Scenic and Famous Railway Lines
Some railway journeys are a destination in themselves, with stunning scenery: mountains, lakes, rivers, coastal or forest, a trip can be a delight. Here is a collection of some together with information about journey time and prices. Please do contact us if you would like more information, or to incorporate one or more into a longer trip.
All prices given include our cover charge and are for one adult travelling in standard class one way only, unless otherwise stated. Prices are subject to availability and currency fluctuations. Reservations are included if compulsory or strongly recommended.
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Austria
The Arlberg Pass
Innsbruck to Buchs or Bregenz
One of the steepest international main line railways used by both passenger and freight traffic, this line features mountain meadows and stunning mountain scenery as it passes through the Inn and Paznau Valleys and over the Trisanna Bridge.
International express trains from Austria to Switzerland are routed this way.
Total journey time approximately 2 hours 45 minutes
Price £38
The Brenner Pass
Innsbruck to Verona, Italy
This route features breathtaking views of traditional mountain villages and romantic towns. The line follows the banks of The Elsack River.
Total journey time approximately 3 hours 30 minutes
Price £38.50
Innsbruck to Schwarzach St Veit
If travelling between Innsbruck and Salzburg by train make the time to take this slower route rather than the fast trains through Rosenheim in Germany. This route offers stunning mountain and gorge scenery.
Total journey time approximately 3 hours
Price £33
Munich to Innsbruck via Garmisch
Munich, Germany to Innsbruck
Also known as the Karwendelbahn (Karwendel Railway) after the range of mountains throught which it passes. The journey starts with a climb into the German Alps, passing close to Oberammergau, home of the Passion Play. The train then passes through the home of the 1936 Winter Olympics, Garmisch-Partenkirchen before winding through Mittenwald to Seefeld in Austria. The journey ends with a spectacular descent along the Inn Valley to Innsbruck.
Total journey time approximately 2 hours 50 minutes
Price £30.50
River Mur
Bruck an der Mur to Villach
This line passes through wooded valleys along the River Mur. From Klagenfurt the route follows the north shore of the Worthersee (lake).
Total journey time approximately 2 hours 30 minutes
Price £39.50
SalzkammergutbahnSalzkammergutbahn
Attnang-Pucheim to Stainach-Irdning
The Salzkammergutbahn, running through a resort area of Austria, features stunning mountain scenery and passes the Traunsee (lake)
Total journey time approximately 2 hours
Price £22.50
The Semmering Pass
Vienna to Graz
Passing through the tree covered peaks on the edge of the Alps this route twists and winds through narrow valleys bordered by steep mountainsides. This was the first alpine pass traversed by railway and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Total journey time approximately 2 hours 30 minutes
Price £40
The Tauren Railway
Salzburg to Villach
Strictly speaking the Tauren Railway is from Schwarzach-Sankt Veit to Spittal an der Drau. This line features many beautiful valleys as well as mountains and gorges. The line climbs the High Tauern range of the Central Eastern Alps, it crosses the mountain crest through the 8,371 m (27,464 ft) long Tauern Tunnel.
Total journey time approximately 2 hours 30 minutes
Price £33
Belgium
Liège to Luxembourg
Liège to Luxembourg
Once the train leaves the industrial city of Liège, you quickly enter a winding river valley, through a succession of small Ardennes villages. The majority of the route is through wooded valleys and small villages along the river and railway. The valley opens out a little as you cross the border from Belgium to Luxembourg.
Total journey time approximately 2 hours 25 minutes
Price £40
Namur to Dinant
Namur to Dinant
The railway line follows the Meuse River, surrounded by hills dotted with historic fortifications and stone walls.
Total journey time approximately 30 minutes
Price £6
Bulgaria
The Rhodope Railway
Septemvri to Dobrinishte
This narrow gauge railway is also known as the Balkan Alpine railway, a name which comes from the range of mountains which resemble the mountainous Alpine scenery usually assocated with western Europe. Running through the valleys and gorges the route passes through the highest station in the Balkans, Avramovo, situated at 1267 meters above sea level.
Bansko, just before the line ends at Dobrinishte, is a ski resport and has a better range of accommodation than elsewhere on the route.
Total journey time approximately 5 hours 20 minutes
Unfortunately we are not able to issue point to point tickets for this route. However we recommend a Bulgaria InterRail pass or Balkan pass.
Sofia to Burgas
Sofia to Burgas via Karlovo
This line runs between the Balkan Mountains and Sredna Gora mountain offering scenic views.
Total journey time approximately 7 hours
Price £28
Czech Republic
Chomutov to Karlovy Vary
Chomutov to Karlovy Vary
This line winds along the pretty Ohre valley crossing the river several times.
Total journey time approximately 50 minutes
Price £9
The Elbe Gorge
Dresden, Germany to Prague
Passing through the area known as "Saxon Switzerland" along the banks of the River Elbe the scenery is rugged and rocky. As the train crosses into the Czech Republic the valley narrows, but after passing Usti nad Labem the river banks open out into farmland.
Total journey time approximately 2 hours 20 minutes
Price £20
Denmark
Thybanen
Struer to Thisted
This railway line crosses the Limfjord to the north Jutlandic island and then follows the fjord through an agricultural landscape.
Total journey time approximately 1 hour 20 minutes
Price £12.50
Finland
The old Karelian railroad
Kovvola to Joensuu
This broad gauge line offers views of forests and lakes as it takes you through the North Karelia area of Finland.
Total journey time approximately 3 hours
Price £46.00
France
Chambéry to Bourg St Maurice
Chambéry to Bourg St Maurice
Often used to reach ski resorts this route offers spectacular views of the Savoie-Alps.
Total journey time approximately 2 hours
Price £17
La Gentiane Express
Aurillac to Neussargues
This line crosses the Massif Central through mountain and gorge scenery. There is also a private railway with the same name in the area.
Total journey time approximately 50 minutes
Price £10.50
La Spezia to Cannes
La Spezia, Italy to Cannes
The journey begins on the rugged coastline emerging from tunnels to spectacular views of the Mediterranean sea. Futher North after Genova, where a change of train is necessary, the coastline is more open with tantalizing glimpses of the green sea. After another change of trains at the French border, Ventimiglia, the landscape is more developed but still features steep hills rising from the sea.
Total journey time approximately 7 hours
Price £38
Ligne du Haut-Bugey
Bourg-en-Bresse to Bellegarde
The hilly nature of the terrain requires the line to take a steep and sinuous course. After the villages of Villereversure and Simandre-sur-Suran the land flattens out. The Racouse tunnel takes the line through the second ridge of the Revermont, then the Cize-Bolozon viaduct crosses the river Ain to Bolozon station. Then comes a long climb up the slopes of Mont Berthiand culminating in the Mornay tunnel after which the line runs flat and straight to Nurieux-Volognat station. The line winds though the village of Port then along the south bank of the lake of Nantua to Nantua station. A short climb through le Neyrolles along the Sylans lake to the village of Charix, then plunges down the valley of the river Semine to Bellegarde.
Total journey time approximately 45 minutes
Price £16.50
Germany
The Elbe Gorge
Dresden to Prague, Czech Republic
Passing through the area known as "Saxon Switzerland" along the banks of the River Elbe the scenery is rugged and rocky. As the train crosses into the Czech Republic the valley narrows but, after passing Usti nad Labem, the river banks open out into farmland.
The German section of this line from Dresden to Bad Schandau also has a frequent service of local trains. Sit on the left side leaving Dresden for best views of the river.
Total journey time approximately 2 hours 20 minutes
Price £20
Munich to Innsbruck via Garmisch
Munich to Innsbruck, Austria
The train climbs up into the German Alps south of Munich, passing close to Oberammergau before arriving in the ski resort and former Olympic venue of Garmisch-Partenkirchen at the foot of the mighty Zugspitze. The train then winds through Mittenwald to Seefeld in Austria, before making a spectacular descent into Innsbruck along the side of the steep Inn valley.
Total journey time approximately 2 hours 50 minutes
Price £30.50
The Rhine Gorge
Cologne to Mainz
Although the Rhine River flows from the Alps in Switzerland to the North Sea via the Netherlands there is a particularly scenic section that can be seen from the train in Germany. The section from Cologne to Mainz, know as Mittelrhein (Middle Rhine), twists through the German country side past many castles, including the twin castles of Burg Katz and Burg Maus (Cat and Mouse) above the town of St. Goarshausen.
The Gorge itself was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2002 due to its unique combination of historical, geological, industrial and cultural reasons.
Total journey time approximately 1 hour 45 minutes
Price £23
Schwarzwaldbahn
Offenburg to Konstanz
Passing directly across the Black Forest, through spectacular scenery, the route is 150 km long, ascends 650 metres from lowest to highest elevation, and passes through 39 tunnels and over 2 viaducts. It is still the only true mountain railway in Germany to be built with two tracks, and is the most important railway line in the Black Forest.
Total journey time approximately 1 hour 45 minutes
Price £20 Using a Baden-Württemberg-Ticket Länderticket
Italy
The Brenner Pass
Innsbruck, Austria to Verona
This route features breathtaking views of traditional mountain villages and romantic towns.
Total journey time approximately 3 hours 30 minutes
Price £38.50
The Gotthard Pass
Milan to Lucerne, Switzerland
The first part of this route is across the fertile Lombard plains with the mountains a distant view. As the train approaches Como the scenery becomes more dramatic overlooking lake Como. Shortly after entering Switzerland at Chiasso the train will enter a narrow valley before crossing Lake Lugano on a causeway. The route then follows the Ticino river in a narrowing valley. To gain height the railway then snakes up the moutain using spiral tunnels and doubling back. After emerging from the Gotthard tunnel Lake Lucerne will be visible.
It will soon be important to check the route of your train as once the Gotthard Base Tunnel opens in 2016 and the Ceneri Base Tunnel opens in 2019 much of this route can be bypassed by over 72 kilometers of tunnels. The Gotthard Base Tunnel at 57 kilometers will be world's longest rail tunnel.
Best journey time approximately 3 hours 30 minutes with one change at Arth Goldau.
Price £57.50
La Spezia to Cannes
La Spezia to Cannes, France
The journey begins on the rugged coastline emerging from tunnels to spectacular views of the Mediterranean sea. Futher North after Genova, where a change of train is necessary, the coastline is more open with tantalizing glimpses of the green sea. After another change of trains at the French border, Ventimiglia, the landscape is more developed but still features steep hills rising from the sea.
Total journey time approximately 7 hours
Price £38
Luxembourg
Liège to Luxembourg
Liège, Belgium to Luxembourg
Once the train leaves the industrial city of Liège, you quickly enter a winding river valley, through a succession of small Ardennes villages. The majority of the route is through wood valleys and small villages along the river and railway. The valley opens out a little as you cross the border from Belgium to Luxembourg.
Total journey time approximately 2 hours 25 minutes
Price £40
Norway
The Flåm Railway
Myrdal to Flåm
The famous Flåm Railway is surrounded by steep mountainsides, roaring waterfalls and deep valleys. The 20 km-long train journey is one of the world's steepest railway lines and provides some of Norway's wildest and most magnificent scenery.
Journey time approximately 45 minutes each way.
Price £49 for a round trip
The Rauma Line
Oslo to Trondheim
Starting from Oslo, the Rauma Line takes you through picturesque mountains, over bridges, through tunnels and past the tallest rock-face in Europe; the Trollveggen. The emerald green Rauma river is another feature of the beautiful scenery as it runs alongside the track. The train will run especially slowly through the most spectacular scenery, and at the famous Kylling Railway Bridge and at Trollveggen, the train will make a complete stop.
Journey time approximately 6 hours 30 minutes
Price £117
The Roof of Norway
Bergen to Oslo
Affectionately known as the 'Roof of Norway,' this journey is through stunning mountain scenery as the fjord coastline gives way to the mountainous interior with high barren peaks, lakes and waterfalls. This route is a marvel of railway engineering.
Journey time approximately 7 hours
Price £104
Romania
The Prahova Valley
Ploieşti to Braşov
The journey begins on the Wallachian plain but begins to climb as the line follows the Prahova River. As the valley narrows the Bucegi Mountains appear in the west followed by the towering cliffs of Caraiman and Costila to the west. From 1000 metres above sea level the train then winds back down to Braşov.
Total journey time approximately 2 hours
Price £17
