Domestic and International Rail Travel Best Buy Guide

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French Rail Report

France was the first European country to adopt the principle of high-speed passenger trains on dedicated right-of-way lines. The first TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) line, [...]
Rare Mileage and Big Steam – Rail Excursions

People take extended one-time non-Amtrak rail excursions for one of two reasons, or maybe both: Rare Mileage: Rail enthusiasts and clubs regularly charter trains for trips [...]
Riding the Rails in China

China operates more miles of dedicated high-speed rail lines than the rest of the world, combined. And while California dithers about its 500-mile project, hoping to complete [...]
Riding the Rails in Japan

Most visitors traveling around Japan plan on using the country’s extensive railway system. Japan built the world’s first dedicated high-speed rail line, between [...]
UK Rail Report

I just returned from a trip that included a week in the UK, focused on train excursions. I based in Inverness, with out-and-back excursions to Kyle of Lochalsh and Thurso, [...]
Trains in Africa

Africa, like South America, is something of a wasteland for modern rail. Rail systems are sophisticated and modern enough for routine point-to-point internal travel by [...]
Trains for Fun Part 1: Luxury Trains

Luxury Trains–in general Most people who ride trains want to get somewhere, and they figure a train is the best way. However, in some parts of the world, luxury [...]
Riding the Rails in Switzerland

Switzerland enjoys one of the densest rail systems in the world: It’s hard to find a place so remote that trains don’t go there, although there are a few. [...]
Rail Travel in Germany

I once wrote that Germany should be “off limits” to economy travelers because of its high costs. No longer — German hotel and restaurant prices compare [...]