Few means of transportation offer such relaxed travel as the train, especially when it travels through fairytale landscapes. High mountains, glaciers, lakes, tea plantations, palm trees or snow-covered coniferous forests pass by. Sometimes it is not only the landscape that is the star, but also the train itself. Whether it’s the Pullman Express, Orient Express or the steam-powered West Highland Railway – they make the journey a real journey through time. We present three legendary train routes and their trains.
Alpine Classic Pullman Express: from Davos to Andermatt
At Davos station, the Glacier Express becomes the Alpine Classic Pullman several times a year. One of the most beautiful train routes in the world is then transformed into a real nostalgic journey. The Glacier Express travels from St. Moritz over the Oberalp Pass to Zermatt in eight hours, crossing 291 bridges and passing through 91 tunnels. It is one of the most beautiful rail routes in the world. Between Davos and Andermatt, it can also be covered in historic saloon carriages. Sneak preview for 2025: Travel days with the Alpine Classic Pullman from Davos are May 21, July 9, August 6, September 3 and September 24, 2025.
The original Pullman carriages from 1931 are bursting with extravagance with their cubist Art Deco design language. Through three-part bay windows, the view sweeps over the passing landscape. These windows, the artistic inlay work and the fabric design of the armchairs were created by French designer René Prou. In the 1930s, Prou designed everything that combined luxury and travel: from ocean liners to the dining room in the Waldorf Astoria in New York, from the interior of the Orient Express to the waiting room in the luxury department store Mitsukoshi in Tokyo. For people who normally avoid train toilets, I can give the Pullman a clear recommendation. In this train toilet, even details such as the door lock or the porcelain washbasin are worth seeing.
Thanks to the Rhaetian Railway Pro Salon Carriage Association, the Pullman carriages still exist. They were originally built for the Montreux – Bernese Oberland line on Lake Geneva. The Rhaetian Railway bought the Pullman carriages in 1939. They were only used for passenger transport for a short time; from 1940 until the end of the war, the army command used them for inspection trips through Graubünden. After that, they were used as train coaches and later as an attraction for special trips. By the end of the 1990s, the Pullman carriages were so worn out that they were scrapped. Today, they are considered a historical railroad monument and are protected by the canton of Graubünden.
In 1998, the Pro Salonwagen association launched a rescue campaign that led to a complete restoration. This was based on the interpretation of old black and white photos. The expressive Art Deco pattern of the saloon chairs was reproduced in colors that René Prou would probably never have chosen. The wild mix of blue, red and gold caused a quarter of a century of discussion. Some time ago, original fabric samples were discovered in Paris, and from 2025 the first salon chairs will be upholstered in subtle shades of red and beige. The most beautiful train routes in Switzerland can be experienced on various train journeys and at any time of year.
West Highland Line: Glennfinan Viaduct
The West Highland Line is considered one of the most beautiful railroad lines in the world. It runs from Glasgow via the Trossachs National Park to the Atlantic Ocean in the West Highlands. On the way from Glasgow to the picturesque port of Mallaig, you cross countless kilometers of moss-covered valleys, rugged rocky landscapes and mystical Highland peaks. The entire journey takes less than three hours, but it is enough to feel the calming effect of the Highlands. A highlight of the drive is the Glenfinnan Viaduct.
The Glenfinnan Viaduct is so popular with setters that the 380-metre-long bridge, which curves along the northern tip of Loch Shiel, is simply known as the Harry Potter Bridge. For a nostalgic experience, take the Jacobite steam train from Fort William to Mallaig. While Harry Potter and his classmates reach their boarding school Hogwarts behind the Glenfinnan Viaduct in the film, non-magical muggles can encounter true stories during a stopover in Glenfinnan. The historic steam train The Jacobite commemorates the last Jacobite uprising against the British crown, which began in Glenfinnan in 1745.
The train stops at Glenfinnan station for around 20 minutes. Passengers then have the opportunity to visit the small museum, which provides information about the construction of the line and the viaduct. Train fans without a ticket also have the opportunity to see the Jacobite Steam Train. The arrival times are known in the village and the train announces itself with a loud whistle.
Highlander for slow travelers
Glenfinnan is a historically significant place in Scotland. At the northern tip stands a memorial in honor of the Jacobites who fought for Prince Charles Edward Stuart in the 3rd Jacobite Rising. Bonny Price Charly, as the vain prince was also known, raised the standard at the head of the loch on August 19, 1745, rallying men from many Scottish clans behind him. It was the last attempt to restore the exiled Stuarts to the throne of Great Britain and Ireland. The rebellion failed with the Battle of Culloden on April 16, 1746, which was devastating for the Scots. What remains is a glorified memory of the Scots’ fight against the British Redcoats. On the monument, which was erected in 1815 at the height of Romanticism, a lone Highlander in a kilt stands and gazes into the distance. But you really can’t blame anyone for dreaming themselves into the film worlds of Outlander and Braveheart in this picturesque, mystical place. This works particularly well with an overnight stay at Glenfinann House Hotel, a romantic country house within sight of the monument, also on Loch Shiel.
Sri Lanka and the world’s slowest express
The railway line in the Sri Lankan highlands is a breathtaking experience. Not because the express covers the distance particularly quickly. On the contrary: the view is so beautiful that it can’t go slow enough. The train takes 3.5 hours to cover the 65 kilometers between Nuwara Eliya and Ella.
In 1876, the railroad line was built by the British colonial power to transport goods cheaply from the highlands to the port city of Colombo. Tea, cinnamon, pepper and nutmeg were the valuable goods that made the effort worthwhile. Narrow curves and numerous tunnels had to be constructed to cope with the enormous gradients through the rugged mountains. The railroad line is a remnant from the time when tea was an important colonial commodity for the British. Today, you can see the best cultivation areas of the former colonial goods from the railroad line and immerse yourself in colonial history.
More railroad stories
For many people, rail travel in everyday life means anything but relaxing travel. On the contrary: the motto of the Rhaetian Railway, Festina Lente, i.e. hurry up and wait, is taking on a new meaning. Our Japanese guest author Noriko Hasegawa found enlightenment on her train journey from Cologne to Paris in the chaos of the ailing railroads – thanks to the Cologne Basic Law. She wonders how important absolute perfection really is.
The history of comfortable rail travel begins on the Chicago prairie. Here, in 1880, George Pullman created the perfect city for the workers of his railroad empire. Pullman built luxurious sleeping and saloon cars, which he sold to the US railroad companies along with the staff. His workers lived in modern houses with electricity, running water and heating. His dual role as employer and landlord failed, but his name remains synonymous with luxury travel worldwide to this day. Visiting Pullman City, which is now a neighborhood of Chicago and part of Pullman National Historical Park.
