The best trains to take in Europe for short and long trips and vacations

Built between 1891 and 1916, Russian Tsars Alexander III and his son Nicholas II ordered this large railroad network. It immediately became one of the most famous trips by train in the world. Connecting Moscow to the city of Vladivostok, this impressive rail network of 9289 km is still one of the easiest and fastest ways to travel across Russia.

This train is without any doubt one of the most well-known and famous trains of all time. It gained popularity due to its level of service and luxury. The popular stories written, situated on the train (who doesn’t know “Murder on the Orient Express” from Agatha Christie) helped a lot to make the train famous. The train was designed and built as one of the most luxurious railway trains in the world. The train traveled between Paris and Istanbul (Constantinople at that time). This route was followed from 1883 to 1977, after that the route was only till Vienna.

Located in the UK this is the most famous train connecting the capitals of England and Scotland. A daily schedule was maintained since 1862. In the beginning, the time to travel between London and Edinburgh was 10 hours and 30 minutes, but that time was eventually brought back to 8 hours and 30 minutes. During the 150 years of service, it received many updates, the latest modernization made it possible to do the trip of 392 miles in just 4 hours.

Australia has a large train route that connects it from west to east. The Indian Pacific train connects Sidney, on the Pacific Ocean, to Perth, which is on the coast of the Indian Ocean. The trip of 3960 km through the Australian desert takes 3 days.

This railroad has become famous as the train line at the highest altitude in the world. During the trip from La Oroya till Lima, trains climb up to the altitude of 3.9 kilometers. The line features 66 tunnels and 56 bridges. Because of the height, the trains have a doctor available that can support passengers who experience altitude sickness.

First trier. The RPI for these countries is at least 6 out of 10 possible points. Tier 1 railroads perform better in at least two dimensions.

Switzerland

RPI of 7.2. Excellent intensity of use, very good safety rating and good quality of service rating.

Denmark

RPI of 6.8. Excellent safety rating, very good intensity of use rating and good quality of service rating.

Finland

RPI of 6.6. Very good ratings for intensity of use, quality of service and safety.

Germany

RPI of 6.1. Very good intensity of use rating, good for safety and quality of service.

Austria

RPI of 6. Excellent intensity of use rating, a good quality of service rating and one of the lowest safety ratings.

Sweden

RPI of 6. Excellent intensity of use rating, very good safety rating and low quality of service rating due to lack of punctuality.

France

RPI of 6: All three ratings are rated very good, making it one of the best railroad systems on Europe.

Countries in the second tier generally have highly efficient railway systems, but in some indicators they are at a lower level than countries in the first group.

United Kingdom

RPI of 5.4. Excellent safety rating, low cargo load levels, but low quality of service rating due to frequent delays and high tariffs.

Netherlands

RPI of 5.3. Very good safety rating, good intensity of use rating and low quality of service rating.

Luxembourg

RPI of 5.2. Excellent safety rating, good rating, good intensity of use rating and low rating for quality of service.x

Spain

RPI of 5. Very good rating for quality of service, good for security and low for intensity of use.

Czech Republic

RPI of 5. Very good rating of intensity of use, good - quality and safety.

Norway

RPI of 4.9. Very good ratings in all three areas.

Belgium

RPI of 4.6. Very good ratings in all three areas.

Italy

RPI of 4.5. Very good rating in all three parameters.

Railways in these countries have poor safety records, which makes them drop in the rating. The exception is Ireland, which has one of the highest safety ratings.

• RPI of 3.2 to 3.9 is given to countries of Lithuania, Slovenia, Ireland, Hungary, Latvia, Slovakia.
• RPI of 3 and lower is given to countries of Poland, Portugal, Romania, Bulgaria.

The train runs between Zermatt and St. Moritz: distance 290 km, the travel time will be 7.5 hours. The route connects two popular Swiss resorts and passes through rugged valleys, alpine meadows and over 291 bridges. Stunning mountain peaks are visible from the train windows.

In Zermatt you can transfer to Europe's highest cog railway to the top of Gornergrat (3,089m) and admire the view of the famous Matterhorn. This route can be deservedly considered one of Europe's greatest train journeys.

Seven-day tour of three major EU cities. The journey begins in Brussels, from where guests travel by train to Luxembourg for two whole days. From Luxembourg the railway leads to Cologne, and you can admire the mountains and the Moselle River right from the train window.

The journey consists of two parts: from London to Folkestone and from Calais to Venice. Distance 1636 km, travel time 24 hours. Guests will find historic trains from the 20s and 30s: the British Pullman and VSOE on the section between Calais and Venice. The tour is ideal for those who want to feel the spirit of the Orient-Express and admire the varied landscapes.

Quite a long journey to the Arctic Circle. The train covers 1288 km from Kristinehamn to Gällivare. The journey will take a whole day, during which you can see northern lakes, Sami villages, and reindeer herds. On the train you can try local dishes prepared with fish and northern berries.

The train departs from Clermont-Ferrand to Nîmes, on the journey you will spend 6 and a half hours and cover 304 kilometers during this time. The uniqueness of the railroad is that it has 106 tunnels, more than a thousand bridges and a 49-meter-high viaduct with 29 arches.

A wonderful route from Istanbul (Turkey) to Budapest (Hungary) through Bulgaria and Romania. You will spend seven days on a comfortable train and travel 1832 kilometers. During this time, you can find out more about the vibrant history of these places, see the legendary Transylvania, the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler, or Dracula, and enjoy Budapest, the capital of Hungary.

This is a relatively short journey with only 22.5 kilometers of itinerary, travel time will be just one hour. But it runs along a historical railway built back in 1895! This railroad is one of the last remaining narrow gauge lines in Greece. It starts in the seaside town of Diakopto and goes up into the mountains to the town of Kalavrita through tunnels, forests and over 49 bridges over the Vouraikos River.

If you want to fully immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the Balkans, take a trip on a real train, not a tourist one. This train is actively used by local residents to get from one town to another. You will travel 125 kilometers in five hours, have time to admire the hot springs in Velingrad, and take a walk in Bansko and Belitsa dancing bear sanctuary.

A great trip through the Balkans from Belgrade. It is not sold by tour operators, so you will have to buy tickets yourself. You will pass through the Dinaric Alps and go around the beautiful Lake Skadar. The railroad goes through 254 tunnels, over 435 bridges and over the 200-meter Mala Rijeka viaduct. The length of the journey is 476 kilometers; you will have to spend 10 hours on the train.

A three-hour trip from Jesenice to Trieste along the old railway. Trains have been running here for over a hundred years. It was once part of the strategic road network of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and today it is very popular among tourists. The main attractions are Most na Soci, Lake Bled and the Nova Gorica’s wineries.