Hitchcock

The man, the films, those blondes. Free DVD collection starting this Sunday

Navigation - link to other main sections from here

Skip Navigation

From Times Online

October 10, 2007

10 classic railway journeys

The travel editor at Times Online delves into the collection to choose his favourite rail journeys

The Rocky Mountaineer offers one of the most spectacular train journeys in the world

Steve Keenan

Rail travel is one of our best read and most populated sections of the website - you can view it here.

So it was a pleasure to amble through the section and select 10 of my favourite features of the past couple of years: you can read them below.

What also surprised me is the number of queries we get from readers. Clearly you are intrigued about rail travel, but can be daunted when it comes tobooking it yourself. We have dozens of your rail queries and answers in the Rail Travel section.

The subjects are diverse, from advice on InterRailing, to a question on how cold it would be on the Trans-Siberian to how to buyIndian rail tickets.

We've our own rail expert, Alan Heywood, who has been working in the rail industry for 35 years and runs Ffestiniog Travel.

Enjoy the collection, and do get in touch with us with your own rail questions. Email us at yoursay@timesonline.co.uk

10 CLASSIC RAILWAY JOURNEYS

1. A train passage through India - Caroline Hendrie on the luxury train to Kolkata, which offers some gentle insights into a daunting country

2. Brighton to Hong Kong by rail - Rachael Glazier travels to China via Brussels, Cologne, Moscow, Mongolia and a Russian portrait painter who loves her. Plus, how Rachael booked the journey

3. Ticket to Tibet, the top of the world - Jane Macartney takes the new high-altitude train from Beijing to Lhasa

4. By rail from Vancouver to Whistler - Andy Sansom doesn't drive and his legs are too long for coaches. So when stir-crazy in Vancouver, how to escape to the Rockies? Plus, Doug McKinlay rides the spectacular Canadian Rocky Mountaineer

5. I think I'll take the train to Marrakesh - It's greener, and the scenery is better, too: Anna Shepard advocates the train over the plane to get from London to Marrakesh

6. Bangkok to Singapore by train - Julian Ryall discovers a luxurious route to Singapore on the Eastern & Oriental Express

7. A week on the rails in Spain - Mike Bent reveals his love affair with El Transcantábrico, the Pullman rail service that takes a week to swing through 1,000km of northern Spain. Plus, Mike's favourite six scenic rail journeys in Spain

8. Across Australia by the Ghan - The Ghan train may not be the height of luxury, but it goes to parts of Oz others can’t reach. By Mark Ottaway

9. Italy by train - The serene landscapes of Umbria and Tuscany fly past Rachael Jolley's window on a leisurely train journey from Paris to Rome

10. You're never too old to Inter-rail to Greece - Alison Waters hadn't been Inter-Railing for 32 years - but, as she discovered, if you're relaxed enough, you're young enough

St. Erth to St. Ives stopping at Lelant and Carbis Bay. Childhood school holidays caching the train at quiet St Erth. Flood tide scenes across to Hayle causeway followed by romantic Lelant. The view from the carriages across St.Ives bay towards Godrevy lighthouse take a lot of beating on a day with aquamarine sea. Then arrive at St. Ives and race down the slopes to the beach. All that and a steam train in my memory.

P. Symons, Woore, UK

And another short train journey right under your nose: In North Wales - Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog. Steep gradients, Roman remains, slate mines, ravines and tunnels.

And in New Zealand, the Tranz Alpine from Christchurch to Greymouth. Especially picturesque in the snow.

Peter, Auckland, New Zealand

Yes,but don't forget the "Little trains"which give so much pleasure on holiday;Paignton to Dartmouth,Alicante to Benidorm,local trains for exploring,eg.east or west from Faro,lots of rides in Switzerland-all scenic,to name but a few.

H.D, WsM,