manager for international sales at Journey Beyond.

Book it: Audley Travel offers a 13-night trip to Australia, from £9,674 per person, based on two sharing. Includes two nights in Perth, three in Margaret River, a four-night journey on board the Indian Pacific, four nights in Sydney, flights, excursions and car rental in Perth.
audleytravel.com

7. Central Europe

Train travel in Europe often veers between the utilitarian and uberluxury. Now, the European Sleeper service is offering visitors a way to navigate the continent on rails in a comfortable – yet affordable – manner.

The inaugural service from Brussels to Prague via Berlin launched in 2023 and has paved the way for a new European Sleeper line from Brussels to Venice, which began last week (albeit with a few teething issues) and pauses in several major cities en route, including Eindhoven, Munich and Innsbruck.

Anna Davies, director of partnership marketing at Railbookers, says: “Travelling by train continues to enjoy growing demand year after year, and it’s a fantastic opportunity for agents.

Central and eastern Europe are doing particularly well for 2025 and, with the European Sleeper route to Prague, there has never been more flexibility for travelling to this part of the world by rail.”

Book it: Railbookers’ eight-day Berlin, Dresden and Prague on board the European Sleeper Train starts from £1,459, including train travel from London, five nights’ accommodation split between Berlin, Dresden and Prague, breakfast and all stated excursions.
railbookers.com

Best of the rest

La Dolce Vita

This luxurious Orient Express train takes passengers to some of Italy’s most glamorous
corners in 1960s style, with a colour palette of copper, ochre and burgundy, plus dining designed by Michelin‑acclaimed chef Heinz Beck. “This new Orient Express train has a range of journeys throughout Italy, showcasing the best that the country has to offer. The train itself has been beautifully recreated and oozes luxury,” says Great Rail Journeys’ Julian Appleyard.

Deccan Odyssey

Relaunched in late 2023, the Deccan Odyssey is a decadent journey through the core of India; think lush paddy fields, wildlife‑filled national parks and heritage landmarks. Six routes take passengers through places such as rural Maharashtra, buzzing Mumbai, gorgeous Jaipur and more.

Norient Express

Set to mark its first departure in autumn 2025, the Norient Express name isn’t just a nod to its legendary counterpart, it’s also a distinctly Norwegian take on luxury rail travel. Setting off from Bergen, passengers will spend six days weaving between pristine lakes, fjords and mountains before reaching the cobbled streets of Trondheim.

PICTURES: Shutterstock/Nicola Pulham; Andrew Gregory