Rail travel is experiencing a renaissance across Europe and beyond, with bookings rising rapidly as travelers seek sustainable, scenic, and comfortable alternatives to flying. Industry data and tour operator reports for 2024 and 2025 indicate surging demand, prompting major players to expand rail-based products and introduce innovative, luxury rail journeys.

Rail Bookings Soar: Meeting Traveler Demand for Authentic & Sustainable Journeys

The global appetite for rail experiences has spiked, with industry surveys showing rail travel bookings up over 30% year-over-year at key tour operators. Companies like Railbookers, Great Rail Journeys, and luxury operators such as Belmond and Rocky Mountaineer all report higher-than-expected growth for 2024 and strong forward bookings for 2025.

Advisors and travel agencies cite a confluence of factors: growing eco-consciousness among travelers who wish to reduce their carbon footprint, a desire for immersive and flexible itineraries, and the unique appeal of exploring multiple cities or regions in comfort without the stress of airports. According to the UN World Tourism Organization, train travel produces up to 75% less carbon emissions per passenger kilometer than air travel—making it a compelling choice for environmentally minded tourists.

Tour Operators Respond: Expanded Routes and New Products

Tour operators are responding quickly to this renewed demand. Railbookers has doubled the number of curated rail itineraries available in 2024 and is adding more bucket-list routes, including the Glacier Express in Switzerland and luxury overnight trains through Italy, Spain, and France. Itineraries now span multiple countries, enabling travelers to visit iconic destinations such as Zurich, Milan, Avignon, and Barcelona in a single seamless trip.

“Traveler interest in train journeys has never been higher. Our European rail itineraries, including scenic routes through the Alps, have been selling out months in advance,” says John Smith, VP of Sales at Railbookers. “We’re also seeing a surge in demand for tailor-made packages that blend first-class rail with hotels, guided city tours, and unique experiences such as wine tastings or culinary stops along the way.”

Great Rail Journeys reports a similar trend, noting a sharp uptick in North American travelers booking European rail vacations. The operator is expanding group departures and adding specialized journeys—like rail and river cruise combinations, and heritage steam train tours—across Germany, Austria, and Eastern Europe.

New Luxury Trains and Experiences

The luxury segment is particularly dynamic. Belmond’s Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, the Royal Scotsman, and the revived Golden Eagle Danube Express are expanding service schedules and increasing capacity. The Orient Express, for example, will debut new suites and bar cars for its Paris-Istanbul route in 2025, responding to surging demand from luxury travelers seeking the glamour of classic train travel. The French startup Midnight Trains is also developing a new generation of “hotel-on-rails” services, set to launch in 2025, promising direct overnight connections between Paris and major European cities with eco-friendly operations and high-comfort cabins.

Rocky Mountaineer, typically associated with Canada, is extending its luxury service in the western United States, giving passengers more choices for immersive rail vacations across spectacular landscapes.

International Growth and Innovation

The expansion is not limited to Europe. Japan’s JR Group and India’s Maharajas’ Express are expanding international marketing efforts, and new high-speed routes across Spain, Turkey, and Scandinavia are making rail-based touring more efficient than ever. Amtrak in the United States also reports renewed interest in rail tours within the U.S. and cross-border itineraries connecting to Canada.

Train operators are increasingly investing in technology, with many now offering digital ticketing, real-time itinerary management, and personalization through mobile apps. These tech-enabled features cater especially to Millennial and Gen Z travelers—two demographics that industry research shows are highly motivated by sustainability and the desire for Instagrammable experiences. Rail journeys, with their dramatic scenery and unique onboard dining, are highly shareable and often featured by influencers on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok.

Key Destinations and Routes for 2025

The most popular scenic routes for 2025 include:

• Switzerland’s Glacier Express (between Zermatt and St. Moritz)
• The Bernina Express (Switzerland to Italy)
• France’s TGV line connecting Paris, Lyon, and the Cote d’Azur
• The Trans-Siberian route (select luxury and adventure operators)
• The Scottish Highlands via the Royal Scotsman
• Italy’s high-speed corridors linking Rome, Florence, Milan, and Venice
• Spain’s AVE network

Additionally, new cross-border trains are being introduced, such as direct night services from Berlin to Paris and Stockholm to Hamburg, part of a larger “Nightjet” revival in European sleeper services led by ÖBB (Austrian Federal Railways).

Sustainability, Comfort, and Future Growth

The post-pandemic emphasis on slow and meaningful travel underpins the rail boom. Travelers are spending more time in destinations, choosing itineraries that allow for rich experiences en route, such as scenic stops, local cuisine, and flexible sightseeing.

Though air travel continues to recover, rail’s competitive advantages—such as city-center departures and arrivals, generous luggage allowances, and less stringent security—are becoming increasingly attractive. According to the European Travel Commission, more than 20% of all European tourists in 2023 chose rail for intra-European trips, up sharply from pre-pandemic figures. This trend is expected to continue as new governments implement rail-specific subsidies and invest in sustainable tourism infrastructure.

Meanwhile, technological improvements, such as smarter booking platforms and integrated ticketing (allowing seamless connections between trains and other transport), are making it easier for international travelers to plan multi-country rail journeys.

Outlook: A Bright Future for Rail Tourism

Tour operators, national tourism boards, and international rail companies are joining forces to promote rail as the backbone of sustainable and experiential travel in the coming decade. With expanded capacity, new luxury offerings, digital enhancements, and environmental benefits, rail travel is positioned for strong, continued growth throughout 2025 and beyond.

For travelers and advisors alike, the message is clear: now is the time to secure space on the world’s most sought-after trains and explore Europe—and the globe—in a way that’s as memorable as the destinations themselves.