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Rail Travel
(Note: I have two rail travel books out! Heading
South, about an epic round-Australia rail journey, published
by Fremantle Press - find details here; and Ultimate
Train Journeys: World, published by Hardie Grant.
Follow me or the publishers on social media for
updates.)
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On track, outback
Traveller, 2 November 2024
"It’s a delight to be departing Brisbane via
sleeper train. This is no dig at the Queensland
capital – more an expression of delight in being
aboard the Spirit of the Outback for its
epic 26-hour trek to the outback town of
Longreach. I’m enjoying my neat little
compartment, sitting in its armchair as we roll
through the darkness once clear of city lights..."
Enjoying rides on a sleeper train and
heritage excursion trains in Longreach,
Queensland, Australia.
[Read
the full
article here]
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Sightseeing by tram on
Melbourne’s best public transport routes
Lonely Planet, 15 October 2024
"There are few things more fun than traveling by
tram, with its delightful mix of retro style and
budget-friendly practicality. In Melbourne,
Australia, riding a local icon is one of the best
ways to explore a sprawling metropolis famed for
its food and culture. Melbourne has the largest
light rail network in the world, with 24 tram
routes crisscrossing the city. To get you started,
here are three self-guided tours by tram, each
highlighting the city's best cultural attractions
alongside spots to eat and drink along the way..."
Outlining self-guided tours along three
tram routes in Melbourne, Australia.
[Read
the full article here]
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Just the ticket: The best new
rail journeys around the world
Traveller, 7 September 2024
"Europe’s renewed affair with long-distance train
routes continues apace, and this time the
destinations being linked are popular big cities:
Paris and Berlin. It was in December last year
that the French and German capitals were
connected, with great acclaim, by sleeper train
for the first time in nine years. The next step
will be the start of direct high-speed daytime
services between the two cities..."
Describing ten upcoming developments in
rail travel across Europe,
the USA, Canada,
China
and Australia.
[Read
the full article here]
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Traveller Awards (three items)
Traveller, 25 August 2024
"Several European countries operate high-speed
trains, but there’s something about Trenitalia’s
Frecciarossa (Red Arrow) trains that make them a
cut above. Start with the company’s scarlet
pointy-nosed trains, which scream “fast” – or more
precisely, “veloce”. Next in its favour are the
friendly onboard staff who, in true Italian
fashion, are kitted out in the most stylish
uniforms this side of the Dolomites. The food
packs given out in business class contain good
pastries along with other snacks, and the onboard
coffee is fantastico..."
Contributing three items to these
annual awards, including one about fast
trains in Italy.
[Read
the Frecciarossa trains item here]
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Swiss roll
Traveller, 17 August 2024
"Riddle me this: when is an express not an
express? I’m pondering this question while gazing
at pretty Swiss pastoral scenes with cows in green
meadows, framed by mountains. I’m travelling
westward from Interlaken aboard the GoldenPass
Express, a train which takes about three
hours and 15 minutes to travel the 130 kilometres
to Montreux – an average speed of 40 kilometres an
hour. And seated as I am in Prestige Class, I have
no great desire for the trip to end..."
Riding aboard several lesser-known
scenic trains across Switzerland.
[Read
the full article here]
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Good food glide
Traveller, 29 June 2024
"It’s not often you catch a ferry to dinner, but
I’m doing so today. It’s a good day to be out on
Port Phillip Bay – the water off Sorrento is as
flat as a pancake, a shimmering blue beneath a
sunny sky. As I stand on the deck of the
Sorrento-Queenscliff Ferry, the Norfolk pines and
limestone buildings of the Mornington Peninsula
settlement fall away, with the Bellarine Peninsula
looming ahead. And it’s there that my evening meal
awaits. It’s the first of a succession of great
meals I’ll be having as I travel clockwise around
the bay by public transport..."
Enjoying excellent food while
travelling by train and ferry around Port
Phillip Bay in Victoria, Australia.
[Read
the full article here]
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Spectacular scenery is just a
part of these five new stylish rail journeys
Traveller, 26 May 2024
"What happened to the fabulously luxurious
carriages of the Orient Express? It was a
mystery worthy of Agatha Christie, who set her
most famous book aboard this train, which linked
Paris to Istanbul between 1883 and 1977. So,
French historian Arthur Mettetal began his hunt.
Though some were in museums and others were part
of the revived Venice-Simplon-Orient-Express
luxury train, he discovered a number of original
carriages on an obscure siding in eastern Poland,
and a new version of the Orient Express
was born..."
Describing the highlights of five new
or improved trains, operating in Italy, Australia, Norway, Japan, and Laos.
[Read the full
article here]
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The ride stuff
Traveller, 10 March 2024
"'We all did justice to the good things, and as we
washed them down with bumpers of sparkling Krug
whilst we sped along at the rate of thirty miles
an hour, agreed it was the fastest living we had
ever experienced. Then to bed in luxurious
couches, where we slept the sleep of the just.' In
June 1869, the New York Times correspondent 'WS'
was living it high on the rails as he rode
westward from Nebraska to California on the first
trans-American railway. However, long-distance
rail travel across America is not always so
pleasing over 150 years later..."
Detailing the pluses and minuses of
travelling via Amtrak trains across the USA.
[Read
the full
article here]
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We'll pass, thanks
Traveller, 9 March 2024
"Ah, the joys of travelling across Europe by rail
with a Eurail pass! Hopping aboard regional
services without any need of a separate ticket,
and using sleeper trains as a substitute for hotel
rooms. There’s nothing more fun than a rail pass,
but many Australians will be surprised to learn
that it’s possible to travel that way in our own
eastern states. Here’s how..."
Explaining the rail passes and fare
caps available in New South Wales,
Queensland and Victoria, Australia.
[Read
the full
article here]
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On the right track: History on
wheels as 'hoods revealed
Explore, 5 February 2024
"'Please be careful of the pebble-stone paving,'
says our guide Nuno, as we wait to board a
bright-yellow tram. Welcome to Lisbon. If there's
anything more symbolic of the Portuguese capital
than its crazy paving and its compact
timber-framed trams, I can't imagine what it is.
No, wait, it's the decorative tiles on the walls
of its buildings, which I'll be seeing plenty of
today. For I'm joining the Beyond the Tram No. 28
tour, which uses those trams as a delivery vehicle
to the historic Graca district..."
Investigating heritage neighbourhoods
of Lisbon, Portugal,
via tram and on foot.
[Read
the full
article here] |
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This heritage sleeper train will
take you from Melbourne to wine time
Traveller, 23 January 2024
"I’m standing on an overgrown platform at the
unlikely sounding locality of Muckleford, watching
a train glide past. First come three chunky
locomotives (“Y-class” for the technically
minded), then a varied collection of heritage
sleeper carriages, a lounge car, and a dining car.
This, in total, is the Winelander – the
moving heart of a rail cruise staged by 707
Operations, the latest in its series of weekend
train expeditions out of Melbourne..."
Catching a heritage train to the
goldfields region of Victoria, Australia.
[Read
the full
article here] |
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Ban bucket lists: What the
experts want from travel in 2024 (section about
train travel)
Traveller, 6 January 2024
"My new year travel resolution is to continue
avoiding air travel wherever a practical surface
alternative is available. Though I have to leave
Australia by air, I’m trying to stick to trains
and ferries in other continents – which has proven
to be a great pleasure in Europe and North
America..."
Contributing a section concerning rail
travel to an article about travel in 2024.
[Read
the full
article here]
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Rate expectations (five items)
Traveller, 16 December 2023
"Forget taxis and Ubers – who wants to be stuck in
traffic when there’s a fascinating city outside,
waiting to be experienced? In a destination with
an underground railway/Metro system, join the
locals zipping around below ground. You’ll be a
fly on the wall, catching snippets of
conversations and being part of urban life as your
travelling companions head to work, home and
entertainment. You’ll also save money and cut
carbon emissions at the same time..."
Contributing five instances to an
article about overrated and underrated
travel experiences (including
three about rail travel in Europe).
[Read
the full
article here]
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Transcontinental gems
Journey Beyond, 7 December 2023
"Standing at the end of Busselton (Undalup) Jetty
provides me with a lesson in nature. The view over
Geographe Bay is humbling – the expanse of water
is a nod to the sheer force of nature, and you
can’t help but feel introspective when looking
out. The 1.8-kilometre structure I’m standing on –
loved by the township – is one of the many
highlights on the epic eight-day Gems of the South
West holiday package. It's is a sparkling example
of why this trip across the country is so
special..."
Describing a tour combining the
southwest corner of Western Australia with a
ride aboard the Indian Pacific train
from Perth to Sydney, Australia.
[Read
the full
article here] |
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Sleeper trains are making a
comeback. Why are ours being axed?
Traveller, 27 November 2023
"Come with me on a magical journey between Sydney
and Melbourne. No, not via the airport… but
starting at Sydney’s Central Station, aboard a
newly refurbished all-sleeper night train. I’ve
already checked in and spent time relaxing in the
comfortable new lounge dedicated to sleeper
passengers: enjoying a complimentary drink and
using the Wi-Fi. Now, after stepping on board, I
use a keycard to open my compartment, shove my
backpack in the storage space, then head for the
bar..."
Imagining what sleeper trains could be
like, as they face cancellation between
Sydney and Melbourne, Australia.
[Read
the full
article here] |
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The ultimate guide to getting
around Melbourne
Lonely Planet, 22 November 2023
"As a progressive metropolis that regularly tops
rankings of the world’s most livable cities, you
might expect Melbourne to be a breeze to navigate
– and you wouldn’t be wrong. Although Greater
Melbourne is a sprawl that can take hours to cross
without a car, most major attractions are
concentrated in the city center and its
surrounding neighborhoods. This part of the city
is well-serviced by public transportation,
including the world’s longest tram network..."
Exploring the wide range of transport
options (including trams and trains) in
Melbourne, Australia.
[Read
the full
article here] |
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Best moments in travel 2023
(four items)
Traveller, 19 November 2023
"Somewhere on my second train from Milan to
Verona, while idly eating a pastry from the
complimentary business class lunchbox, I glance
out the window and observe we’re travelling
alongside a busy major road. Though its traffic is
flowing freely, I note with satisfaction that
we’re passing every single vehicle with ease,
though our ride is so smooth that it’s hard to
gauge our velocity. Forget la dolce vita,
I’m living la vita veloce (the fast
life)..."
Describing four perfect moments:
including one on a fast train in Italy, and
one aboard a train in Queensland, Australia.
[Read
the Europe item here, and the Australia item here] |
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All aboard
Paradise, November 2023
"Glancing up from my seat aboard the Spirit of
Queensland, I can see history through the
windows. Landsborough Station is a classic timber
railway station, and beyond it is a lovely old
pub. Nearby is a neat row of Queenslanders, the
traditional colonial-era houses that stand on
stumps above termites and floodwater. Inside this
train, however, it’s the future. For the Spirit
of Queensland is not your old-fashioned
sleeper train with separate compartments and bunk
beds..."
Taking the Spirit of Queensland
sleeper train all the way north from
Brisbane to Cairns in Queensland, Australia.
[Read
the full
article here] |
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Australia’s third great train
journey is an epic cruise on wheels
Traveller, 7 October 2023
"Not that we have the Ancient Mariner’s other
problem to contend with. There are plenty of drops
to drink aboard this very long train, some of them
from the Adelaide Hills through which we passed
earlier. For the Great Southern is – like
its sister trains, The Ghan and the Indian
Pacific – an all-inclusive “rail cruise”
which includes in its substantial fare all meals,
drinks and excursions, as well as transport and
accommodation. The day began at Adelaide Parklands
Terminal with our train comprising two locomotives
pulling 26 carriages at a total length of 663
metres..."
Taking a luxury rail cruise between
Adelaide and Brisbane, Australia.
[Read
the full
article here] |
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Continental drift
Traveller, 13 August 2023
"It’s my last night in Lisbon, and I’m immersed in
that most Portuguese of musical styles: fado. On a
small stage in a back room are two male guitarists
with soulful looks and a woman with a fine voice,
performing songs whose tones speak of melancholy,
loss, and longing. Which seems appropriate, as I’d
longed for a return to European travel through the
pandemic. And tomorrow I’ll be boarding the first
of twenty trains which will bear me all the way to
distant Serbia..."
Travelling by rail via a Eurail pass, across Southern Europe
from
Portugal to Serbia.
[Read
the full
article here]
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Empire games
Traveller, 16 July 2023
"My epic rail trek across seven US states began
illustriously at Seattle’s marvellous King Street
Station. Resembling an opera house with gleaming
white interiors, this 1906 edifice was a hugely
confident statement in the railways and the wealth
and prestige they brought to the Pacific
Northwest. Running north then east, the Empire
Builder must forge its way through the coastal
Cascade Mountains before tackling a bigger
challenge, the Rocky Mountains..."
Riding Amtrak's Empire Builder
train all the way from Seattle to Chicago, USA.
[Read
the full
article here]
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High rolling: The world's best
scenic train journeys
The Post, 9 June 2023
"Slow travel is all about savouring the culture
and landscapes of a destination, rather than
rushing through it - and what better way to do so
than aboard a train? With these eight trains, I
outline some options for a luxurious life on the
rails..."
Describing eight luxury trains from
across the world, including Europe, the
Americas,
Asia, Africa and Australia.
[Read
the full
article here] |
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Taking a fall
Traveller, 7 May 2023
"To the west of Toronto, bounded by three of the
Great Lakes, lies a triangle of territory known as
the Ontario Peninsula. Part commuter country and
part farmland, it’s dotted with fascinating places
within a train ride of Canada’s largest city –
including these three..."
Taking trains to explore diverse
attractions in the Ontario Peninsula region
of Canada.
[Read the
full article here] |
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A Food-tasting Day Trip from
Melbourne by Train
Traveller, 18 January 2023
"My wife Narrelle and I have just made the
unexpectedly steep hike up from Bunyip railway
station to the town's main street, and I'm
enjoying the fresh country air. The climb has been
worth it for the view, as we look south across the
tracks toward sporting fields, gum trees and
grazing cows, and the hills beyond them. We
reached Bunyip on a train, and as V/Line's country
trains use the same Myki card as the city's public
transport, it's easy to head here for a DIY
food-tasting day trip..."
Enjoying the food and drink delights of
West Gippsland, Australia,
by train.
[Read the
full article here] |
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Number 96 Tram: This One Route
Gives You the Best of the City
Traveller, 13 October 2022
"Slabs of pan-fried brioche lean against each
other on a bed of wilted kale, circled by toasted
hazelnuts and blobs of chilli jam. It's a
delicious contrast of flavours and textures – and
that's a description which could apply to the 96
tram route which runs past the restaurant.
Starting from St Kilda, it snakes through the
Melbourne CBD to end in East Brunswick. Passing
many attractions, it's the city's most involving
tram trip, offering a sample of everything
Melbourne along the way..."
Taking a fabled tram route from end to
end in Melbourne, Australia.
[Read the
full article here] |
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Grainlander Steam Train to an
Outback Art Highlight
Traveller, 23 September 2022
"It's not every day you meet the model for one of
the mighty murals painted on former grain silos in
western Victoria. It's even less likely when it's
a dog. But here I am in tiny Nullawil (population
92) in the Wimmera-Mallee region, and the kelpie
who's depicted in enormous size upon the local
silo is sitting obediently below it, next to a
model of both the silos and a steam train. If that
sounds complicated, get this – there's also a real
steam train standing below the silo, and that's
how I've arrived here from Melbourne..."
Catching a steam train on a rail tour
to regional Victoria, Australia.
[Read the
full article here] |
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The Ups and Downs of the Cairns
Rainforest
Stuff, 21 August 2022
"What goes up must come down, they say, but in
Cairns this comes with options. There are two
memorable ways to head upward into the beautiful
tropical rainforest of the mountain ranges west of
the city. An old favourite, the Kuranda Scenic
Railway train, creaks and sways its way through
dense foliage as it makes its way to or from the
tourist town of Kuranda. Further north, the
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway conveys visitors above
the tree canopy and waterways as its gondolas head
over the slopes, also connecting to Kuranda. Which
to choose?"
Experiencing nature by by cable car and
train from Cairns, Australia.
[Read the
full article here] |
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Grains, Trains and a Stack of
Fine Art Soaring into the Sky
Senior Traveller, August 2022
"Melbourne's busy Southern Cross Station is a
railway terminus with a thoroughly 21st century
appearance, its high roof undulating like a pod of
blue whales. So it's quite a contrast to arrive
here on a Friday night and hear the whistle of a
steam locomotive. That loco, City of Melbourne,
was built in Glasgow in 1951 and is a welcome
phantom from the past. I'm about to board the
train; it's hauling a collection of heritage
carriages collectively known as the Grainlander.
The cheekily derivative name hints at its
destination - the lightly populated Mallee and
Wimmera regions of western Victoria..."
Taking a heritage train to see the Silo
Art Trail of western Victoria, Australia.
[Read the
full article here] |
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Goolwa to Victor Harbor: Classic
Aussie Holiday with a Twist
Escape, 18 July 2022
"I have another historic rail journey to take –
and a rare one. From Victor Harbor, a horse-drawn
tram runs across the causeway to Granite Island.
Each of the trams is a magnificent two-level
vehicle with an open top and lined with wooden
benches and timber flooring, accessed via a tight
stairway at each end. Painted green and yellow,
and featuring a hand-tolled bell, the trams are a
pleasing apparition from the past – especially
when attached to the mighty Clydesdale horses that
pull them..."
Riding a heritage railway and horse
tramway in regional South Australia, Australia.
[Read the
full article here]
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Northern Explorer: Spectacular
Axed Train Gets a Second Lease on Life
Traveller, 5 July 2022
"In August 2021 the axe fell. As the nation was
plunged into another COVID lockdown, rail operator
KiwiRail suspended its long-distance trains. And
in December, as the return of international
tourism was in sight, it announced the Northern
Explorer and the Picton-Christchurch Coastal
Pacific would remain suspended until
mid-2022, when they would return in a "modified
form" that could include multi-day rail tours
aimed firmly at tourists. This possibility this
was the end of same-day long-distance trains
sounded an alarm bell for many New Zealanders..."
Outlining the fall and rise of a
long-distance train between Auckland and
Wellington, New
Zealand.
[Read the
full article here]
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Explore the Mountains of the
South Island on the TranzAlpine
Truly Pacific, 15 June 2022
"As the train progresses we seem to be aiming
ourselves at the mountains – or more precisely, at
a notch at their centre. It’s an unsettling
feeling, as if you were driving a car toward a
wall with only one tight opening. Again the
commentary has an explanation, telling me we’ll
follow the Waimakariri River for some time as a
path through the rugged terrain, with numerous
tunnels and viaducts to also help us progress..."
Taking the TranzAlpine train
across the South Island in New Zealand.
[Read the
full article here] |
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Overland Train from Adelaide to
Melbourne
Senior Traveller, May 2022
"The other benefit of Red Premium makes itself
evident as dawn breaks and our train slowly
progresses into the Adelaide Hills: a hot
breakfast featuring a spinach and feta omelette,
served to our seats. As we enjoy our food the
train creaks and sways, suburbia melts away and
we're immersed in a hilly forested landscape.
Occasionally a gap opens amid the trees and we
have glimpses of the city below and the ocean
beyond. Meanwhile a light mist rises from the
paddocks of farms we pass, creating a ghostly aura
as dew sparkles in the morning light..."
Catching the historic Overland
train from South Australia to Victoria, Australia.
[Read the
full article here] |
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Sustainable Australia: Top Tips
to Minimise Your Carbon Footprint and Travel
Slow
lonelyplanet.com,
14 April 2022
"Australia is such an enormous nation that the
instinct of both locals and visitors is to fly
between its many far-flung attractions. But in
this era of ‘flight-shame’ and increased
environmental awareness, it’s possible to reduce
your carbon footprint in Oz by traveling by
surface transport, seeing more of the country on
the way. Here are a number of possibilities..."
Outlining how to avoid flying by opting
for rail, sail, cycling and hiking while
visiting Australia.
[Read the
full article here]
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Holidays in Australia by Rail:
Seven Great Places You Can Travel to by Train
Traveller, 7 April 2022
"Along with most other Australians, I have
childhood memories of the great Aussie road trip.
For our Western Australian family it was usually a
drive to a holiday house in Augusta, past Margaret
River in the state's southwest. Now in 2022, with
spiralling petrol prices, the great Aussie road
trip is said to be endangered. To which I say, "So
what?" You can have more fun travelling by train
at a set fare, and help cut your carbon emissions
at the same time. Here are some affordable Aussie
train trips to replace those treks from the city
by car..."
Describing seven great long-distance
rail trips in Australia.
[Read the
full article here]
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Cockle Train a Classic Ride
Senior Traveller, April 2022
"We pull out with a few bumps, following the curve
of the harbour before slipping tightly between
houses. Then, as we head toward Port Elliot (a
stop with a famous bakery), we receive the scenic
payoff - the line runs along the top of coastal
cliffs, with the beach below and the ocean
stretching to the horizon. I'm told you can spot
southern right whales here in winter, and a
passenger on the previous train told me she'd seen
a pod of dolphins. I'm not as lucky, but the views
are marvellous..."
Riding the Cockle Train from Victor
Harbor to Goolwa, Australia.
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The World's Most Amazing Train
Journeys
Traveller, 23 October 2021
"Doesn't everyone like trains? To me, being asked
why I like them is like asking if you prefer the
sky to be blue or whether you approve of the sun
rising in the east. This is how I see it: trains,
that is long-distance trains, are in the
landscape, but not of it. They often travel past
amazing scenes but are separate from them, always
smoothly passing along to the next set of sights.
Nothing is more delightful than to be aboard a
sleeper train and to awake at dawn and gaze upon a
radically different vista than the one that left
you at dusk the night before..."
Presenting 24 great rail trips, as an
extract from my new book Ultimate
Train Journeys: World.
[Read the
full article here]
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Book excerpt: Heading South -
Far North Queensland to WA by Rail
The New Daily, 16 October 2021
"Dinner was taken outside the train at Rawlinna,
another ghost town that lay next to a vast sheep
station of the same name covering 10,000 square
kilometres. I was feeling antsy as we were led
through two carriages as a group, to disembark and
be marked off a list. The Indian Pacific
crew shared the mother hen characteristics of
their Overland colleagues, though in a
place this remote it was understandable. Except
for the short stop in Cook, I’d been aboard the
train for almost twenty-four hours and was I dying
to get outside..."
Dining under the outback stars on the
Indian Pacific train journey from Adelaide
to Perth, Australia.
[Read the
full article here]
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What It's Like On Board the XPT
Traveller, 9 September 2021
"Occasionally we'd pass a two-deck Sydney train
running along a parallel track. They weren't very
full this late on a weekday. I could see people
reclining, reading, thumbing their phones. I
wondered idly who they were, where they were
heading, what they'd be doing when they got there,
what they'd be having for dinner, when our trains
diverged and they passed out of my life..."
Travelling between Melbourne and
Sydney, Australia,
via sleeper train.
[Read the
full article here]
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One Train, So Many Views
Senior Traveller, September 2021
"American poet John Whittier said the saddest
words in life are 'It might have been', and I have
them in mind as I walk past the grand facade of
Auckland’s former main railway station. A
beautiful Beaux-Arts building from 1930, it would
be the perfect place to begin a long train journey
across New Zealand’s North Island. But what really
matters is what lies ahead: the prospect of a
marvellous array of scenery as it tracks through
the North Island’s complex geography..."
Riding the Northern Explorer
train from Auckland to Wellington, New Zealand.
[Read the
full article here] (flip to
page 20)
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Discovering The Great Journeys
of New Zealand
International Traveller, 26 July
2021
"Everyone knows New Zealand is a spectacular
country to visit, with its rugged snow-capped
mountains, dramatic coastline, and rolling green
countryside. But there’s one sure way to see it at
its best: by rail. The Great Journeys of New
Zealand is a series of three marvellous trains –
and a ferry – which take you in comfort through
the nation’s unforgettable scenery..."
Sharing the delights of three
long-distance train journeys in New Zealand.
[Read the
full article here]
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How to Go from North to South by
Rail
Traveller, 22 May 2021
"In the early morning light, with Auckland's Sky
Tower on the horizon, there's a hint of adventure
in the air as I wait to board the train waiting at
the city's Strand Station. Via three such trains –
each comprising a sleek set of modern carriages –
and a ferry, I'm about to undertake a great rail
journey across both the North and South islands of
New Zealand. I'm looking forward to a trip
involving beautiful hilly scenery, dramatic
volcanoes, and a multitude of tunnels and viaducts
built to carry the rails across New Zealand's
challenging terrain. I can't wait to see what's
out there..."
Taking three great long-distance rail
journeys across New
Zealand.
[Read the
full article here]
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Back on Track
Sunday Life, 18 April 2021
"It's been a long time between drinks for
passengers of the Indian Pacific, the
famous transcontinental train that runs between
Perth and Sydney. And as the beverages are
included with the fares nowadays, that's a lot of
missed cocktails since the service stopped running
in March last year. But now it's back, and the Indian
Pacific is once more covering the 4352
kilometres of track linking west and east. When it
launched in 1970, this train was public transport.
But nowadays it's a full-blown 'rail cruise' with
the fare including all meals, drinks and off-train
excursions..."
Riding the rails once more from
Perth to Sydney, Australia,
aboard Australia's longest train journey.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
What it’s Like Travelling North
on The Ghan in the Era of COVID-19
The New Daily,17 April 2021
"After a rigorous check-in procedure involving
temperature checks, I entered my Gold Service
cabin to find pandemic-era extras including
alcohol wipes and hand sanitiser. Other measures
include seating only travelling couples or groups
together in the dining car, rather than mixing
people; and an encouragement to distance where
possible in the lounge bar. Otherwise, The
Ghan is as it was before the virus: a
three-day rail trek from temperate Adelaide
through the desert north to the tropics at Darwin,
an impressive logistical exercise undertaken by 36
carriages pulled by two sizeable locomotives..."
Describing the journey of The Ghan
train from Adelaide to Darwin, Australia,
with border entry procedures in Alice
Springs.
[Read the
full article here]
|
|
Ocean to Outback: the Great
Southern Train
Senior Traveller, April 2021
"Food (beautifully prepared and presented) is a
major highlight of the train, as is socialising in
the bar; and all food and drink is included in the
fare. Sadly I met no international visitors among
the passengers this year, but we Aussies on board
were determined to have a good time. Several told
me how delighted they were to be travelling again,
and some had even booked the return leg from
Adelaide..."
Taking the luxurious Great Southern
train from Brisbane via New South Wales to
Adelaide, Australia,
with excursions en route.
[Read the
full article here]
|
|
The
Revival of the Sleeper Train
lonelyplanet.com, 4 January 2021
"So why has there been this sudden turnaround in
the fortunes of sleeper trains, and why should
travelers embrace the trend? One word (and it’s a
Swedish one): flygskam. Meaning 'flight
shame', it signifies an environmental movement
which has sprung up in the wake of the climate
change activism of Greta Thunberg and others.
Citing the high level of carbon emissions caused
by commercial flights, its proponents have vowed
to travel by surface means, and the sleeper train
is key..."
Detailing the revival of the night
train with sleeper accommodation, especially in Europe.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
A Dream of Trains
The New Daily, 3 June 2020
"Locked down in my apartment in Melbourne’s CBD, I
dreamt of trains. For the past decade I’ve
increasingly written about rail travel, drawn more
and more into a love of trains. It doesn’t matter
what trains they are – luxury 'rail cruises' are
impressive, but so to me is a berth in a weathered
old-school sleeper car or a seat on any intercity
train..."
Discussing the delights of rail travel,
with examples from my past
train journeys.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
An
Unusual Rail Journey Through
Queensland’s Gulf Savannah
Truly Aus, 5 May 2020
"Having survived a major flood in 1974, the Gulflander
hung on to become a quirky tourist train. What
helped it last so long was the railway’s unusual
track, whose arched steel sleepers allowed the
rails to sink solidly into the ground. This
innovation meant the train could keep going in up
to 15 centimetres of water, a huge benefit in a
region often hit by heavy wet season rains. 'Gold
is long gone, but the train survived because it
could still get through floods,' says
stationmaster and driver Ken..."
Catching a historic train from
Normanton to Croydon in remote Queensland, Australia.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
Destinations
Australians Can't Wait to Return to
Traveller, 29 March 2020
"Once we're all back in the air, the first place
I'll be heading to is the Balkans. I'd been set to
visit this region of Europe when the COVID-19
balloon went up, and reluctantly had to cancel
flights and other bookings. My wife and I were
heading to Athens first, with a Balkan Flexipass
from Rail Europe tucked into our passports. After
exploring the Greek capital, we intended to spend
six weeks travelling by train through Bulgaria,
Serbia, Montenegro and Romania (we're both keen on
a bit of vampire lore) before reaching Istanbul..."
Talking about rail travel through
the Balkans,
among a group of writers discussing post-COVID-19
travel.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
The
Savannahlander: An Epic and Eccentric
Rail Trek
Traveller, 26 February 2020
"'We're your train drivers for today, Thursday,
Friday and Saturday. So if you don't like us,
tough.' It says a lot for the informal vibe of the
Savannahlander that this announcement is met with
general laughter. It's nearing the end of the
train's operating season – it halts over the wet
season – so there's only a dozen passengers on
board. It's easy to move about in the carriage and
make friends, so the journey has a relaxed feel.
Not that the Savannahlander is ever a starchy,
formal, white-linen-tablecloth kind of
experience..."
Joining a memorable rail tour
through the Gulf Savannah region of Queensland, Australia.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
The
Best Travel Experiences for 2020
(including a section on rail travel by
me)
Traveller, 2 January 2020
"A few years ago it seemed that night trains were
on the way out, even in their European heartland:
German operator Deutsche Bahn abandoned all its
sleeper routes, citing increased costs and the
efficiency of daylight high-speed trains. But the
tide has turned, with Austrian Federal Railways
reporting great success with its increased
Nightjet services across Europe meeting rising
demand from environmentally-conscious
travellers..."
Detailing my tips about rail
travel, including rail experiences in Peru, Canada and Europe.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
Inside the UK's Longest Sleeper
Train Journey
lonelyplanet.com, 19 December 2019
"The era of the sleeper train is fading as Europe
becomes criss-crossed by high-speed railways, but
it lives on in the UK to some of the farthest
corners of the country. It’s possible to sleep by
rail all the way from the far western reaches of
Cornwall to the glens of the Scottish Highlands,
in the comfort of your own compartment..."
Catching two great sleeper trains from
Cornwall to Scotland via London, UK.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
Travel New Zealand by Train
lonelyplanet.com, 6 December 2019
"From its beautiful coastline to its spectacular
mountains, New Zealand is a place you visit for
its scenery – and there’s no better way to gorge
on its good looks than by train. Travelling at
surface level, you can take in every detail of
Aotearoa, stopping off along the way to see more.
Here’s how..."
Taking three long-distance rail
journeys from the North to South Island of New Zealand.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
Outback
Tracks
True Blue, December 2019 - January 2020
"I’m in town to catch a train from the attractive
station that’s set within gardens like an old
farmhouse. Here I find the Gulflander
waiting beneath a corrugated canopy, its engine
running and frame vibrating as its crew ready it
for departure. Remarkably, this remote railway has
been in operation since the late 19th century.
Originally laid toward Cloncurry to the south, it
was diverted to inland Croydon after the start of
that town’s 1885 gold rush..."
Riding aboard the historic
Gulflander train in Outback Queensland, Australia.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
Coastal
Pacific: One of the World's Great Train
Journeys
Traveller, 11 November 2019
"Considering all the excellent sauvignon blanc
that's made its way to me across the Tasman Sea,
it seems fitting I should pay it a visit in
return. Blenheim is the hub of New Zealand's
Marlborough wine region, so there must be
sauvignon blanc tastings galore here. I'll never
find out, however, as I'm just passing through
aboard the Coastal Pacific. This train is one of
New Zealand's great rail journeys, passing as it
does down the east coast of the South Island..."
Taking the Coastal Pacific train on
its route between ocean and mountains in New Zealand.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
Travelling
the Glacier Express in Excellence Class
Traveller, 13 September 2019
"Someone might be having a less-than-excellent day
somewhere in Switzerland, but it isn't me. Sipping
a glass of Laurent Perrier as I roll out of St
Moritz aboard the Glacier Express, I am
officially enjoying a day of excellence. For I'm
not slumming it in first class or even (shudder)
second class – I'm in the brand-new Excellence
Class carriage aboard the famous train which takes
eight hours to cover 291 kilometres between St
Moritz and Zermatt..."
Enjoying a new luxury experience
aboard the Glacier Express train in Switzerland.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
Travelling
Europe by Train is Easier than Flying
Executive Style, 10 September 2019
"It's chilly in Zürich's main train station at
7am, but it has all the atmosphere I desire at the
beginning of a European train trip. The main
concourse sits beneath a grand hall of arched
windows, and there's an air of purpose as the
people around me head to their trains. After an
assignment in Switzerland I need to get to London,
and it occurred to me that rail travel might be a
viable alternative to flying..."
Travelling business class aboard
trains from Zürich, Switzerland,
via Paris, France
to London, UK.
|
|
My
Window Seat Through Canada’s Amazing
Wilderness
Escape, 15 August 2019
"Given that we’re starting in the Canadian
Rockies, it doesn’t take long for remarkable
scenery to appear. A couple of hours in we pass
Mount Robson, the highest peak in the range. An
announcement tells us there’s only twelve days in
the year when you can see the whole mountain – and
we can see it today. It seems a good omen. We’re
soon running between two great mountain ranges –
the Rockies to our right, the Cariboos to our
left..."
Catching a train along a scenic
route from Jasper to Prince Rupert, Canada.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
London
to Glasgow on the Caledonian Sleeper
Train
Traveller, 25 July 2019
"The Club Car, as it's known on the updated train,
is a combined bar and dining car. I slip into one
end of a table for four, happy to share. Because
the train has departed late the staff are rushed
off their feet with orders, but when handed a menu
I'm impressed with the range and quality on offer.
The Caledonian Sleeper makes a point of filling
its menu with ingredients from the north, so it's
easy to feel a Scottish vibe even as we're
navigating the London suburbs..."
Riding the rails from London to
Scotland, UK,
aboard a newly updated sleeper train.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
Spirit
of Queensland Rail Journey: Like
Business Class on a Plane
Traveller, 4 April 2019
"'WARNING: plastic snakes on station to deter
birds.' This yellow-and-black sign at Townsville's
railway station is undeniably eye-catching. It
strikes me that plastic snakes might also deter
humans. I look all around, but I can't find see
any fake reptiles. No matter. What's more
important is the train waiting for me at the
platform. The Spirit of Queensland takes
25 hours to cover the 1681 kilometres from Cairns
to Brisbane..."
Riding aboard a modern sleeper
train along the coast of Queensland, Australia.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
Here's How to See Australia by
Train
lonelyplanet.com, 23 March 2019
"Australia is such a huge country that it seems
logical to cross it by plane. But there is another
option, one that becomes a memorable holiday in
itself: the train. Piecing together connecting
routes, it’s possible to take a great rail journey
across the continent from savannah to forests to
tropics, immersed in ever-changing scenery. Here’s
how to do it..."
Describing how to travel around Australia by
rail, from
Queensland through NSW, Victoria and South
Australia to either Darwin or Perth.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
A Magic Bullet to
Busan
Traveller, 7 March 2019
"As I enter Seoul Station, I have half an eye out
for zombies. A week before flying to the South
Korean capital I watched Train to Busan,
the excellent 2016 movie about a train journey
overtaken by a plague of the undead. It managed to
both evoke horror, and depict Korail's high-speed
rail network in a good light. In the midst of the
action the rail company's staff were unfailingly
cool under pressure (except when turned into
zombies themselves, of course)..."
Catching high-speed trains from
Seoul to Busan, South
Korea.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
See Remote
Queensland's Flora and Fauna Aboard the
Gulflander Train
Traveller, 5 February 2019
"It's not easy to catch a train from Normanton, a
remote town in the Gulf Savannah region of
northwest Queensland. For one thing, the
Gulflander train only operates once a week. And if
you try to catch it at the tail end of the wet
season, as I am, you run the risk of being washed
out. But we've been given the go-ahead by the
track crew, and the landscape looks beautiful as
we enter the savannah, dotted with slender
dark-trunked trees..."
Riding the memorable "train from
nowhere to nowhere", in Outback Queensland, Australia.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
How to Do a Car-free Day Trip
from Melbourne
lonelyplanet.com, 10 January 2019
"Melbourne may love its trams, but its excellent
public transport system also allows travellers to
take excursions into neighbouring regions of
Victoria on a budget. Natural forests, towns and
the seaside are all within easy reach of the city,
and taking the train means you can slow down,
enjoy the scenery (or even a craft beer) without
the stress of driving or being stuck on a tour
timetable..."
Detailing a collection of day trips by
public transport from Melbourne, Australia.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
Full
Steam Ahead
Paradise,
January-February 2019
"To
a train fan there’s nothing more
exciting than the hiss of a steam
locomotive, and the peal of its whistle.
Even more so when it’s about to bear you
through a picturesque area of Japan. I’m
about to board the SL Taiju, a
loco which worked on the northern island
of Hokkaido from 1941 to 1974. Recently
granted a second life in the Nikko
region north of Tokyo, it runs 35-minute
trips between the hot springs town of
Kinugawa Onsen and Shimo-Imaichi..."
Exploring the Nikko
region of Japan
for the inflight magazine of Air Niugini.
[Read
the full article here] |
|
Lonely Planet:
Amazing Train Journeys
(section on Eastern & Oriental Express)
October 2018
"Tracing a route between the busy cities of
Bangkok and Singapore, the Eastern &
Oriental Express is an appealing way to
sample the sights of South-east Asia. Passengers
experience a little of everything on the two to
three-night journey: luxurious comfort within
finely-crafted décor; quality dining with a choice
of Asian and European dishes; beautiful scenery as
the tropical landscape slips past the train
windows; and cultural knowledge..."
Describing a luxurious way to
travel by rail between Thailand
and Singapore,
via Malaysia.
[Find the
book here] |
|
A Rail
of a Time
Discover,
Spring/Summer 2018
"Then it’s time to
hop aboard the most impressive train of
all: the Indian Pacific. A
two-night journey west to Perth includes
top-quality dining, stark desert scenery,
and dinner in a remote ghost town. It’s a
fitting finale to an almost 8000 kilometre
rail
odyssey..."
Detailing how to
catch trains round Australia
from Far North Queensland through NSW,
Victoria and South Australia, all the way
to Western Australia.
[Read
the full article
here]
|
|
Poetry in Motion:
The London Underground
Traveller, 28 July 2018
"As it's been built in fits and spurts since the
19th century, the Tube possesses none of the bland
uniformity of more recently built systems. The
most atmospheric stations are those that opened
along the first line in 1863, from Paddington to
Farringdon. Standing on one of the oldest
platforms at Baker Street Station, with its
curving brick roof, it's easy to fantasise
stepping aboard one of its long-vanished steam
trains alongside Sherlock Holmes..."
Describing the appeal of the London
Underground in the UK,
as one of a series of transport delights (scroll
down for my segment).
[Read the
full article here] |
|
The Grand Island
Tour, Rottnest Island
Traveller, 11 July 2018
"Wildlife aside, Rottnest Island has had a
fascinating history. Most visitors focus on the
physical pleasures of its beaches and restaurants,
but there's plenty of scope for exploring its
chequered past. The Grand Island Tour, which I'm
on today, is a good way to start. The first
section is aboard an open-sided train which
follows the route of the original army railway of
the 1930s. From a stop in The Settlement, it
tracks slowly upward to Oliver Hill..."
Joining a tour of Rottnest Island,
off the coast of Perth, Australia.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
Cape Town to
Pretoria by Train – Diamond Empires to
Shanty Towns
Traveller, 18 June 2018
"A young man in a suit stands at the entrance,
proffering a tray of champagne glasses. Beyond
him, the 52 passengers on this two-night trip are
settling in among the deep sofas, high ceilings
and chandeliers, drinking bubbly and enjoying
salmon or cucumber sandwiches. The day before, I'd
been at this same station on a solo excursion to
the city's south via the suburban train network,
keeping an eye on my valuables and avoiding
slashed train seats. Today's ride is clearly in a
different class altogether..."
Taking the luxurious Pride of
Africa train from Cape Town to Pretoria, South Africa.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
Poland to Ukraine by
Sleeper Train
Traveller, 7 June 2018
"According to old movies, there were two types of
European long-distance train. One was the sexy,
luxurious sleeper such as the Orient Express,
carrying exiled duchesses to elegant cities like
Paris. The other was a shabby train packed with
foreign agents and shady smugglers, hoping to slip
unnoticed past the Iron Curtain. You might think
that age of exoticism and intrigue on the rails is
gone; replaced by shiny high-speed trains with
bland open carriages, zipping across unmonitored
borders. But you'd be wrong..."
Riding overnight on a train between
Poland and
Lviv, Ukraine;
then on to Kiev.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
Alaska to Canada by
Rail
Traveller, 29 May 2018
"It's an extraordinary engineering achievement.
From sea level the railway climbs almost 900
metres over a 30-kilometre route, twisting and
turning as it negotiates slopes, bridges and
tunnels. The WP&YR closed in 1982, defeated by
a new road and a mining slump, but reopened six
years later for tourism. Nowadays it draws its
riders from the cruise ship passengers who swarm
the docks where Soapy met his end; along with
hikers walking the popular Chilkoot Trail..."
Catching a narrow-gauge train
through the mountains from Alaska, USA to Yukon, Canada.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
Life on the Rails in
Porthmadog, Wales
Traveller, 14 January 2018
"In every British summer, so I've been told,
there's one perfect sunny day. And it seems I've
jagged it today, as my narrow-gauge Welsh Highland
Railway train trundles through the countryside to
Caernarfon. After we depart Porthmadog, a former
slate-mining port on a pretty estuary, its urban
backyards are replaced by craggy hills behind
meadows with sheep and cattle. With a blue sky
above, and the mirror-calm water of lakes along
the route, each view seems a postcard cliche..."
Catching trains along three
narrow-gauge railways from this town in Wales, UK.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
Q Train Brings
Glamour Back to Rail Travel
Traveller, 6 January 2018
"A tourist train offers a trip into nostalgia, but
it's usually a journey to the Golden Age of Rail
rather than the pop hits of my childhood. But the
Club Loco bar was once the disco car of the
Sunlander, the Brisbane-Cairns sleeper train that
was retired in 2014. Now, painted sky blue, former
Sunlander carriages comprise a new dinner train
that runs to the coastal town of Queenscliff and
back..."
Enjoying the delights of this
restaurant train from Drysdale to Queenscliff, Australia.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
52 Weekends Away:
Indian Pacific
Good Weekend, 28 October 2017
"One of the world's great rail journeys, the
Indian Pacific crosses the continent over 4352
kilometres of track – including the longest
dead-straight section in the world, 478 kilometres
across the flat and empty Nullarbor Plain. It's a
spectacular route through mountains, cities and
vineyard country, past outback ghost towns, and
across stark deserts..."
Detailing the experience aboard
this long-distance train from Sydney via Adelaide
to Perth, Australia,
as part of a collection of recommended
accommodation.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
How to Build a DIY Rail and
Cruise Tour of Canada and Alaska
lonelyplanet.com, 14 September 2017
"A luxury rail journey combined with a coastal
cruise is the hottest way to see western Canada
and southeast Alaska. Each summer, thousands take
a gourmet train journey through the Rocky
Mountains, then admire the Inside Passage by sea.
If you’re an independent traveler, however, it’s
possible to bypass the expense and crowds by
piecing together your own rail tour and cruise..."
Piecing together a train and ferry
journey to western Canada
and the coast of Alaska, USA.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
Spirit of the
Outback: into the Wild, Wild West
Traveller, 8 September 2017
"The adjoining Tuckerbox restaurant car is
similarly colour-coded, but more eccentrically
decorated. The dividers between table booths are
each topped by metal frames containing livestock
brands of famous cattle and sheep stations, such
as Bowen Downs, Wellshot and Isis Downs. Above the
tables there's a curve of corrugated iron, a
reminder of rural Australia's favourite building
material. The effect is that of a quirky
Outback-themed eatery. Tacky or fun? I'm going
with the latter..."
Talking the sleeper train from
Brisbane to Longreach in Queensland, Australia.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
Coast to Coast: Across Australia
by Rail
lonelyplanet.com, 12 June 2017
"For almost half a century, Australia's Indian
Pacific train has traced a three-day journey by
rail between Sydney and Perth. Its 4,352km route
between the Pacific and Indian Oceans takes in
mountains, native bushland, desert, wheat fields
and urban sprawl. Those taking this trip gain a
close-up experience of Australia’s immense size
and diversity, as its dramatic landscape slides
past..."
Travelling by rail across Australia
through New South Wales, South Australia and
Western Australia.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
Melbourne
to Sydney to Adelaide by Rail
Traveller, 5 February 2017
"Catching a train from platform one of Melbourne's
Southern Cross Station is like boarding a flight
from gate one of an international airport – rarely
done, and all the more special for that. With its
undulating wave-like roof, Melbourne's main
station is an exciting place from which to depart
on a long-distance rail adventure. This is a
full-on rail trek, which will take me to three
state capitals through a range of terrains, and
home again – without boarding a single plane..."
Travelling through three states of Australia
via three different
long-distance trains.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
Ocean
Rail: Riding the Pacific Surfliner
Traveller, 12 November 2016
"The year 1915 was a big one for San Diego. To
celebrate the opening of the Panama Canal,
California's southernmost city threw a
two-year-long party: the Panama-California
Exposition. To welcome visitors to this event, a
new train station, the Santa Fe Depot, was built
in the pseudo-Spanish Mission Revival style. I'm
at that station to catch Amtrak's Pacific
Surfliner train, which runs north through Los
Angeles and Santa Barbara before terminating at
San Luis Obispo..."
Heading north along the Pacific coast
by rail, through Southern California, USA.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
10
Things in Australia You Can Only
Experience by Train
Traveller, 29 August 2016
"It's a big country, and there's no better way of
experiencing its vastness than by train. Australia
is blessed with two transcontinental rail
journeys: the Indian Pacific which runs east-west
to link Sydney with Perth; and The Ghan which runs
north-south between Adelaide and Darwin. Along
these two routes, and others, there's an array of
unique experiences..."
Discussing unique aspects of
long-distance train travel in Australia.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
Sleepers
to Seattle
Traveller, 21 May 2016
"'The last of the great train stations.' When it
opened in May 1939, no-one could foresee that Los
Angeles' Union Station would soon receive this
accolade. Train travel had helped knit the vast
territory of the United States together, after
all, and every major city wanted a rail terminal
that proclaimed its significance and prosperity.
Even now that aircraft have taken most of the
market for long-distance travel, LA's main station
remains a magnificent piece of architecture..."
Taking a sleeper train from Los Angeles
to Seattle, USA,
via San Francisco and Portland.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
West
Coast USA by Rail
Get Up & Go,
Summer
2016
"In
my view, a good breakfast is the
foundation of a long-distance rail
journey. So it’s lucky that Philippe the
Original is a short walk from Los
Angeles’ Union Station, on the edge of
Chinatown. You couldn’t ask for a more
genuine slice of Americana before
heading on a train journey up the USA’s
west coast. I eat a sprawling omelette
studded with spinach and onion, on a bed
of hash browns; then I walk to the most
beautiful railway station I’ve ever
seen..."
Taking
the train all the way north from Los
Angeles to Seattle, USA.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
How to
Travel Around Poland by Train
lonelyplanet.com, 23 October 2015
"Forget the car – with a rail network that
radiates to all parts of Poland from its biggest
cities, a much better way to experience the
country is by train. Whether departing from shiny
new stations or crumbling old ones, along busy
main lines or sleepy branch lines, aboard brand
new trains or communist-era carriages, Polish
train travel is never dull..."
Explaining the ins and outs of train
travel in Poland.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
Express Yourself
The Sun-Herald, 26 July 2015
"It didn't take long for Sinatra to show up. I may
be sitting in the beautifully appointed piano bar
aboard the Eastern & Oriental Express, a
luxury train rattling along the rails of Thailand,
but New York, New York is being crooned by
the Singaporean pianist. Seated near him is a
cluster of passengers, still in suits and finery
from dinner, singing self-consciously under our
breath while clutching drinks. I'll have to give
that song a more determined effort later. For the
moment, however, there is plenty to explore..."
Riding the rails from Thailand
via Malaysia
to Singapore,
aboard a luxury train.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
Converts' Guide:
Long-Distance Train Travel
The Sun-Herald, 15 March 2015
"There are many types of long-distance trains,
from regularly scheduled services to those that
resemble luxury cruise liners. What they have in
common is ever-changing scenery. A train is a
unique mode of transport, akin to a small town on
wheels; always in contact with the world outside,
but also slightly separate. It's difficult to get
bored as the entire planet passes by your window:
people, farms, forests, dramatic landscapes, and
the normally hidden backyards of vibrant cities..."
Promoting the benefits of
long-distance rail travel, in one of a set of
travel essays; including the Indian Pacific train
across Australia.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
To
Berlin by Rail
Get Up & Go,
Summer
2015
"Most
travellers arrive in London looking for
history, but it’s also there on your way
out. I’m sipping great coffee within the
cavernous interior of Caravan, a sleek
modern cafe on Granary Square at Kings
Cross. The huge brick building it’s
located in was once a storehouse for
grain brought in by rail and barge. With
that transport history, it seems the
right place from which to set off on a
grand rail journey to the Continent..."
Detailing
a rail journey from London, UK
to Berlin, Germany
with stops at Brussels, Belgium
and Cologne.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
Secrets of the
London Underground
Traveller, 30 December 2014
"Inevitably, every visitor to London forms a
relationship with the Tube. In other cities,
underground railways are practical, no-nonsense
ways to get around town quickly. But the London
Underground has always seemed more than that. Its
distinctive logo, its iconic route map, its many
stations with curious names, and the strange
unearthliness of its deep-level platforms, give it
a personality all its own..."
Uncovering five Tube secrets in
London, UK,
including fake facades, a missing crypt and a
heart-wrenching memorial.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
Cirque du Wheels
The Sun-Herald, 17 February 2013
"On my left are lofty mountains, covered with
greenery and occasionally interrupted by villages.
On the right is the vast blue-grey St Lawrence
Seaway, its distant opposite shore barely visible
through the morning mist. Directly opposite me,
across a table, is Pierre, an avionics engineer
from Montreal. Pierre and I get on like a maison
en feu (that'd be a house on fire), politely
offering each other dibs on the last muffin while
chatting about the difficulty of taking photos
through the carriage windows..."
Taking a luxury train journey into the
Charlevoix region of Quebec, Canada.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
Wild
Ride
Medical Observer,
23 November 2012
"The cog system stays engaged as we ease down
the slope to our next stop, the strangely
spelled Dubbil Barril. Rather bizarrely, this
was once the site of an isolated dairy farm,
which sent out its milk in cans via the railway.
There are lots of theories about the odd place
name, but the one that most appeals to me is
that of the semi-literate local who ordered a
double-barrelled shotgun from Melbourne but
misspelled the order..."
Exploring
the west of Tasmania, Australia,
aboard the West Coast Wilderness Railway. |
|
A
Theatrical Journey into Canada’s
Charlevoix
BBC Travel, 19 November 2012
"The Charlevoix Railway carried passengers until
1959. Fifty years later, Gauthier wanted to give
something back to the region that had kick-started
his success, and upgraded the line to make it
viable for a luxury train, hoping to encourage
travellers to visit the Charlevoix from Québec
City. Two versions of the Le Massif train leave
each morning from a suitably dramatic locale, the
spectacular Montmorency Falls..."
Catching the Le Massif gourmet train
into the Charlevoix region of Quebec, Canada.
[Read the
full article here] |
|
Sydney
by Tram
Medical Observer,
4 November 2011
"'He shot through
like a Bondi tram!' It’s fading now, but
this colourful expression was part of the
Australian idiom for many decades, meaning
to depart at high speed. Whether Sydney
trams were ever that fast is another
question; but since the city’s tramways
were closed in the 1960s, there’s been
little chance to find out. There is,
however, one exception..."
Exploring
inner-city Sydney, Australia
by light rail, from Paddy's Markets to
Jubilee Park. |
|
A
Moving Experience
Medical Observer,
23 September 2011
"As we approach the
Rocky Mountains the landscape grows ever
more impressive, high and craggy with
snow-capped peaks, until we stop for 90
minutes at Jasper. The mountain town is an
attractive blend of both natural and
human-made attractions, as all the notable
civic buildings around the station have
been built in a harmonious style involving
stone, timber frames and steep pitched
roofs..."
Taking an
epic train journey between Vancouver and
Toronto, Canada. |
More
travel writing:
Australia
| Pacific | Europe | Asia
| Americas | Africa
& Middle East
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Travel: By Rail
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I'm a
member of the Australian Society of Travel
Writers. This page contains examples
of my writing about rail travel, in
reverse chronological order, with a link
to the original published
article where available.
If you'd like to republish
one of these pieces, or would like a new
piece written about the same
topic, please get in touch via the
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Archive
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archive are available for republication (fee
to be negotiated). Articles can be rewritten
to meet your style or length requirements.
Please contact me by email
with your query.
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phone:
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+61-411-242327)
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