There was a time when airline travel was the most glamorous thing you could imagine.
Suave pilots strolled through spacious, calm airports surrounded by glamorous hosties. Passengers who'd put on a suit and tie for the occasion relaxed in comfort while glass clinked in their dry martinis and soft music played through the speakers. Crowds of awed natives watched as silvery jumbo jets landed for the first time in far away locations.
As anyone who's travelled by air in the last ten years knows, no trace of that lost world remains. Epic queues at check in, undignified scrambles for shoes and belts at security, cramped seats, overpriced sandwiches and endless waits at luggage carousels mean that no matter how short your flight, you'd better allow the best part of a day to get to your destination.
For trips around Australia your options are limited — our country's size means that the plane or a long road trip are the only real means of visiting most major cities. But if you're planning a holiday in Europe, the USA/Canada or even South-East Asia, why not give up the boarding pass for a while, lessen your carbon footprint and let the train take the strain?
Europe
The European train network can take you just about anywhere, from the sleek Eurostar service that runs through the tunnel between England and France, to the cute little funicular railways that chug up the mountains of Switzerland. Train travel in Europe makes complete sense, getting you into even the smallest towns with the minimum of hassle.
Trains are generally well maintained and reasonably punctual, and service staff are used to helping visitors. A great way to save on time and money is to book sleeper trains between cities, which allow you to doze off in Paris, for example, and wake up in Berlin without paying extra for a hotel night. Sleeper compartments can be for two, three, four or six people and come with comfy fold-out bunks, sheets and pillows.
Plan your itinerary using the iconic website www.seat61.com, which is a trainspotters' delight. It's full of the most detailed information you could imagine on train times, destinations and facilities worldwide. To make bookings look no further than Railbookers (www.railbookers.com.au); they lovely people there are experts at putting together bespoke itineraries to any budget, package in awesome boutique hotels, and offer the added bonus of a real person at the other end of the phone to talk through your holiday options.
North America
American trains are operated by Amtrak (www.amtrak.com). They're affordable, safe and well maintained, and can provide a great way to crisscross this huge continent and get a feel for the places you are passing through. Most long distance routes (like San Francisco to Chicago) have daily services, and closer cities (like New York and Boston) are connected by frequent departures. Why not go the whole hog and make the 3000 mile coast-to-coast a train trip? You can find tickets from New York to San Francisco or Los Angeles for under $200. It'll take three nights if you do it all at once, or as long as you like if you decide to take in Middle America on the way.
In Canada, the train provides just about the only way to see some of the country's most spectacular scenery. The national rail network is called VIA Rail ( www.viarail.ca), and if you fancy a private rail tour, board the Rocky Mountaineer (www.rockymountaineer.com), which has a network of train holidays through the stunning scenery of British Columbia, Alberta and the Canadian Rockies.
South-East Asia
Trains in South-East Asia are a handy alternative to the rigours of a long-distance bus. They're very budget friendly and generally safe and comfortable. Train travel is very popular with locals, which means it's a great way to meet new friends and connect with fellow travellers, with overnight train trips a great way to speed up your journey if there's lots you want to see.
Train travel is a well established method of getting around Thailand, Vietnam, China, India, Malaysia and Singapore. Be prepared to bring your own food and drinks (and toilet paper), keep a close eye on your bags, and try not to stress if services are delayed — it's all part of the adventure. To get started, take a look at www.seat61.com or the national rail company websites listed here: www.travelnotes.org/Travel/byrail.htm.
Got any other great train tips to add?
