The World’s Best Rail Companies, According To Globe Travel Awards

There’s something truly enchanting about hearing the rhythmic chug of a train as it glides through bewitching landscapes, weaving together the romance of a bygone era with adrenaline-pumping adventure. So whether you’re shooting across the English Channel or meandering through the Swiss Alps on the world-famous Glacier Express, here are some of the world’s best rail companies to journey with, shortlisted in the 2024 Globe Travel Awards.

1. Rocky Mountaineer

Rocky Mountaineer offers luxury train journeys through some of North America’s most spectacular scenery, from the mountain passes and plunging canyons of Canada to the far-reaching deserts and hoodoos of the US. You can choose from four rail routes and pick from three service levels–SilverLeaf Service, SilverLeaf Plus Service (US only) or GoldLeaf Service (Canada only).

Onboard, you’ll find sweeping panoramic windows in glass-dome coaches with an open-air viewing platform, complimentary cocktails, and a culinary team serving gourmet à la carte meals from Alberta striploin steak to Fraser Valley chicken paillard. Journeying in daylight, you’ll sweep past stretching rivers, canyons, and waterfalls as you spot roaming bears, elk, salmon, osprey, and eagles.

Join its ‘First Passage to the West in Canada’ expedition from Vancouver to Banff as you pass through the iconic Spiral Tunnels and traverse the Continental Divide–or opt for the ‘Rockies To The Red Rocks in the US’ tour exploring vast stretching landscapes between Moab, Utah, and Denver as you spot the Ruby Canyon, Mount Garfield, and enchanting hoodoos.

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2. Great Rail Journeys

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, Great Rail Journeys is best known for its escorted rail tours, offering almost 170 itineraries in Europe and over 50 countries worldwide–from exploring the Swiss Alps on the Glacier Express to chopping through Edinburgh and Scotland’s Highlands.

New for 2025, Great Rail Journeys has announced three new tours–the ‘Deccan Odyssey’ tour will take travelers from India’s capital, Delhi, to the foothills of the Himalayas by modern rail and charming Toy Train–visiting iconic sites like the Taj Mahal, the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur and the spiritual Varanasi beside the sacred Ganges.

Its ‘Classic Kenya Safari’ will see guests drive through the Maasai Mara National Reserve and Lake Nakuru National Park, journeying through Crescent Island before a wildlife viewing in Nairobi National Park and a bush tour of a World Heritage forest reserve.

On the ‘Highlights of Vietnam’ tour, you’ll explore the Mekong Delta, sample the street food in Hanai, sail through the jungle-draped islands of Halong Bay, ride the Reunification Express, and fly to Ho Chi Minh City visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels.

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3. Eurostar

Established in 1994, Eurostar is is world-famous for its high-speed trains carrying millions of passengers each year through the Channel Tunnel from London to major European cities like Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp, and Cologne–traveling at a speed of up to 300 kilometers per hour (meaning it is sometimes faster than flying).

With a fleet of 51 trains, Eurostar offers the largest international high-speed network in Western Europe, serving 28 destinations in Germany, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom–and aims to carry 30 million passengers a year with 100% renewable energy by 2030.

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