Epic Train Journeys

Northern Hemisphere

• Enjoy the world from a train window across hundreds of miles • Hop on or off and explore en- route

• Fast-track through dramatic mountain scenery, deserts, alpine meadows and forests

• Traverse highlands to lowlands,

through ravines 1 and canyons

EPIC TRAIN JOURNEYS – Northern Hemisphere

From a few hours to several days, train travel provides relaxing and luxurious journeys from which to enjoy some of the world’s most breathtaking views…and you don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy miles of picturesque landscapes. With options to hop on and off at destinations along the way, travelling by train is one of the best ways of getting around. Whether it’s traversing the snow-capped mountains of Switzerland, experiencing the steepest track in Asia through the tea plantations of or soaking up the stunning ocean views along California’s coastline, there is an epic journey waiting for you to board.

Zermatt to St. Moritz | Switzerland

The Glacier Express connects these two major mountain resorts, offering a journey of scenic delights through the Swiss Alps. The panoramic windows offer unobstructed sights of snow-capped mountains, alpine meadows and mountain lakes as the train travels through the Oberlap Pass, traverses the Landwasser Viaduct and plunges through 91 tunnels. You might expect to pay dearly for this day-long trip. However, a one-way ticket for this stunning train ride starts at just under £160, and supplements for lunch and wine can be added, though you are free to bring your own food and drink.

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Kandy to Ella | Sri Lanka

Winding through the mountains, this seven-hour train journey takes travellers through lush green forest and vast tea plantations, passing remote villages and tumbling waterfalls. Tickets can be booked on the day of travel at the station or to ensure you have a seat, book in advance. You could even splash out for a first-class ticket with air-conditioning for a mere £7! Or travel alongside the locals, dangling your legs out of the open doorways to enjoy the uninterrupted views and fresh breeze.

San Luis Obispo to San Diego | California, USA

Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner route offers a comfortable journey which takes in Southern California’s stunning seascape. Whether opting for northbound or southbound travel, the Pacific Surfliner connects San Luis Obispo and San Diego, stopping at quaint towns along the way as well as Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and Aneheim. This is the perfect hop on-hop off journey offering the opportunity to explore both historic towns, charming resorts, popular ‘tourist’ sites, vineyards and endless beaches. The complete trip takes just over 8 hours with one-way fares starting from just £42 or for an extra £20 upgrade to business class. This is a highly recommended mode of travel to experience this rigged coastline and visit an almost endless list of attractions and sun-splashed cities of Southern California.

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Mettupalayam to Udagamandalam (‘’) | , India

The Nilgiri is India’s only , allowing the train to operate on the steep gradients that the journey undertakes, through the picturesque . With the steepest track in Asia, the train climbs sharply up the mountain at a maximum gradient of 8.33%. The route uphill is a slow, leisurely 5 hours and just 3½ on the return downhill. Part of the UNESCO-listed Mountain

Railways of India, the train passes through tea plantations and rocky hillsides and traverses hundreds of bridges. The train is primarily for recreational use which means it can become quite crowded during school holidays and other holiday periods, but for a more peaceful trip, a first-class ticket is a mere £4.70, with a second-class ticket at just £1.45.

Creel to Los Mochis | Mexico

Inland from Mexico's west coast, board the Chepe Express at Creel, Chihuahua and travel through the seemingly fathomless Copper Canyon to the coastal city of Los Mochis. A nine-hour trip in total, the journey can be broken up with overnight stays along the route and a stop at the Copper Canyon or Barrancas del Cobre is not to be bypassed. Part of a group of six canyons that converge in the Sierra Tarahumara of Mexico, the Copper Canyon offers a pretty spectacular landscape that can be explored on foot, or the more adventurous can try the second longest zip-line in the world or a cable car for better views. The 400 mile route cuts through the barren desert, a score of ravines and gorges, and mountain scenery to sub-tropical citrus groves. Travellers can choose from tourist class with one-way tickets starting at around £92 or £150 for first-class and overnight stops can be made

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at no extra cost when booking for the full journey. It is recommended that accommodation for overnight stays is booked in advance.

Glasgow to Mallaig | Scotland

For an epic train journey that’s a little closer to home, the West Highland Line has been made famous by the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter films as it traverses the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct. Noted as one of Britain’s most scenic train routes, the train makes it way from Glasgow to the port of Mallaig with a brief stop en-route in Fort William, crossing the Scottish Highlands’ majestic landscapes of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, and passing through the wilderness of Rannoch Moor. For lovers of Harry Potter and steam trains alike, The Jacobite steam train used in the films can take enthusiasts for an unforgettable ride between Fort William and Mallaig. The 5 and a half hour trip from Glasgow to Mallaig is a journey of many cinematic locations and travellers can stop to explore some of the sights along the way: a cruise across a Loch or a challenging hill walk will be memorable additions to this trip. A one-way fare is around £38 and a standard adult return fare for The Jacobite is £46 (April to October).

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Interested? Contact us at Beyond Capricorn.

www.beyondcapricorn.com | tel: 01308 297001 | email: [email protected]

Speak to us for more information, excursions and places of interest en-route and experiences from the authentic to the luxurious.

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