Train travel around the world

Train travel is fast, convenient, and usually cheaper than flying. As an added benefit, you get to see the beautiful countryside you're traveling though, and don't have to deal with airport security. Or that horrible airplane food. Here's a rundown of the most important rail systems of the world and how to book.

North America

• Amtrak (U.S. and Canada)
• VIA Rail
• Ontario Northland
• Rocky Mountaineer
• Algoma Central

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Europe

Europe-wide

• Eurostar
• Eurail
• ThaylsCNL
• Cisalpino
  

Eurail has the most extensive, but occasionally costly, network. Every European country also has its own rail network or special discount tickets.

Note that in some countries, especially Italy and Spain, shorter train journeys tend to be cheaper when bought on the day of travel rather in advance over the website.

Europe by country

• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Italy
• Poland
• Russia
• Spain
• Sweden
• United Kingdom

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Asia

Japan

Find timetables and buy tickets viaHyperdia; or get a prepaid railpass for Japan from Japan Railpass (official reseller), or Japan Railpass (official site)

The Seishun 18 Ticket (青春18きっぷ Seishun jūhachi kippu) is a discount rail ticket offered by Japan's JR network. When available (three times a year), it is easily the cheapest way to get around Japan, costing only ¥11,850 for five days of unlimited travel. If you need more travel days, buy a Japan Railpass from the links above.

• Thailand
• China
• Vietnam Railways, tickets from dsvn.vn

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Australia

• Rail Australia
• Sydney to Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra
• Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide,Perth, Alice Springs, Darwin
• V-Line Victoria

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More information

A phenomenal resource for train and sea based travel is Seat61. It's the big daddy of rail travel information sites, and I highly recommend that you visit it.

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Rail fare deals

If you're looking for deals and offers on train fares in the UK, Europe, Scandinavia, Japan, the U.S.A., or China, click over to ACP Rail.

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Eco-friendly travel

Trains are much more eco-friendly than flying, taking the car, or even travelling by bus. You can travel at least 7 times as far per ton of CO2 as on a full airplane. And if the train is electric rather than diesel, that rises to an enormous 73 times as far!

So please consider taking the train, and help save the environment for all of us.

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