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Trains are a wonderful way to travel on a budget – where would thousands of young travellers be without the interrail pass?

But they’re also top-notch for cruising around in style, and sometimes the train trip is the jol itself. That is if the train you’re on is the cream of the crop.

Japan Rail Pass has done some digging and analysed Tripadvisor reviews, Instagram hashtags and global search volumes to create an index score and rank the world’s best luxury train rides, TimeOut reports.

Now you wouldn’t exactly think of South Africa as a train-filled place – taxis? Sure, we have loads of those – especially compared to the country that has a specialised mascot for some of their top-class bullet trains (Japan), but still, SA has TWO trains in the top 10 ranking of the best luxury train rides in the world. Woop Woop! Hoot Hoot!

Full steam ahead in first place is the Rocky Mountaineer, which has a staggering 54,029 Instagram hashtags and is searched 368,000 per month. The Canadian Rockies & American Southwest operator runs four rail routes in British Columbia, Alberta, Colorado and Utah, and with that epic mountain scenery, it does sound pretty ‘gram-worthy.

 

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Coming in as cool as ice in second place is the GoldenPass Express, winding its way through the stunning landscapes of Montreux, Switzerland, and linking up with the picturesque lakeside town of Interlaken in the Bernese Oberland. With an impressive average TripAdvisor rating of 4.4 and an overall index score of 8.39, this scenic journey more than earns its spot on the leaderboard.

 

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The Rovos Rail here in South Africa came in fourth place. The opulent Rovos Rail offers a nostalgic experience with modern comfort. It operates a number of routes, one of them being from Cape Town.

 

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And then The Blue Train, South Africa came in sixth. The luxurious Blue Train boasts a rich history and is renowned for its fine dining experiences and breathtaking landscapes. The rail service operates mainly between Pretoria and Cape Town.

 

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These are the 10 best luxury train rides in the world:

1. Rocky Mountaineer, Canada
2. GoldenPass Express, Switzerland
3. The Ghan, Australia
4. Rovos Rail, South Africa
5. Seven Stars in Kyushu, Japan
6. The Blue Train, South Africa
7. Venice Simplon Orient Express, England
8. British Pullman, England
9. The Royal Scotsman, Scotland
10. Maharajas’ Express, India

From Anantara’s five-hour, ultra-luxurious train ride through southern Vietnam to an epic 80-day odyssey crisscrossing the globe, the world of luxury rail travel offers an embarrassment of riches.

With so many dazzling options, we’re truly spoilt for choice – and that very much includes the offerings right here on our doorstep.

[source:timeout]