While some may mourn the end of summer, others love the arrival of fall. Gentle sunshine, crisp mornings, and dramatic skyscapes make for one of the Northern Hemisphere’s most beautiful seasons. However, while some lament the early nightfall and frost on their car windscreens, others are planning road trips and, quite possibly, train journeys.
Recently, a study from the Japanese train company JR Pass shed light on the world’s most suitable fall train routes. The study charted all the world’s most beautiful train routes, as cited on travel platforms and forums such as TripAdvisor, WeatherSpark, and Instagram.
Reviews, data for average sun days, and hashtag frequency provided the relevant data for how each railway fared. Researchers also utilized data from Ahrefs, a keyword analytics platform that tracks the frequency of specific terms being searched online, to measure global interest in each route.
This season, why not say goodbye to summer and say hello to autumn from the view of a train carriage? These journeys are united by epic scenery, impressive design, and years of heritage.
Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, United States
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America leads the way for fall railway trips, and topping the list with an incredible 9.08/10 is the 1880s mining boom-inspired Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. Running from Colorado to the New Mexico state border, this route operates between Antonito and Cumbres, Colorado, via Chama, New Mexico.
Passengers can opt for limited or full itineraries, taking in the sweet air of the San Juan Mountains and the high desert, while admiring the golden aspen groves. What’s more, there are options such as open carriages and exclusive “Dark Sky Train” rides. The latter allows passengers a 90-minute wander under the vast, dark skies to marvel at the Cosmos.
Tren de Sóller, Mallorca
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Most tourists would consider Spain a place for whitewashed hilltop villages, busy beaches, and liberal swimwear laws. Nonetheless, the nation’s Balearic Island region has one of the most remarkable train journeys out there, winning second place in the JR Pass ranking. This trip is a lazy, sun-filled excursion on a 1912-built wooden train. The trip lets you immerse yourself in a timeless Mediterranean landscape and history-washed urbanizations.
If this appeals to you, the Tren de Soller’s webpage paints a picture of refined, gentile travel. Once onboard, you will find “lacquered wood floor, walls, and ceiling; sash windows, gilt light fixtures, and leather and metal seats.” The ride runs between the island capital of Palma and the Port of Sóller in Mallorca’s north, crossing fields of carob and almond before rising through the Serra de Tramuntana Mountains.
GoldenPass Line, Switzerland
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Next, we find ourselves in one of the higher-altitude journeys through possibly Europe’s most postcard-ready country: Switzerland. There’s a reason why the Alpine nation has so many TV shows dedicated to train journeys, most notably those presented by travel presenter Jeff Wilson. He has created several documentaries and written extensively about Switzerland, namely its vintage trains. The GoldenPass Line is just that: a railroad dating back to the 1890s, taking in some of Switzerland’s most breathtaking sights.
However, some of the trains that ride between Montreux and Interlaken are anything but vintage. The GoldenPass Line operates several railway companies, including the premium service, GoldenPass Express. This journey offers two levels of comfort, with the prestige option being the more luxurious option. “The Prestige area is raised by 40 centimetres to allow the passengers to be fully immersed in the landscape,” reads the GoldenPass Express page description. “The passenger feels like sitting in the landscape.” If that doesn’t tempt you, no train journey ever will.
Oigawa Railway, Japan
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YouTube is awash with hundreds of Japanese train journeys depicted via in-real-life (IRL) videos, tempting any train lover with calm luxury and epic scenery. The fourth-ranked journey, the Oigawa Railway in Japan, comes with a score of 8.05/10. What makes this railway company special is its dedication to history.
The company has steam locomotives, a fleet of Thomas the Tank Engine characters, and old local vehicles for shorter journeys. “Retired trains from all over Japan come here to start their second career,” reads the Oigawa Railway guide. “Relax and sit back on these local trains and enjoy the scenery along the river.”
Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, United States
Image Credit: Harrison Keely – Own work, CC BY 4.0/Wiki Commons.
Of course, we all knew the Appalachian experience would make the grade, and Georgia’s Blue Ridge Scenic Railway is a slice of leaf-peeper Heaven. This piece of wilderness, accessible by train, commands huge admiration from would-be visitors. A reported 20,000 monthly searches and 6,429 Instagram hashtags unite tree fans and railway enthusiasts alike.
The Blue Ridge website advertises both a two-hour “Foliage Express Tour” and a four-hour “Foliage Extended Tour” that, at one point, straddles the state lines. Taryn White writes about her experience in Travel & Leisure. “What makes this ride so special isn’t just the fall colors; it’s also the pace,” she says. “Riding the rails gives you time to slow down and look at the canopy’s changing hues, from chartreuse to crimson.” For an added touch of authenticity, options like open-air coaches and locomotive cab rides make this train ride one to remember.
Rhodope Narrow Gauge Railway, Bulgaria
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Not many will have heard of the Rhodope Narrow Gauge Railway in Bulgaria. Nonetheless, this multi-leg journey across the Rhodope Mountains National Park will reward those willing to try something new. The train line is as steeped in history as it is in natural wonders, running between Septemvri and Dobrinishte in Bulgaria’s Balkans. For those willing to visit this far into Eastern Europe this fall, a wholesome train adventure awaits.
Think: natural spas, high passes, ancient fortresses, and endless vistas of unspoilt Balkan Mountain landscapes. According to the online booking page, “each station and stop along the route offers access to a plethora of hiking trails leading to captivating natural and historical sights.” This ride is one for nature’s disciples.
Semmering Railway, Austria
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One of the most dramatic railway journeys in the world is the Semmering Railway, which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Quite simply, this strip of rail is as ambitious as it is technologically advanced for its age. It was the world’s first purpose-built mountain railway, built to tackle Austria’s Alpine foothills. According to travel blog Byway, this engineering feat was quite spectacular.
The railway created “14 tunnels” and “16 viaducts” on a trackbed laid with a 1,500 ft altitude climb. The Semmering Railway network climbs across a Marathon-length stretch of lofty Austrian Alps territory, though don’t let the distance fool you—the route drapes across rises ranging up to the 5,000 ft Semmering Pass. Austria’s ÖBB (Österreich Bundesbahn – Austria Train Travel) website makes booking any leg of the trip simple.
Sagano Romantic Train, Japan
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While the majority of Japan’s visitors may only think of seeing Tokyo, the country’s natural wonders and its ancient rural treasures are never far away. The old capital city of Kyoto sets the scene for this short route, with its numerous historical temples, a bamboo forest, and other attractions making the experience worthwhile. This part of Japan in the fall is similar to America’s leaf-peeper season, whereby the Hozugawa Valley comes alive in vibrant red and gold.
Therefore, the Sagano Romantic Train website recommends booking a trip between September and November. Its summary of the landscape’s foliage depicts how it “makes you feel like you are traveling through an autumn painting.” Coupled with trademark excellent Japanese hospitality and service, this train ride is for those who deserve it.
White Pass & Yukon Route, Alaska
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Back to the United States for the next entry here. This time, we head north to Alaska, where the fall season heralds a dramatic shift in the landscape. The White Pass & Yukon Route (WPYR) starts at Skagway on the Northern tip of Chikook Inlet in Alaska’s Southeastern region. The northern section of the railroad follows in the footsteps of the Klondike Gold Rush of the late 1900s up into Whitehorse, Yukon.
However, the WPYR website offers a plethora of options, featuring a blend of short and longer round-trip train tours. Hikers can enjoy “Hiker Service” routes that incorporate trekking into the itinerary, while overnight sleeper one-way journeys are also possible. Unfortunately, demand is high, and one should book at least six months in advance for the WPYR fall trips, which end in October.
Schneeberg Railway, Austria
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Austria strikes again with a different train route, the Schneebergbahn (or Cog Railway), where adventurers and relaxed daytrippers alike have something for their pleasure. Remarkably, this railway route has been hitting the Schneeberg shoulder since 1897. It is a roughly 6,500 ft mountain, and Lower Austria’s highest peak; therefore, one can even hike to the top after they alight.
Visitors can use either the older vintage steam train or the newer Salamander train, built in 1999, to reach the nearly 6,000-foot train stop. In typically understated Austrian fashion, the Schneeberg train website declares how “you will be impressed by the performance of this small railway.” When you see the views atop this marvelous engineering feat, you will be more than impressed.
Hakone Tozan Railway, Japan
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Japan gets the three-peat slam dunk with its third entry, and making the grade this time is the Hakone Tozan line on Japan’s western coast. The lower section of this track starts in Japan’s Hakone Prefecture, while the upper part reaches the elegant Gora, in the nearby Hakone Mountains.
The great thing about this railway is how it makes a great day trip from Tokyo, where many commuters use the lower line daily. Japan Guide explains that along the upper route, a Hakone Free Pass comes with “unlimited use of selected trains, cablecars, ropeways, boats and buses in the Hakone area.” Be warned, it is near Tokyo, which has many people wanting to see the fall colors. Booking early is highly recommended.
Douro Line, Portugal
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Europe’s contribution to this group of journeys started in the Iberian Peninsula, and we revisit the same place in Portugal’s world-famous Douro River Valley, a region synonymous with port wine. However, Portugal’s bonus is the Douro Line, a highly relaxed train journey snaking through the terraced hills where the wine is still made by hand. What’s more, the weather stays in the late fifties for most of the fall season, making excursions like wine-tasting or river cruises possible.
Travel-writing heavyweight Rick Steves champions this journey into Portugal’s heartland. Unlike other famous wine-producing areas, like France’s Loire River Valley, the Douro Valley wasn’t a strategic medieval military location. “So, rather than castles and stony ramparts, visitors encounter farms and sleepy villages,” he writes. “The only thing fortified here…is the wine.”
AloJapan.com