There’s an interesting new luxury option in the UK next summer, as Belmond rolls out its newest sleeper train, The Britannic Explorer.

Debuting in July 2025, the train offers fine British gastronomy, an onboard wellness suite and exclusive access to unique sites as they ride the rails on a leisurely journey through the British countryside. Its 18 cabins include three Grand Suites and 15 Suites.

The train’s “elegant interiors with unmistakable British charm” are being designed by London-based Albion Nord, while its menu is being created by Chef Simon Rogan, whose restaurants (including L’Enclume) hold eight Michelin stars and two Michelin Green stars. The afternoon tea, lunch and dinner menus will highlight seasonal, sustainable ingredients, sourced locally to showcase Britain’s diverse regions.

The Britannic Explorer will depart London, offering three different three-night journeys through Cornwall, The Lake District and Wales. Optional guided excursions in each destination include a private tour and dinner at Hauser & Wirth Somerset and on-site restaurant Da Costa, guided hikes through Wales, wild swimming in the Lake district and a visit to Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens in Cornwall. In the evening, passengers can mingle in the train’s botanically-inspired Bar.

Guests also can combine routes, pairing The Cornwall or Lake District routes, which run from Friday to Monday, with a Wales trip from Monday to Thursday. And Belmond’s boutique hotel, The Cadogan, just 20 minutes from London’s Victoria station, can offer a seamless pre- or post-rail stay. For those traveling through the Cotswolds on the Lake District route, the Britannic Explorer offers an exclusive stop at the Michelin two-star manor house hotel and restaurant, Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, A Belmond Hotel, Oxfordshire.

Gary Franklin, Belmond’s Vice President of Trains and Cruises, said the train will “further enhance Belmond’s global portfolio of market-leading luxury rail experiences. The Britannic Explorer offers something truly unique; an opportunity to discover the rugged Cornish coastline to Snowdonia’s untamed National Park and the vast expanses of the Lake District like never before.”

Belmond’s fleet of luxury trains also includes the British Pullman in England and the Royal Scotsman in Scotland.

A three-night itinerary, including excursions, meals, wine and alcoholic beverages on board the Britannic Explorer starts at £11,000 based on a double cabin. For more information or to book, visit the web page here.

It’s been a good year for Amtrak, or anyone who likes rail travel and would like to see the U.S. gain a little on Europe, Japan and China with their futuristic (to us) high-speed trains. We could be looking at the dawn of a new Golden Age of Rail Travel.

If you have ridden trains in any of those countries with advanced systems, you have an idea of how good they can get. America’s trains have lagged behind, but things are changing. If you haven’t ridden a train in the US for a while, it’s worthy of consideration. It’s a great way to travel Read the rest of this entry »

Orlando visitors will have a new transportation option starting this week, as the highly awaited Brightline train finally begins service from Miami Airport and other points in south Florida.

Beginning on Friday, the bright-yellow trains will carry passengers from Central Miami to Terminal C in Orlando International Airport in just over three hours, at speeds up to 130 mph. There will be 16 round trips per day, with hourly departures. Passengers also will able to connect to West Palm Beach, Aventura, Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale.

Tickets from Miami to Orlando range in price from $79 for Smart service to $270 for Premium service. They can be bought at Brightline stations or at gobrightline.com. Discounts are available for children through the age of 12, students, and groups of four or more.

Citing “incredible enthusiasm” for the service, Brightline president Patrick Goddard encouraged holiday season visitors to “check calendars, make plans, visit our website or app and reserve a seat now.”

Meanwhile, Brightline Holdings CEO Mike Reininger said the railroad is looking at Tampa as a potential destination, and the company already has bought land in Cocoa, near Port Canaveral.

It’s going to be a big year for partnerships in the luxury space, as well-known consumer brands see their customers’ interest in travel growing rapidly. Royal Scotsman, A Belmond Train, jumped into the trend this week, kicking off its 2023 season with a new partnership with Dior Beauty to add a spa to its rail journeys and adding two new culinary-themed themed itineraries.

The Dior Spa Royal Scotsman will “blend two iconic Houses for an incomparable well-being escape inspired by Scotland’s ephemeral beauty,” crossing the country where Christian Dior hosted his first fashion show, in 1955, the company enthused.

The spa will feature two lacquered treatment rooms in Dior’s iconic burgundy toile de Jouy motif, and a menu of treatments devised by the French Maison’s wellness experts to cater to the specific needs of train travel.

Guests can take advantage of the spa treatments, including massages and facials, on three new journeys:

Highland Survival Adventure

June 30-July 3, 2023, a three-night roundtrip from Edinburgh “designed with adrenaline-seekers in mind.” It includes “several outdoor challenges in some of the most secluded locations in the Western Highlands,” led by WILDNIS guides, and includes a Royal Marines Commando Assault Training program, and an al fresco lunch prepared by WILDNIS chef Tom Byrom. On the third day, guests will put their skills to the test by rappelling down a cascading waterfall followed by a reinvigorating wild swim session. Rates start at $8,750 per person.

A Taste of Scotland with Tom Kitchin

September 4-6, 2023, Michelin-starred chef Tom Kitchin will host a two-night journey through the Scottish Highlands, showcasing his “From Nature-to-Plate” culinary philosophy. Guests will enjoy several meals with Chef Kitchin including a welcome four-course dinner, a barbecue lunch in Cairngorms National Park, and a gala closing dinner. Highlights also include an exclusive wine masterclass with local wine merchants, L’Art du Vin, in the train’s Observation Car and a tour and expert-led whisky tasting at Benromach distillery. Rates start at $6,690 per person.

In 2024, two new Grand Suites by interior designer Tristan Auer will be added, with ensuite bathrooms, double beds, and a private living area. Grand Suite guests will also enjoy added amenities including private transfers to and from the train and one spa treatment in the train’s dedicated spa carriage. Rates will start at $7,500 per person.

Untouched wilds have always been a draw in Canada’s north. With glass-like lakes surrounded by thick forests of coniferous trees and the snow-covered landscapes of mountains and the arctic tundras, northern Canada is an adventure of scenery. The addition of watching polar bears in their natural habitat, or hanging out with beluga whales, and northern lights that illuminate the skies make for a one-of-kind trip. This is particularly true on VIA Rail Canada’s adventure route, which provides a panoramic dome for maximum viewing pleasure. Read the rest of this entry »

Trains have been an iconic part of modern history since 1804. They have carried important goods to well-known cities and remote areas. Trains gave a vitality to the journey of travel, shortening trips— letting the traveler enjoy the scenery of vast forests of green and mountains that dominate the landscape. Today, the experience of these journeys are no less relevant. Which is where VIA Rail Canada steps in to keep everything on track.

VIA Rail (or VIA Rail Canada) started up operations on January 12, 1977, in Montreal. Soon after, they introduced a new way of uniting Canadians with many firsts, one being the transcontinental train. They were established as a Crown Corporation, merging the passenger networks of the Canadian National and Canadian Pacific railways. Later, in 1981 Read the rest of this entry »