Paul Klein Travel has extensive knowledge and relationships with every luxury rail service in the world and these special trains are designed specifically to offer elegant train journeys, and evoke a strong sense of association in the history, heritage and decadence of a leisurely ride. Luxury trains operate in several countries and offer a luxurious and comfortable traveling option to the travelers. Luxury train travel has several advantages over travel on airplanes. Whereas during air travel the monotony of the journey is occasionally broken by the view of clouds, hovering here and there, through the plane’s window, a winding luxury ride on board the trains provides ample opportunity to the guests to witness the myriad colors of the places they are traveling to. There are a number of reasons for the growing popularity of the luxury trains over air travel, which includes ample space, restaurants and bars, spacious and comfortable sleeping and seating area and even wash/bath rooms.
The single largest luxury train tour operators in the world, Belmond Orient Express operates the highest number of luxury train tour in the world. With services in Europe, Asia and South America, Orient Express is the only private luxury tour provider (With the exception of Grand Trans-Siberian Express) to offer pan continental luxury travel services.
Venice Simplon Orient Express in Switzerland. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, a private luxury train service which offer luxury train travels from London to Venice, is arguably one of the most popular luxury tourist trains in the world. It was also voted as the number 1 luxury train in the world.
The Royal Scotsman, operated by Orient-Express Hotels Ltd offers an unhurried luxury train cruise with only 36 passengers across selected scenic landscapes of Scotland.
This train charts the course of scenic Machhu Picchu, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is an elegant train, old European express style, perfect in service, very selected food, excellent drinks, punctual in operations. Including a bar wagon and open view scenery wagon.
Northern Belle is a luxury train owned by Venice-Simplon Orient Express, operating rail tours and charters. Introduced in 2000, the train was refurbished internally and painted externally to resemble the vintage Brighton Belle coaches of the British Pullman. It primarily operates in the north of England and Scotland, and now embarks from a number of Northern UK cities, including Liverpool, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester.
The original Luxury Train by which the rulers of princely states of Rajputana, Gujarat, the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Viceroy of British India traveled. After independence, these coaches were parked and remained in this state for a quarter of a century until in 1981-82, when the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation and Indian Railways launched a special heritage tourist train for providing a unique memorable experience to the tourists visiting Rajasthan. The original narrow gauge train cars of the Palace on Wheels were later replaced by the modern replica engines to accommodate the technological advancement.
The exclusive Eastern and Oriental Express, winding through some of the most exotic and spectacular locales from Bangkok to Singapore via Kuala Lumpur, offers an unforgettable ride through mystic landscapes. Covering over 2,000 km of peninsular South East Asia, the Eastern and Oriental Express has frequent stops at scenic locations. This luxury train has three classes of coach, elegant decor and come equipped with contemporary amenities.
British Pullman train takes its name from George Mortimer Pullman founder of the Pullman Car Company. One of the key attributes which sets the British Pullman train apart is that it consists of the vintage carriages from the legendary Brighton Belle Pullman trains. Quaint decor, exquisite artistic skills art deco marquetry along with consummate hospitality gives an unmatchable character to this luxury train. Each carriage of this train is a walking gallery of grandeur. Each name has its own history, its own motif and its own legend. British Pullman train is arguably the best way to discover the British countryside.
Established in 1989 by Rohan Vos, from whose name “Rovos” was derived, Rovos Rail offers pan African luxury train journeys spanning over 24 hours to a fortnight, private rail charters, golf tour and a special journey spanning over 7 African countries combining Rovos Rail, private plane and a 5 star luxury cruise.
Started in 2004, Deccan Odyssey Train is a joint venture between Indian Railways & Tourism Ministry of Maharashtra with on board services being provided by Taj Group of Hotels. Everything on the train reflects the lifestyles of Indian Royalty. Its unique itinerary includes Ajanta & Ellora Caves, Goa, Kohlapur, Sindhudurg Fort and more.
The latest luxury train to be introduced in India, Maharajas Express, owned and operated by Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has been re-launched with new journeys in 2012. This luxury train was also voted World’s Leading Luxury Train at the World Travel Award 2012. Billed as one of the most luxurious train in the world and India’s answer to the Orient Express, Maharajas’ Express train offers 5 signature journeys to the guests across major tourist destinations in India. A ride on board the Maharajas Express is the costliest luxury ride in India.
This Indian luxury train commenced its service from December 2009. Royal Rajasthan on Wheels was launched on the queue of Palace on Wheels (RRoW), the most revered and popular luxury train in India. Royal Rajasthan on Wheels takes the guests on a regal ride of destinations in Rajasthan. Recently two destinations, Khajuraho and Varanasi, were added to the itinerary of the train. With facilities like spa and fitness center on board, Royal Rajasthan on Wheels is one of the most luxurious trains in the world.
Featured on the BBC TV’s list of 50 Things to do Before You Die, Rocky Mountaineer Rail takes the guest on a once in a lifetime tour along the Rocky Mountains with its snow covered peaks, huge forests and glacier fed lakes in Canada. The Rocky Mountaineer operates on four different routes in the Canadian Rockies, through spectacular scenery with truly world class service on board.
Winner of the prestigious ‘Africa’s Leading Luxury Train’ award for two years in a row (2009-2010), Blue Train combines the best of a luxury 5 Star hotel interiors and the irresistible allure of leisure train travel. Blue Train offer luxury rides across several destinations in South Africa. This train is also available for private charter.
The Golden Chariot, a luxury train in India offers a whirlwind luxury tour across important tourist destinations in South India along with Goa. The Golden Chariot offers two distinct itineraries to the guests which are the Southern Splendor and Pride of the South.
The Ghan, a luxury train in Australia, connects 2,979 kilometers (1,851 miles) of breathtaking locales through the heart of the Australian continent from Darwin in the north to Adelaide in the south.
Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express launched in April 2007 takes the guests on a 6,000 miles (9,656 kilometers) luxurious journey, world’s longest train journey across two continents and 8 time zones. Golden Eagle train traverses the course of famous Trans-Siberian Railroad which connects Moscow and European Russia with the Russian Far East provinces, Mongolia, China and the Sea of Japan.
In the early days of the railway in Canada, Canadian Pacific executives were assigned their own business car. As technologies changed the way we travel, these cars fell out of use and for many years sat dormant. In the late 1990’s a number of these vintage cars were fully restored to their original splendor and brought together to become the Royal Canadian Pacific – North America’s most exclusive luxury train. Business cars used today on the Royal Canadian Pacific have hosted royalty, world leaders and modern day celebrities, including: Their Majesties King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, Their Royal Highnesses Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh (later Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip), British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, etc…
Great Southern Rail is a tourism business and rail transport operator in Australia. It took over the operation of the three trains from Australian National Passenger Rail in November 1997: the Indian Pacific (Sydney-Adelaide-Perth), The Ghan (Adelaide-Alice Springs-Darwin) and The Overland (Melbourne-Adelaide). Great Southern Rail strives to set new standards of Australian train journeys with the introduction of new premier Platinum Service and hallmark Gold Service in keeping with the nation’s rediscovery of the golden days of train travel in Australia. The aim is to offer unique and memorable outback adventure experiences with all the comfort and service synonymous with two of the world’s great train journeys.
The Chihuahua al Pacífico, «Chepe», railroad took almost 90 years and 90 million dollars to complete. Opened in 1961, the railway was designed to connect the Pacific Ocean with Mexico’s central desert territory and Chihuahua. The line crosses some of Mexico’s most rugged terrain; hugging the edge of mountains, and crossing deep ravines on its bridges. The scenery it travels through is truly breathtaking. The Copper Canyon Train Tour on the first-class express takes around 4 hours. It is a spectacular journey and the whole experience will become a lifetime.
Trencrucero style is defined by its four coaches, true treasures of historical design, pulled by steam locomotives from the beginning of XX century. These luxury and comfortable train coaches represent the Ecuadorian identity and history with exceptional onboard service. You will experience exceptional train ride crossing from Ecuador´s Andes watching the transition from moorlands through cloud forests, to tropical Coastal landscapes, the Avenue of Volcanoes (more than 10 Volcanoes over 12000 feet, one of them active -Tungurahua volcano 5023 mts-), 280 miles of scenic train ride ascending to 3600 meters and descending to sea level during the trip, as well as cultural immersion with Andes and Coastal indigenous communities.