Tourism is always evolving in the modern day. Travelers are attracted to the numerous exciting new trends that have emerged. The most notable is the preference for traveling by expensive trains. It is regarded as a sustainable and environmentally friendly mode of transportation.
When it comes to transportation, many people immediately think of planes or vehicles as convenient means for guests to move from one location to another. However, using the train is also an excellent choice and become slow travel trend 2023. As more transportation providers offer high-end services comparable to those offered by airlines online, tourists can now enjoy their journeys to the fullest.
Photo: Architectural Digest
Train travel: The classic combination of the new and the old
Trains were once regarded as an outmoded and chaotic mode of transportation in many industrialized countries. Cars and planes are thus always prioritized. However, in today’s world, an increasing number of people prefer to travel by train. Visitors can journey back in time while yet enjoying modern technology in the unhurried, classic style of the sumptuous carriages.
The railway, which represents a transition from the old to the new era, has no intention of competing with or displacing the airline in the tourism sector. This trend does not appear to prioritize speed. As a result, train firms focus on improving the passenger experience by updating routes and carriages. This excites visitors more than ever before. It’s fascinating how an antique vibe can exist in a modern surroundings. In the carriages, visitors can find everything they need, including refreshments, champagne, and a range of delectable treats.
Photo: Belmond
Train Tourism: A Foundation for slow-travel movement
For a long time, travel was seen as an unavoidable way to enjoy life. Some individuals believe that slow travel is just the best method for people to explore nature in greater detail, something that visitors will not be able to do while flying. However, some argue that slow travel is defined not by speed but by thought. Slow travel includes meditation, which helps people connect with the essence of a place through history, food, and the things they see. And, whatever the concept, trains remain the underpinning for assisting individuals in responding to slow travel.
By travelling slowly while seated in the carriages, passengers can take in the scenery the train passes by. Not only that, but contemporary equipment is out of place in the wagons’ antique ambience. When the violin is blaring in their ears, people will be unable to keep their eyes on their phones indefinitely. Visitors are compelled to put their phones in their pockets, savor each pot of tea, and sample some unusual foods. Instead of passing through a region quickly, slow travel allows us to take our time and investigate it. It also allows us to relax and rejuvenate. When done correctly, it allows us to move beyond the adage “leave only footprints,” which has long been associated with ecotourism, benefiting local communities, economies, and wildlife. That is what distinguishes the trend of slow train travel.
Trains are also an excellent way to safeguard the environment. Traveling by plane will benefit the environment by reducing carbon emissions significantly, which is something that many countries are working towards.
Slow travel pioneers via luxury train
As slow travel grows more popular, there will be more train excursions. Long-distance overnight services have recently regained popularity around the world.
The Orient Express: The renowned luxury train service known as the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express debuted in 1883. Today, this train travels throughout Europe, including lines from Istanbul to Paris and London to Venice. The carriages from the original European Orient Express from the 1920s and 1930s have been restored and renamed Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.
The Rocky Mountaineer: Following that, passengers can gaze out the full glass dome windows of this magnificent train at the Canadian Rockies. They provide you a clear outside perspective and make you feel like you’re a part of the magnificent surroundings you’re travelling through. Take the train from Vancouver to Jasper or Banff and get off at either station. The train’s hostesses are dedicated to making your onboard experience as remarkable as the beauty outside, from refilling your wine glass to telling anecdotes and aiding with special requests. The train does not have any sleeping cars. After a day of sightseeing, you spend the night at a beautiful hotel at each site.
The Indian Pacific: Passenger rail service connects Perth on the Indian Ocean to Sydney on the Pacific Ocean, traversing an incredible 4,352km in total, making it one of the world’s few transcontinental trains. The Indian Pacific train has been running continuously since its maiden journey in 1970, covering 478 kilometers of the world’s longest stretch of dead-straight track.
Photo: Rocky Mountaineer