Anticipating the Thrilling Train Innovations of 2024

Travelers around the world are once again embracing train travel, driving up demand for high-speed trains, luxury "land cruises," and long-distance day and night trains. In numerous countries, rail journeys have surpassed 2019 levels, exceeding the expectations of experts. What is behind this resurgence in train travel?

The increasing urbanization of the global population creates a need for efficient and sustainable transportation both within and between cities. As countries invest billions of dollars in new infrastructure, trains offer not only a practical commute solution but also a remarkable travel experience, from panoramic views of the Swiss Alps to luxurious journeys like the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.

Here are some of the best new trains youll be able to take in 2024.

Paris to Berlin by night – or day

The new Nightjet service will become nightly in late 2024.

Laurie Dieffembacq/Belga/AFP/Getty Images

Historically, travel links between two of Europe's top tourist destinations have been lacking, with no direct train service since the 1990s. However, this has recently changed with the launch of a direct overnight train operated by ÖBB (Austrian Federal Railways).

Nightjet will soon offer nightly high-quality direct service for business travelers and tourists, with seats starting at $33 and sleeper cabins from $105 per person. Initially running three times a week via Strasbourg and Frankfurt, the service is expected to see high demand, just like other recent Nightjet routes.

Italys new super-luxe train

There are plans for a daytime connection between Paris and Berlin, with SNCF and its German counterpart working to introduce a direct TGV high-speed train in 2024. The journey is expected to take around seven hours, and news on this development is anticipated towards the end of the year.

A rendering of the Orient Express La Dolce Vita.

Dimorestudio

A year later than expected, Italys glorious new super-deluxe train "Orient Express - La Dolce Vita" will welcome its first passengers some time in 2024.

Accor, the French hotel group, has created a new train catered towards design-savvy travelers. Instead of the traditional Belle Epoque style of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, this train features interiors that celebrate Italian decor, art, and architecture from the 1960s, as well as an exterior inspired by luxury motorboats like the Riva Aquarama. The train will travel across Italy on six regular itineraries, highlighting the country's historical treasures from the Italian Alps and Venice to Rome, Matera, and Palermo in the south. Some journeys will even include a unique hop across the Strait of Messina on Europe's last passenger train ferry on the way to Sicily.

The ultra-luxurious 11-carriage train boasts a chic "Bar Car" offering live music and games, as well as 12 deluxe wood-lined cabins and 18 master suites with double beds, a sofa, armchairs, and private bathrooms. Travelers will be treated to five-star service, savoring Italian gastronomy, regional and seasonal produce, and the finest wines while on board.

Six enticing one or two-night itineraries from Rome, with prices beginning at approximately $2,000 per person, will kick off the launch. Additional international routes to Paris, Istanbul, and Split on Croatia's Adriatic Coast are set to be introduced in the future. An extraordinary experience awaits the fortunate 62 individuals who are able to secure a spot on any of these journeys.

Passengers on the Palatino train with WL (Wagon Lits) carriages can leave their luggage with a crew member for the Rome - Paris express connection, starting from 1971.

Lamberto Camirro/Archivio Fondazione FS Italiane

Italy announces special tourist trains and cruise rail routes

Brussels to Prague by sleeper

European Sleeper's cabins are already in high demand.

Jeroen Berends

The demand for overnight trains in Europe is exceeding the available supply, prompting the emergence of several ambitious startups with plans to introduce new and exciting routes.

European Sleeper, a cooperative venture between Belgium and the Netherlands, launched its Brussels-Berlin train in 2023 and will expand the route to include Dresden and Prague in May 2024. This extension will establish a vital direct link between cities in western and central Europe.

Connecting popular tourist destinations across four continents, there is a high demand for seats and berths, particularly during peak summer months for backpackers. The renovated carriages offer sleeping compartments, couchette beds, and reclining seats to suit travelers of all budgets, as well as modern amenities such as charging points and WiFi.

The Brussels hub of European Sleepers also provides convenient access for British and French travelers to reach central European cities through seamless connections with Eurostar international trains in the Belgian capital.

High speed to Pompeii

High-speed Frecciarossa trains will now run between Rome and Pompeii.

Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images

Every year, over four million people visit the ancient Roman city of Pompeii in southern Italy, which was famously destroyed by a volcanic eruption in 79 C.E. Previously, public transport to Pompeii required a switch in Naples from national network trains to the outdated, unreliable Circumvesuviana trains. However, this will change in 2024 with the introduction of a weekly direct high-speed train from Rome, reducing travel time to just two hours. The national rail company Trenitalia expanded the link after a successful trial in 2023 using its state-of-the-art Frecciarossa (Red Arrow) high-speed trains.

Instead of the previous monthly schedule in 2023, the route will now run once a week for better efficiency. The trip departs from Rome just before 9 a.m., giving visitors eight hours to explore Pompeii before returning to Rome by 9 p.m. for a late dinner. Entrance tickets and information are conveniently available on the train, with dedicated shuttle buses transporting passengers from the station to the ruins for a time-saving experience.

The bad news? It only runs on Sundays and selected public holidays.

Madrid to Paris in (speedy) style

The new high-speed Madrid-Paris operation would link up with Spain's Iryo operation.

Despite the substantial investment in new high-speed connections under the Pyrenees, the cross-border rail services between Spain and France are currently inadequate, with only a few trains operating each day.

The competition between Spanish and Italian train companies with French TGVs operating the route is expected to improve in 2024. Renfe, the Spanish national rail operator, launched new routes from Madrid and Barcelona to Lyon/Marseille in 2023. Additionally, Trenitalia has revealed plans for a Paris-Barcelona-Madrid link in 2024, utilizing its 249 mph Frecciarossa trains. Trenitalia has a successful presence in France and Spain, and the new Paris-Barcelona route will offer expanded high-speed travel options, connecting with its Iryo operation, which competes with Renfe on multiple routes emanating from Madrid.

Luigi Ferraris, CEO of FS Italiane, Trenitalia's parent group, suggests that the company is considering new railway routes that would link Spain and Italy through the southern region of France. This route is currently heavily reliant on airlines due to the absence of high-speed, direct trains.

Night train interior from Austrian rail operator OBB - Mini-cabin.

OBB

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Around the world in 80 days

Railbookers' 80-day trip around the world will include a ride on Canada's Rocky Mountaineer train.

Ian Clarke/Alamy Stock Photo

Four continents, 13 countries, and seven luxury trains across 80 days - the ultimate experience for rail travel connoisseurs is due to depart in late 2024.

Railbookers, a specialist travel company, has crafted an extraordinary new itinerary that includes seven of the world's most legendary trains. The itinerary encompasses the Rocky Mountaineer in Canada, The Belmond Royal Scotsman, Venice Simplon-Orient Express, the Golden Eagle Danube Express across Central Europe, The Maharajahs Express in India, Rovos Rail in South Africa, and southeast Asia's most opulent train, the newly revived Eastern & Oriental Express (see below).

The return of the E&O

Embark on the full 80-day excursion, starting at $119,599 per person, departing from Vancouver on August 28. The journey will span over 20 cities across Europe, India, South Africa, and Malaysia, culminating in the vibrant city of Singapore. Travel specialists will manage hotels, luggage transfers, flights, most meals, and off-train tours, allowing you to unwind and savor this once-in-a-lifetime global adventure.

Belmonds Eastern & Oriental Express.

Belmond's renowned Eastern & Oriental Express, featuring its iconic green and gold colors, is set to make a comeback in 2024 after a hiatus of four years. The luxurious train will once again traverse the dynamic landscapes of Malaysia, offering its unforgettable journey from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur and beyond, with stops in Langkawi and Penang.

The train has undergone meticulous refurbishment during the hiatus, ensuring its reputation for five-star luxury and outstanding cuisine is maintained. The iconic open-air observation balcony and legendary piano bar at the rear of the train continue to be integral to the E&O experience.

In February, November, and December 2024, three "Essence of Malaysia" trips will be available, with prices starting at $3,410 per person. Unfortunately, the E&O will not be revisiting its old route to Bangkok just yet, but there is hope for this in the future.

heritage railcar bedroom pool villa

InterContinental Khao Yai

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Next generation Nightjet

The new generation of Austria's Nightjet sleep trains offers capsule-style mini-cabins for solo travelers.

Alex Halada/AFP/Getty Images

In the past few years, Austria's Nightjet sleeper trains have sparked a resurgence in overnight rail travel, exceeding expectations from a decade ago. In 2024, a fleet of 33 new custom-built trains and new routes will enhance and expand Nightjet's offerings for European travelers. The initial routes from Vienna and Innsbruck to Hamburg will be served by the new 143 mph trains, with plans to gradually introduce them to other routes connecting Vienna with Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and France by 2025.

The new trains will showcase modern interior design, with capsule-style mini cabins for solo travelers, sleeping compartments with en suite showers and toilets, and a multi-function car housing a café-bar, accessible cabins, secure bike spaces, and ample storage for bulky luggage and winter sports equipment. The introduction of these trains will enable Austrian Railways to phase out older trains that no longer meet passenger expectations, and will also facilitate the expansion of Nightjet operations to new routes, such as Zürich-Barcelona starting in December 2024.

The Matterhorn in VIP style

The Gornergrat Railways "NostalChic" train.

Gornergrat Bahn

Experience the newest exclusive travel adventure in Zermatt, where guests will embark on a nostalgic rail journey to witness Switzerland's iconic mountains while indulging in a feast of culinary delights from the region. The "NostalChic" train, operated by Gornergrat Railways, offers this VIP experience to just 22 guests per week, taking them to Europe's highest open-air railway terminus at an elevation of 10,170 feet. This unique journey provides breathtaking panoramic views of the Matterhorn and numerous other Alpine peaks.

The six-hour adventure begins in Zermatt with Swiss drinks and snacks, followed by Insta-worthy photo opportunities, a guaranteed window seat on a meticulously restored 1960s cogwheel train to Gornergrat, and an informative local guide. The experience also includes a four-course gourmet meal paired with fine wines at the Riffelhaus 1853 spa hotel, a four-star establishment located in Riffelalp between Zermatt and Gornergrat. This extraordinary experience is offered only once a week and costs $365 per person.

Alternatively, a standard return trip (on a regular train) from Zermatt to Gornergrat costs $115 per person with 50% discount for Swiss Travel Pass holders.