That I am a fan of trains is no longer news. But unfortunately, I still hear far too often that people say they cannot travel sustainably because there are no trains on the continent where they live or go. That, by definition, is not true. Anyway, because sustainable travel is not only about flying less, but also because you can find trains on every continent. Compared to the European train network, it might be a bit disappointing, but you can find a train route in almost every country. From simple trains from city to city, to impressive train journeys through deserts and jungles. I have enlisted the help of some fellow travel bloggers to write a series of articles on trains around the world. They share their experience of global train travel. Here you will find small introductions for each continent, with links to the articles with inspiring train travel stories!
Europe: a train travel paradise
Europe is, of course, the Valhalla of train travel. With superfast high-speed lines that get you from A to B in no time at all, often faster than by plane if you include the airport fuss. Then, regional trains take you to small villages or you can choose from a good range of iconic routes such as the famous panorama trains in Switzerland or the Yellow Train through the French Pyrenees.
Are you more into efficiency? Then you can choose from a hefty selection of night trains. A type of train that is making a comeback in recent years! With the growing supply of flights, many night trains were taken off the rails. It was simply no longer the profitable option. But travellers are becoming more sustainable and aware, and now they actually want to travel by night train again and simply wake up at their destination the next morning. Saves you a night in a hotel too, win-win.
Read the travel experiences from other train travellers in Europe.
Asia: from simplicity to hypermodern
But in some ways, Europe’s train network is nothing compared to Asia. With Japan a trendsetter when it comes to supersonically fast trains and China having built the world’s largest high-speed network within an astonishingly short time, Europe has yet to push hard to maintain their status as a train continent.
The continent is also at the forefront of developing new railway technologies, from magnetic hover trains in Shanghai to the world’s highest railway in Tibet. The future of Asian railways lies in further expansion and modernisation, with ambitious projects connecting countries and regions.
But you certainly won’t find that modernisation everywhere in Asia yet. In Countries like India and Vietnam, you will find a fairly extensive train network, but most trains are outdated and often crammed. Indonesia did launch such a superfast train in 2023, but it is so modern and luxurious that the average Indonesian cannot afford a ticket. Nice for tourists, but so far not a very good investment for the country itself.
But for tourists, both the state-of-the-art trains and the iconic, old-fashioned trains are quite an experience.
Read the travel experiences from other train travellers in Asia.
North America: between tradition and innovation
North America has never been known as a train continent. Indeed, people complain a lot about the lack of trains in the US and you regularly see comparisons of their train network compared to Europe. Although there are quite a few train tracks, they mainly run goods trains and few passenger trains. On some routes, for instance, only once a day. But of course it is a great shame. Precisely because destinations are often quite a distance apart, the country could benefit from a good high-speed network. There are, however, plans to expand the train network in the US.
Still, there are certainly train routes worthwhile in the US too, and you will find some impressive train routes in Canada too. A full train journey across these countries may not be possible, but you can travel by train in certain areas or experience a unique train journey through impressive environments like Banff in Canada.
Further south, railway lines become more sporadic, although there are attempts to improve the train network. In Mexico, there are still quite a few train connections, but even there the focus is mainly on freight transport. However, the controversial Maya Train did open in 2024, which should make the tourist region of Yucatán more accessible. Other countries have sporadic trains. But due to a combination of difficult landscape, economic constraints and many natural disasters, most projects do not get off the ground or old railway lines are no longer passable.
Read the travel experiences from other train travellers in North-America.
South America: a continent looking for connection
You find the same constraints in large parts of South America.
The Atacama Desert in Chile and the Amazon in Brazil soon make it difficult to build a train network, and the challenges are also great in other parts of the continent. Still, you will find exceptional train routes here and there, often with spectacular views through mountainous regions or along the coast. However, a complete journey across the continent by train is not in the cards.
Countries like Brazil and Argentina do invest in modernising their railways, especially focusing on urban transport and connections between economic centres. In the rest of the continent, opportunities are more limited. The combination of challenging terrain, natural obstacles and economic constraints makes it difficult to get major rail projects off the ground. Many historical railway lines have now fallen into disuse or are only used for freight transport.
Still, there are some iconic routes that are worthwhile, such as the ‘Tren a las Nubes’ in Argentina that passes through breathtaking mountain landscapes or the Perurail train to Machu Picchu. You’ll find mostly trains that you have to take your time for, may not arrive on time and are very old-fashioned. But the views really make up for a lot!
Read the travel experiences from other train travellers in South-America.
Africa: a continent catching up
Africa is huge, and with the Sahara desert still growing, there are challenges for train travel on this continent too. Yet you will find everything from daily trains taking people to work, to luxury trains for tourists.
Africa has seen a number of major, new train connections in recent years. Made possible in part by China. This creates developments, economic growth and better connections. But of course, there are also doubts about China’s influence.
In some countries, such as Morocco and Kenya, you find well-developed high-speed networks. In other countries, there is no rail at all. The connections that exist are mostly limited to their own national borders, with an area in Southern Africa being the exception. Here you will find long train connections, mainly focused on luxury travel for tourists. Here, you can spend days on the train enjoying the landscapes and luxurious meals.
Australia: train tracks in a country of extremes
Australia may not face many economic obstacles, but with a giant desert in the middle of the country, a good network is also hard to build. Besides, there is not much in that desert where you would want to stop, so you mainly end up with long-distance trains. So there are those, but the routes are limited and many trains only run once a week or every few days.
The East Coast of Australia has an excellent range of trains, connecting the 4 major cities and countless smaller villages and towns. From Adelaide and Sydney, you can then catch direct trains to both Darwin in the North and Perth in the West. Big as Australia is, those are hefty train rides. But with a few stops along the way, interesting trains for a good adventure!
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