Why sophisticated travelers are increasingly hopping aboard luxury trains

A subsidiary of luxury conglomerate LVMH, Belmond says there’s been increasing interest in luxury trains ever since the pandemic subsided. While a private jet is far faster than a train, many travelers are learning to appreciate a more relaxed trip with scenic views.

“People wanted the opportunity to be able to slow down,” says Gary Franklin, the senior vice president of Belmont, which also operates river cruises, safaris, and luxury hotels. “There’s probably no better way to do that than sitting in a cabin in a luxury train, looking out the window reading your books, having conversations, and great service on board.”

Luxury train demand metrics are hard to track, but total global travel spending hit $8.6 trillion in 2024, estimates consultancy McKinsey, which would represent nearly 9% of the year’s global gross domestic product (GDP). The luxury tourism and hospitality industries are expected to grow faster than other, more affordable segments, bolstered by younger generations that have shown greater willingness to spend big on travel, more wealth that’s accrued in Asia, and a rising group of individuals with a net worth between $1 million to $30 million. 

While baby boomers still represent a significant portion of luxury tourism spending, 80% of the market is below the age of 60, McKinsey says.

“Traditionally, it’s fair to say the core demographic for luxury train travel has been high-net-worth couples and groups of friends in their fifties to seventies,” says Anna Tretter, a Washington, D.C.–based travel advisor for boutique agency Fora X. But, she adds, the more luxurious offerings from brands like Belmond and Accor Group’s La Dolce Vita Orient Express have lured more affluent millennial and Gen Z travelers.

Eleanor Flagler Hardy, president of the family-owned train travel agency the Society of International Railway Travelers, recently joined La Dolce Vita’s journey through Italian mountains and vineyards and quickly ranked it among the world’s 25 best luxury train trips. “Sometimes I think that people think, ‘Oh the only way to travel around the world is on a cruise,’” says Hardy. “Our mission is to say a great way to travel is by luxury train.”

These travelers are drawn to trains that offer private living quarters with marbled en suite bathrooms, Michelin-starred-chef cuisine creations served on the finest china and crystal, elevated bar cars, and on-train entertainment, all with breathtaking views just out the window. Trips can book up months or even years in advance, with some operators already making trips available for 2027.

“I’d suggest booking the train journey first and building the rest of your vacation’s components around that,” says Tretter.

Strong demand led Belmond in early 2024 to relaunch the Eastern and Oriental Express, which had stopped running due to the pandemic and now meanders on a three-day trip through Singapore and Malaysia. Later this month, Belmond’s seventh train, the Britannic Explorer, will launch an inaugural journey through England and Wales with accommodations available for up to 36 guests.

“One of the big challenges is that visitors to England and Wales may come to London and then not actually explore outside of that,” says Franklin, adding that trains can make travel far more accessible for the hard-to-reach countryside.

The Rocky Mountaineer’s luxury train routes run through Western Canada and the American Southwest, initially launching with a two-day journey in the Canadian Rockies. The operator now operates six distinct train routes, including the first standalone journey in the U.S. that debuted in 2012 and travels between Colorado and Utah. The “First Passage to West” route, which connects Vancouver to the Alberta town of Banff, remains the most popular.

“Much like a cruise ship, our trains pass through many areas that aren’t accessible by car, offering an unparalleled view of the scenery,” says Nicole Ford, vice president of communications, sustainability, and stakeholder relations for the Rocky Mountaineer. Ford adds that the company’s trains travel only during the day, with overnight hotel stays, allowing guests to enjoy the unique landscape views.

Frank Marini, president and CEO of luxury train tour company Railbookers Group, says the company’s “Around the World by Luxury Train” 59-day journey quickly sold out for 2025 and that there’s already a waiting list of more than 1,500 for 2026. 

Railbookers’ itinerary kicks off on a Rocky Mountaineer train in Vancouver and traverses across four continents and 12 countries, including stays on the Belmond Royal Scotsman and La Dolce Vita Orient Express, before ending in Singapore. Travelers pay $124,150 per person, a rate that includes bookings on seven different luxury trains, all lodging, and most food, though guests are responsible for paying for most of their flights for the multiple transfers between destinations.

“These are not first-time travelers,” says Marini of his customer base. “They’re looking for unique experiences.”

In Switzerland, a more elevated trip can be booked with the Glacier Express, which was founded in 1930 and remains the only operator to run a direct train between the popular tourist destinations of Zermatt and St. Moritz. Glacier Express distinguishes itself with train windows that offer sweeping panoramic views of the Swiss Alps and a gastronomic menu featuring local dishes like barley soup and Graubünden salami and mountain cheese.

Glacier Express CEO Annemarie Meyer says trains run on an extensive public infrastructure system that’s shared by commuter, freight, and private trains. Tracks are well maintained due to the financial support of Swiss taxpayers, but there are some disadvantages. In some areas, including in the Rhine Gorge, there’s just a single track. The trains traveling in opposite directions must each wait their turn.

“That makes the Glacier Express quite slow,” says Meyer. “But if you have to wait in a scenic place, then nobody has anything to say against it.”