26 | ON THE BUCKET LIST: CANADA BY TRAIN


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One For The Bucket List: Crossing Canada by Train on the Rocky Mountaineer


Did you know that you can take a glass-domed train through Canadian Rockies? No? Well let me introduce you to Rocky Mountaineer and their “First Passage to the West Discovery” itinerary...


THERE’S something timeless about crossing Canada by rail, it’s not just the landscapes, but the sense that you’re stepping into a living piece of history, all


while sipping wine and watching


the world zip by. And the route from Vancouver to Calgary, via Lake Louise and Banff, is nothing short of legendary.


Vancouver: Ocean, Mountains, and a City That Has It All


This journey begins in Vancouver, a city surrounded by mountains and edged by the Pacific Ocean. It’s the kind of place you could return to a dozen times and still discover something new. One day you’re walking or cycling the Seawall around Stanley Park, and the next, you’re ferrying across to Granville Island for fresh seafood and local art. Gastown’s old-world charm and Yaletown’s buzzing restaurant scene are a great contrast, and the best part? Wherever you go, the mountains are always watching. Overnighting here feels like the calm before the adventure begins.


Vancouver to Kamloops: Where Scenery Steals the Show


Boarding the Rocky Mountaineer is like stepping into another era, harking back to the days of slow travel and comfort. From Vancouver, the train winds inland toward Kamloops, and lush forests give way to dusty canyons and vast interior valleys. Hell’s Gate in the Fraser Canyon is one of


the day’s dramatic highlights, the whitewater churns with incredible power, reminding you that this journey is as much about nature as it is about rail. By evening, you’ll have arrived in Kamloops, a small riverside city perfect for an evening stroll before turning in. And yes, you sleep in a hotel, not on the train. This is luxury rail, after all.


Kamloops to Lake Louise: Into the Heart of the Rockies


On this leg of the trip, the train climbs steadily into the Canadian Rockies and with every passing hour, the views become more jaw-dropping. You’ll pass historic Craigellachie, where the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven, and ascend through Rogers Pass, the awe- inspiring Kicking Horse Canyon, and the famous Spiral Tunnels. By evening, you’ll arrive in Lake Louise,


one of the most iconic lakes in the world. With its unique history and picturesque scenery, Lake Louise will not disappoint. Here you can learn about the local wildlife, paddle the lake by canoe, or simply relax and soak in the scenic beauty.


Lake Louise to Banff: More Than Just a Pretty Lake


The following day, the journey continues


with a scenic drive into nearby Yoho National Park. Spiral Tunnels? Check. Emerald Lake? Check. A natural rock bridge over the Kicking Horse River? Check. The roads in this part of the world feel like they were designed for sightseeing. Eventually, you arrive in Banff, a charming mountain town that feels part Swiss village, part rugged Canadian wilderness.


Banff to Calgary: One Last Look at the Rockies


On the final leg, you bid farewell to the mountains with a guided tour around Banff. Stops include Bow Falls, Surprise Corner (the


Spurred by the high demand for interrail travel,


train companies


throughout Europe are expanding services, offering new direct, and sleeper train services. An array of new services came into place for Summer 2025, with more routes and expansion expected for Summer 2026. A


range of connections were


established for Summer 2025 which enhanced the services offered throughout Europe. Routes included the night train from Paris to Berlin, which first ran in 2023 but with cooperation from Deutsche Bahn, OBB, and SNCF, was re-established for this year’s summer season. The upcoming winter season will see both a direct route between Berlin and Warsaw


established,


views here are unreal), and the eerie rock formations known as the Hoodoos. Before leaving the mountains behind, there’s a final ride up the Banff Gondola, offering one last panoramic view of everything you’ve passed through - the perfect high note to end on before descending into Calgary. To paraphrase the famous words of Mr. Mark(s) & Mr. Spencer(s) “This isn’t just a train trip. It’s a front-row seat to some of the most staggering landscapes in North America.” To find out more about the ‘First Passage


to the West Discovery’ tour, check out rockymountaineer.com or call into your local travel agent.


One Track Mind: The Ever-Evolving European Rail Networks


BY ERIN ENGLISH erin@nitravelnews.com


EVER referred has to not as the ‘go-to gap


year holiday,’ the thirst to embark on an interrailing adventure throughout Europe


faltered, quite the


contrary, inspiration has only spiralled in recent years.


Following the popularity of television


shows such as BBC’s ‘Race Across The World,’ and Tiktok trends such as ‘Euro Summer,’ young people have been encouraged to don the rucksacks and embark on their own multi-city adventure throughout Europe. Statistics reported by the transport company,


Interail Eurail, suggest that approximately 746,000 passes were purchased in 2024, with Berlin,


Vienna, and Hamburg


claiming a space on the podium as the in- demand destinations for interrailing. Most interraillers utilise major European Capitals as a base for interrailing, opting for transport hubs which offer a vast variety of connections and routes, such as Amsterdam, Berlin, and Paris. Classic routes for interrailing include departing from Amsterdam,


Paris, and Berlin


and visiting countries such as Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Italy and Slovenia. This traditional route is easily accessible with expanded train times, enabling people to tailor their itinerary to accommodate for extra time in cities where they might want to spend extra time sightseeing.


alongside new inter-city connections established between Germany and Poland, including a service between Munich and Warsaw. A line between Budapest and Belgrade has been undergoing work since 2018, and is expected to finally launch later this year, or at the beginning of 2026. In addition to this, a new direct route between Warsaw and Rijeka was established which stops in cities such as Prague, Vienna and Slovenia before concluding in Rijeka, Croatia. This newly established route ran between


June 2025 until August,


which introduced a Balkan spin on the classic interrailing route. And Croatia isn’t the only country aiming to be included on the traditional interrailing network


, 2026 is


forecasted to be a pivotal year for long-distance rail travel. Set for May 2026, Deutsche Bahn, Danish Railways and Czech Railways are currently collaborating to establish a year-round new train route between Prague and Copenhagen via Berlin. The new connection will be a day-time service with additional stops planned for Dresden and Hamburg. In addition to this German connection, Deutsche Bahn has also partnered with Trenitalia,


Italy’s


state-owned rail network, to work to create a high-speed rail connection between Rome and Munich. Denmark has placed focus on the expansion of rail travel with a night train expected to launch between Basel and Copenhagen in Spring 2026. This will be the first direct night train between Switzerland and Denmark since 2014. SBB, Switzerland’s rail network, has unveiled plans for a direct route between Zurich and Rome, connecting the cities in 8 hours. With stops in Lugano, Milan, Bologna, and Florence before concluding in Rome. As a result of such expansions within Europe’s long-distance rail network for 2026, and with more routes expected in the pipe-line before 2030, it is undeniable that the landscape of the interrailing is evolving.


September/October 2025


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