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Train rides aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. They’re often associated with long travel times, stuffy carriages and standing for long periods. But the best railway journeys feel like they’re straight out of a fairytale, with classic carriages, big windows framing rolling countryside or coastal views, and plenty of time to sit back and enjoy the ride.
With so many train trips to choose from – and often a price tag to match – it can be hard to know which ones are truly worth it. That’s why travel insurance provider InsureAndGo used eye-tracking software to identify the world’s most beautiful train journeys. They showed participants images of iconic views from train routes, tracking how quickly each scene captured attention and how long it held viewers’ gaze. The result? A ranking of the most visually captivating rail journeys.
For a country with a relatively small rail tourism scene compared to Europe, Australia punched above its weight, with two routes making the global top 15.
Landing in 12th is Queensland’s Kuranda Scenic Railway, which runs twice daily between Cairns and Kuranda. This underrated route is an engineering marvel, crossing 55 bridges, navigating 98 curves and passing through 15 hand-carved tunnels.
From the window of the vintage carriages, passengers can take in the wonders of Stoney Creek Falls – a mighty cascade that flows right beside the railway track – and enjoy a ten-minute stop at Barron Falls Lookout, where an impressive multi-tiered waterfall plunges into the gorge below. The journey ends in Kurana, known as ‘the village in the rainforest’, where even more magical adventures await.
Australia’s most luxurious train journey, The Ghan, was ranked as the world’s 15th most beautiful. Known for its long-distance route between Adelaide and Darwin, it has earned a reputation as one of the most iconic and deeply Australian travel experiences.
In late March, The Ghan unveiled its brand-new Aurora Australis Suites, complete with a separate bedroom, butler service, personalised in-suite bar and a range of exclusive experiences. Talk about beautiful and bougie!
Interested to see what other global rail journeys made the list? You can check out the full rankings below.
The world’s 15 most beautiful train journeys
- Sagano Romantic Train, Japan
- Bernina Express, Switzerland/Italy
- Glacier Express, Switzerland
- West Highland Line, Scotland
- Alishan Forest Railway, Taiwan
- Serra Verde Express, Brazil
- Rocky Mountaineer, Canada
- Semmering Railway, Austria
- Coast Starlight, USA
- White Pass and Yukon Route, USA/Canada
- Central Andean Railway, Peru
- Kuranda Scenic Railway, Australia
- TranzAlpine, New Zealand
- Blue Train, South Africa
- The Ghan, Australia
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