Do you remember your first train trip? Our family traveled cross-country by rail in the 1960s. It was a great adventure, starting at Union Station in Portland, Oregon. It wasn't as glamorous as jet travel, but I stayed awake all the way to our first connection at Council Bluffs, Iowa. There were interesting people on board, a dining car and an ever-changing landscape outside.
It was another 14 years before my first trip on the Alaska Railroad from Anchorage to Fairbanks. In between, I took a couple of rides on Amtrak's Coast Starlight from Portland to Santa Barbara. I also had the chance to hop aboard VIA Rail Canada's Canadian train from Banff, Alberta, to Vancouver, British Columbia.
Few people will disagree that riding the rails is a great way to travel. But in the Lower 48, Amtrak is more of a leisurely ride than a handy tool for business. The rest of the world has taken a different tack: embracing rail travel as the first option for getting around the countryside.
If you're heading to Europe, you're wise to check out a Eurail Pass before you go. There are plenty of options, including a Global Pass for travel in up to 28 countries, plus passes for one, two or four countries. Eurail also offers a 20 percent discount for off-peak travel through March 31. For a four-country pass in first class for travel on 10 days within two months, the cost is $550 per adult (this reflects the 20 percent offseason discount).
The Eurail website has some good trip planning tools so you can determine which pass is right for you.
If you're going to England, you should check out the BritRail Pass. Like the Eurail Pass, you can slice up the rail pass to accommodate just London and the surrounding area; England; or England, Scotland and Wales. For an eight-day pass, it's $394 in second class or $586 in first class.
The high-speed trains in Europe are fabulous. Between Avignon and Paris, it took us less than three hours on the French TGV train (Train à Grande Vitesse). These trains run on separate tracks and leave stations separate from the local trains.
The Shinkansen super-fast trains in Japan are a key component of the Japan Rail network. You can get a Japan Rail Pass for seven, 14 or 21 days either in ordinary (coach) class or green (superior) class. In addition to the fast trains, your Japan Rail pass is valid for travel on buses and other trains in Japan. There are many restrictions, plus several opportunities to pay surcharges for sleeper seats and select express trains. A seven-day adult green pass is around $323.
The Chinese have an extensive high-speed rail route network. Although there isn't a discounted plan, there is a prepaid China Rail Pass debit card that can save you time at the station.
There are many specialty trains that rail buffs seek out as their preferred way to see the countryside.
The Indian Pacific train stretches across Australia. This is a long ride -- so your Gold Service ticket includes sleeper accommodations and all of your meals. From Sydney to Perth, it's three full days and three nights. You can choose the Sydney-Adelaide segment or Adelaide-Perth. If you book your ticket six months in advance, your ticket between Adelaide and Perth would be $1,499 per person, when two travelers share a cabin. From Sydney to Adelaide, the discounted fare is $739 per person, double.
The one time I had a chance to take the Silver Fern train in New Zealand didn't pan out too well. There were some tracks under construction, so we ended up making most of the journey on a bus. Today, though, there are three separate scenic trains in the Kiwi Rail system, including the Northern Explorer, which goes from Wellington to Auckland. It's a beautiful journey for about $120 each way.
The Chihuahua al Pacifico or "Chepe" railway goes from Chuhuahua, Mexico, to the Pacific Coast through the Copper Canyon. The train covers 390 miles, crossing 39 bridges and going through 86 tunnels. The train leaves Chihuahua at 6 a.m. and arrives on the coast at 8:22 p.m. This train is on my short list of adventures. It opened in 1961 and is a major link from the interior desert to the coast. The one-way fare is about $150 in first class.
The Trans-Siberian Railroad from Moscow to Vladivostok is a six-night journey. There are several variations, including the Trans-Mongolian and the Trans-Manchurian trains to get to Beijing. You also can start your trip in St. Petersburg. Because it's a long trip and there are visas required, I think it's best to consult a travel agent who specializes in this type of journey. "Real Russia," based in England, offers an interactive guide to traveling on this unique train. The average ticket price from Moscow to Vladivostok on one of the fastest trains is about $895. But there are many variables.
If you just want to ride the rails for a day, you can take the White Pass and Yukon Route in Skagway from the sea up to the summit. This is a great ride that traces the route that gold miners used to access the gold fields in the Yukon. If you didn't take the train, you likely were hiking up the Chilkoot Trail.
If you want to ride the rails through wine country, consider a trip on the Napa Wine Train. I haven't ridden the train, although I've stopped as it passed through Napa, and it looks like fun. You can dine in the 1952 Vista Dome car. Your ride includes a gourmet meal and a three-hour journey for $199. The prices vary, depending on the car you're in. There are other Pullman cars built in 1915. You'll ride a little closer to the tracks, and the cost is as little as $124.
Chances are there's a train going across a country near you: the Blue Train in South Africa or the Eastern and Oriental Express along the Malay Peninsula between Bangkok and Singapore. There are others -- but these are just some ideas to get you started.
Right in our backyard, of course, the Alaska Railroad offers some trips, including the weekly Aurora Train from Anchorage to Fairbanks during the winter.
All aboard!
Scott McMurren is an Anchorage-based marketing consultant, serving clients in the transportation, hospitality, media and specialty destination sectors, among others. Contact him by email at zoom907@me.com. You can follow him on Twitter (@alaskatravelGRM) and alaskatravelgram.com. For more information, visit alaskatravelgram.com/about.