These rail journeys deserve space in the itinerary, not just a line on the transport plan.
The routes cross viaducts, tunnels, mountain passes, fjords, plains, valleys, and small towns, giving travelers long stretches of scenery that a flight skips and a road trip cuts into brief stops.
Each train below connects useful endpoints, but the ticket buys more than transportation.
Travelers should plan daylight, seat reservations, luggage, and onward connections around the ride itself.
1. Glacier Express, Switzerland
The Glacier Express links Zermatt and St. Moritz on a full-day Alpine route. Glacier Express describes the trip as an eight-hour panoramic journey from the foot of the Matterhorn to the Engadin area near St. Moritz, crossing 291 bridges and passing through 91 tunnels.
The route moves through valleys, bridges, tunnels, mountain towns, and high scenery in one continuous journey. Zermatt and St. Moritz are famous stops, but the long stretch between them is the real booking draw.
The engineering is part of the view. Glacier Express says the Preda-to-Bergün stretch uses six high viaducts, three spiral tunnels, and two helical tunnels to overcome more than 400 meters of altitude difference. That section shows the train climbing through the mountains instead of simply crossing them.
2. Bernina Express, Switzerland and Italy
The Bernina Express crosses from Switzerland toward northern Italy on a high-mountain route. RhB says the route from Chur runs over 196 bridges and through 55 tunnels, passing the Landwasser Viaduct, the Bernina Pass, glaciers, and Tirano.
The scenery changes quickly: Swiss mountain towns, high Alpine sections, lakes, viaducts, glaciers, tight curves, lower valleys, and the Italian border. The ride has a clear visual sequence rather than one repeated view.
The route also suits travelers interested in rail engineering. The Brusio Circular Viaduct, the Landwasser Viaduct, and the Albula and Bernina railway landscape keep the train visually tied to the terrain outside the window.
3. West Highland Line, Scotland
The West Highland Line gives travelers a long rail approach to the Scottish Highlands. ScotRail lists routes from Glasgow to Oban, Fort William, and Mallaig, with Glasgow to Mallaig taking about 5 hours 30 minutes.
The route moves from the city toward lochs, open moorland, mountain views, remote stations, and coastal edges. Travelers heading to Mallaig can also connect with ferries, turning the train into a scenic approach to the west coast.
Fort William and Mallaig are practical endpoints. The long stretch across the Highlands is the part to protect on the schedule, especially for travelers choosing between train, road, and short internal connections.
4. TranzAlpine, New Zealand
The TranzAlpine turns a South Island crossing into a rail trip worth planning around. Great Journeys says the train runs between Christchurch and Greymouth, covering 223 kilometers each way and taking just under five hours.
The route leaves Christchurch, crosses the Canterbury Plains, climbs toward Arthur’s Pass and the Southern Alps, then continues to the West Coast. The view shifts from open plains to rivers, mountains, passes, and wetter western landscapes in one ride.
Travelers can use the TranzAlpine as a one-way connection, a return scenic ride, or part of a wider South Island route. Christchurch and Greymouth both have onward travel uses, but the middle stretch is the part worth saving daylight for.
5. Flåm Railway, Norway
The Flåm Railway is shorter than the other journeys here, but it packs mountain and fjord scenery into one compact route. Vy says the line runs 20 kilometers from Myrdal to Flåm, takes about one hour, operates year-round, and stops at Kjosfossen for about five minutes.
The ride fits naturally into trips between Oslo, Bergen, and the fjord region. Myrdal connects with the Bergen Line, while Flåm sits by the fjord, so the train can form part of a larger rail-and-fjord route.
Norway’s Best says the 20-kilometer line includes 20 tunnels and that 18 were excavated by hand. The short distance, steep valley, tunnel work, waterfall stop, and fjord arrival give the ride enough detail for a full scenic rail segment.