The Craziest Train Routes From Around The World

1. London to Fort William (UK)

Image Source: Reddit

Travelling by train can be a fantastic alternative to other modes of transport, and allows you to really take in your surroundings when visiting new locations. One of the most famous train journeys, is London to Fort William (Scotland) within the UK. This particular route gained recognition after being featured in the Harry Potter movie series, which includes the iconic 'Hogwarts Express' travelling over the archway bridge.

2. Bilbao to Ferrol (Spain)

Image Source: Wikipedia

The next train journey on the list, is Bilbao to Ferrol in Spain. This route follows along the northern coast of Spain, and allows you to explore the beautiful seascapes that this country provides. You will experience a range of landscapes, including woodland, bridges, coastline and villages. If you're looking for an alternative style of tourism, and want to explore the lesser-known areas of Spain, this is definitely a great choice.

3. Trondheim to Bodø (Norway)

Image Source: Happy Rail

Moving onto another European country with a beautiful train route, is Trondheim to Bodo located in Norway. This particular route follows the north of Norway, and comes down into the midlands. By taking this train, you are able to experience the beautiful landscapes Norway has to offer, from the quiet lakes and mountains, to the bustling towns and villages. It is also an amazing way to experience the country, at a much lower (overall) cost.

4. Naples to Palermo (Italy)

Image Source: Time Out

We're moving down to Italy for the next train route, which travels from Naples to Palermo. This particular route follows the west coast of Italy, and explores the rich seascapes that this country has to offer. If you're planning on travelling to Italy, and want to find some attractions that aren't as populated with tourists, this train journey can reveal a plethora to you.

5. Bastia to Ajaccio (Corsica)

Image Source: Bastia Tourisme

For the next train journey, we're sticking with the surrounding areas of Italy. The train journey in question, is Bastia to Ajaccio located on the island of Corsica. This train route transports you from the north of this quaint, peaceful island, to the southern coast. This route allows you to travel through the heart of the island, before coming to beautiful coastline. Corsica is the perfect vacation destination, if you're looking for more relaxing surroundings to immerse yourself in.

6. Mostar to Sarajevo (Bosnia)

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If you want to explore more inland settings, the next train journey could be the perfect choice. This particular route is located in Bosnia, and travels from Mostar to Sarajevo. By taking this train journey, you will be able to explore the wonders of Bosnia's rolling hills, mountains, lakes and woodland. You will travel from the southern point of Mostar, and work your way northward, towards the town of Sarajevo.

7. Johannesburg to Cape Town (South Africa)

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Moving on to another continent, we arrive in Africa. There are many train journeys you can experience within Africa and its countries, and one of those, is Johannesburg to Cape Town located in South Africa. This particular route, travels through the inland settings of South Africa, which allows you to experience the impressive natural beauty of this vast continent, before finishing at the coast of Cape Town.

8. Addis Ababa to Djibouti City (East Africa)

Image Source: Global Times

We're staying in Africa for the next train journey. This particular route is situated in East Africa, and travels from Addis Ababa to Djibouti City. This route starts in the bustling city, travels through the country of Ethiopia, and finishes in the coastal city of Djibouti City. If you're looking for a varied and immersive travel experience, this is a great choice for solo and group travellers.

9. Kapiri Mposhi to Dar Es Salaam (Zambia/Tanzania)

Image Source: Experiencing The Globe

Yet another train route located in Africa, is the Kapiri Mposhi to Dar Es Salaam route in East Africa. You will start off in Zambia, and travel over the coastal border into Tanzania. This is one of the longer train routes on this list, and will be an overnight journey through the highlands and lowlands of Africa. You will be able to experience a wide range of settings whilst on this train, before finishing up on eastern coast of Tanzania.

10. Los Mochis to Chihuahua (Mexico)

Image Source: The Maritime Explorer

Next up on the list, is the Los Mochis to Chihuahua route located in north-west Mexico. You depart from the west coast of Los Mochis, travel through the countryside of Yecora and La Junta, before finishing in the town of Chihuahua. This is a half, cross-country journey that will take half a day to complete. It is the perfect route to immerse yourself within the Mexican country, without a dense population of tourists.

11. Sudbury to White River (Canada)

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Moving into a colder climate, we come to the next train route, which is the Sudbury to White River route located in Canada. This train journey follows the southern point of Sudbury, travels through the west coast of the country and finishes at the northern point of White River. If you want to experience the beautiful woodlands and coastal settings of Canada, this is definitely the greatest route to follow!

12. Anchorage to Fairbanks (Alaska)

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Staying within the colder climate and settings, we move along to Alaska. This country is home to the Anchorage to Fairbanks train route, and allows you to experience the stunning snow-filled landscapes that Alaska has to offer. This particular route starts on the south-coast area of Anchorage, travels northwards, and finishes in Fairbanks (where the North Pole is located). This is an amazing journey to take, if you want to (potentially) experience the Northern Lights!

13. Lima to Huancayo (Peru)

Image Source: Rail South America

Coming back to South America, we find the Lima to Huancayo train route. This journey starts on the west coast of Peru, and travels inland to the bustling area of Huancayo. This is a great alternative for travel within Peru, and gives you a different destination to explore (that isn't Machu Picchu). You can travel through the cloud-covered mountaintops, all the way into the cultural hot spots of this stunning country.

14. Mettupalayam to Udagamandalam (India)

Image Source: Tamil Nadu Tourism

The next country for exploration on this list, is India. This country is home to a range of train routes and journeys, and one of these routes, is: the Mettupalayam to Udagamandalam. If you want to explore the heartland of a country, and really immerse yourself within the local areas, this is a fantastic route to follow. You can expect this particular journey to be quite crowded, but it is a much cheaper alternative mode of transport if you're travelling on a budget.

15. Colombo to Jaffna (Sri Lanka)

Image Source: Railway Gazette

The next journey on this list, is the Colombo to Jaffna route located in Sri Lanka. This route almost travels along the extent of this country, and allows you to explore the varying surroundings and Sri Lanka's natural beauty. You start on the west coast of Colombo, and finish at the most northern point (of the country) of Jaffna. This journey takes approximately seven hours, so you can choose to travel during the day or during the twilight hours.

16. Xining to Lhasa (China/Tibet)

Image Source: Top China Travel

For the next train route, we are staying in the continent of Asia. The journey in question, is: the Xining to Lhasa route that is located within China and Tibet. You start in central China, travelling throughout the bustling city centres, before reaching your destination of Lhasa, which is on the southern outskirts of Tibet. This particular route is a great alternative to travelling to tourist hotspots e.g. Hong Kong and Beijing, and it allows you to take in the range of landscapes within China.

17. Poipet to Sisophon (Cambodia)

Image Source: Railway Gazette

Another great journey you can embark on, is the Poipet to Sisophon route located within Cambodia. This route is one of the shorter journeys on this list, and one of the most affordable. Cambodia is one of the best vacation destinations for people that are travelling on a budget, and want to experience a more authentic 'backpacking' trip. This route also travels through the mainland of Cambodia, and takes you through the amazing landscapes it has to offer.

18. Belgrave to Gembrook (Australia)

Image Source: Puffing Billy Railway

We're heading down under for the next train route, and that route is, the Belgrave to Gembrook journey located in Victoria, Australia. This is one of the shortest journeys on this list, and would be a great day-trip activity for a group and/or family. This train travels through the rich, lush landscapes of Australia's national parks and finishes up on the beautiful town of Gembrook, where you can explore the local attractions.

19. Jasper to Prince Rupert (Canada)

Image Source: BBC

We're heading back to Canada for the next train route, which travels from Jasper to Prince Rupert. This route follows mountain ranges, along lakesides and waterways, before coming to the west coast of Prince Rupert. This particular route has one of the longer durations, and will take you from sunrise to sunset, whilst exploring the natural beauty of Canada.

20. Sagano Scenic Kyoto (Japan)

Image Source: All About Japan

Yet another train route located in Asia, is the Sagano Scenic Kyoto that can be found in Japan. As its name suggests, this particular journey takes you through the varying landscapes of Japan, via its most scenic route. You can expect to experience an amazing variety of stunning settings, which include: cityscapes, rural villages, mountaintops and lush green forests.

21. Hanoi to Saigon (Vietnam)

Image Source: Uncover Vietnam

Next up on the list, is the Hanoi to Saigon route located in Vietnam. This journey is completely coastal, and will take over a day of travelling to complete. You begin in the north within the centre of Hanoi, before travelling along the varying coastlines of Laos and Vietnam, before coming to your final destination of Saigon. If you don't mind travelling for long periods of time, and want to soak in the lesser-known parts of the areas, this particular route is perfect!

22. Seattle to Los Angeles (USA)

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The next train route is located within America, and allows you to travel across two states! This train begins within North America in Seattle, and finishes in the 'City of Angels', Los Angeles. This route follows the outskirts of Seattle, Oregon and California, and is another journey that takes over half a day to complete. It is a much more affordable alternative to to other modes of transport e.g. flying, and allows you to travel in complete comfortable luxury.

23. Mumbai to Madgaon (India)

Image Source: The Indian Express

Yet another train route in India, is the Mumbai to Madgaon route located on India's west coast. Similarly to the majority of the routes on this list, this journey has an extended duration, and will take you approximately 13 hours to complete. You can expect the Tain to be relatively busy throughout the duration of your journey, so if you're looking to be fully immersed within Indian culture and/or you're interested in connecting with the local people, you need to board this train!

24. Cannes to Ventimiglia (France)

Image Source: Office De Tourisme De Nice

If you're looking to explore more of Europe, the next journey on this list may be just what you're looking for. The Cannes to Ventimiglia route will take you through the south of France, and cross you over the border into Italy. You can expect beautiful scenery from this trip that takes you through bustling cities, serene coastline and tranquil rural locations.

25. Bangkok to Nam Tok (Thailand)

Image Source: Borders Of Adventure

Adding to the list of train journeys in Asia, is the Bangkok to Nam Tok route located within Thailand. Surprisingly, this route has one of the shorter durations (approximately five hours total), and transports you between two major cities. Although your start-point and destination are cities, the route will take you through rural villages, fog-covered mountains and flowing rivers.

26. Tokyo to Osaka (Japan)

Image Source: Nikkei Asia

Staying within Asia, we come to the next train journey, which is Tokyo to Osaka situated within Japan. This is a great route to travel along, especially if you want to explore as much of Japan as possible, without having to endure the areas that are densely populated by tourists. You will travel through areas, such as: Yokohama, Shizuoka, Hamamatsu, Nagoya and Kyoto (before reaching your destination of Osaka).

27. Mongolia to Beijing (China)

Image Source: Laura The Explorer

Another amazing rail route located in China, is the Mongolia to Beijing route. This route is a fantastic way of travelling across the heart of China without a hefty travel price tag, and the opportunity to experience the amazing range of scenery it has to offer. This particular route is better suited to solo and small group travellers, as it has a longer duration and the style of travel may not be suitable for families with young children.

28. Venice to London (Italy/UK)

Image Source: Out Of Office

The next train route is perfect for European exploration, as it travels from Venice, Italy to London, UK. This is probably one of the most impressive journeys on this list, as it travels through a handful of different countries and their cultures. You being in the beautiful Italian coast of Venice City, before travelling through the impressive city of Milan, coming up through Switzerland and France, and finally departing in the capital city of England, London.

29. New Orleans to Los Angeles (USA)

Image Source: Railway Age

The penultimate route on this list is located within America, and takes you across five of its fifty states! This particular route begins in New Orleans, and finishes up in Los Angeles. If you decide to take this journey, you will travel from the southern city of New Orleans, Louisiana, through Texas, New Mexico and Arizona before coming to your final destination of Los Angeles, California!

30. Christchurch to Greymouth (New Zealand)

Image Source: Great Journeys Of New Zealand

Finally, we come to Australia's neighbouring country New Zealand. As New Zealand is a relatively small country, in comparison to other countries featured on this list, this particular train journey transports you from the west side of the country, to the east side (within a matter of hours). This route will take you through the astonishing natural beauty of this stunning country, and is a great idea for an unforgettable day-trip!