The rails are humming with renewed energy, and it’s not just the engines. Train vacation specialist Railbookers saw record 30% revenue growth in 2024, with 2025 bookings already running 31% ahead of the previous year. Here’s a list of compelling reasons why train travel is experiencing its most dramatic renaissance in decades.
Environmental consciousness driving choices
Taking a train instead of a car for medium-length distances reduces emissions by around 80%, while choosing rail over domestic flights cuts emissions by 86%. Even more impressive? Taking the Eurostar instead of flying from London to Paris cuts CO2 emissions by a staggering 90%.
The math is simple. Rail travel emits 10 times less carbon than car travel, making it the clear winner for environmentally conscious travelers who refuse to compromise their values for convenience.
Luxury services reaching new heights
The train experience has evolved far beyond cramped compartments and questionable dining cars. Belmond will introduce the brand-new Britannic Explorer in July 2025, which will be the first luxury sleeper train to serve England and Wales.
Think three-night journeys with itineraries covering Cornwall, the Lake District, and Wales. Meanwhile, La Dolce Vita Orient Express launches in 2025 with 12 deluxe cabins, 18 suites, and a restaurant program led by three-Michelin-star chef Heinz Beck. Not exactly roughing it.
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Night trains making their comeback
Sleep your way across continents, because there’s been a resurgence in night trains in Europe as travelers look for more affordable and sustainable alternatives to flying across the continent. The concept is brilliant: board late at night, wake up in a new city, and skip both hotel costs and flight emissions.
FS Treni Turistici Italiani relaunched the Espresso Cadore night train from Rome to Cortina d’Ampezzo, complete with vintage sleeper cars and three-course dinners. Ten hours of gentle rocking beats airport security lines any day.
Multi-generational travel trends
58% of Millennials and Gen Z parents surveyed plan to bring their extended family on vacation in 2025, compared to just 31% of their Gen X and Baby Boomer counterparts. Trains accommodate these larger groups without the stress of coordinating multiple cars or the expense of numerous plane tickets. The smell of your grandfather’s cologne mixing with train coffee creates memories that no airplane cabin ever could.
And it’s not about free babysitting. 89% of these younger parents cited “quality time” as the reason for bringing along extended family. Trains provide that rare commodity: uninterrupted time together without anyone having to navigate or drive.
The slow travel movement
2024 saw the rise of travel trends like ‘slow travel’ and taking longer holidays, where globetrotters were taking time to truly explore and connect with their destinations. Train travel embodies this philosophy perfectly. The journey becomes part of the vacation rather than just a necessary evil.
The average length for Railbookers customers traveling in 2025 is 10 days, with 70% booking trips of a week or longer. People are rediscovering that rushing between destinations often means missing the good stuff in between.
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Trip chaining possibilities
2024 saw Byway travelers incorporate an average of 4.5 destinations into a single trip and this trend is anticipated to continue growing in 2025.
Trains make multi-stop journeys seamless. No rental car returns, no multiple airport transfers, no luggage restrictions that force you to pack light for a two-week adventure. The concept of “trip chaining” transforms travel from point A to point B into an exploration of points A through Z. Each stop builds on the last.
Booking surge speaks volumes
Numbers don’t lie about train travel’s appeal. From 2019 through 2024, travelers’ cross-border spending worldwide on rail tours rose 59 percent, compared to 18 percent in total cross-border tourism spending.
This isn’t just a minor uptick—it represents a fundamental shift in how people think about long-distance travel, prioritizing experience over speed.
Technology improvements
Modern trains offer amenities that make mobile offices possible: Wi-Fi that actually works, power outlets at every seat, and enough space to spread out a laptop without elbowing your neighbor. Newer trains are equipped with regenerative braking capability, whereby the traction motors act as generators when braking to save electricity.
The romance of train travel now comes with the practicality of staying connected and productive. Still, there’s something to be said for closing that laptop and just watching the world roll by.
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Growing route networks
Eurocity Direct launched in December 2024 as a new high-speed night train serving the Netherlands and Belgium, connecting major cities with 16 daily departures. Infrastructure investments are creating new possibilities for rail travelers.
These aren’t just tourist novelties. They’re serious transportation alternatives that make previously complicated journeys straightforward.
Food and cultural experiences
Among Railbookers’ portfolio, food tours rank as the most popular activities, available in more than 60 destinations worldwide. Train travel naturally integrates cultural immersion into the journey itself.
You pass through towns where real people live, see working landscapes, and experience gradual cultural transitions rather than jarring airport-to-hotel transfers.
Stress reduction factor
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Airport security, delayed flights, cramped middle seats, baggage fees, and rental car queues—train travel eliminates most travel stress while adding genuine relaxation time. You can read a book without turbulence interruptions or watch landscapes change without focusing on traffic. The mental health benefits of arriving relaxed rather than frazzled shouldn’t be underestimated, especially for vacation travel.
Some passengers bring crossword puzzles. Others just stare out the window for hours. Both approaches work perfectly fine.
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Economic accessibility
Train travelers spent an average of 72 percent more than non-train travelers during their trips, but this reflects enhanced experiences rather than inflated transportation costs. Many train routes cost less than flights when you factor in airport transfers, baggage fees, and parking.
Plus, overnight trains eliminate hotel costs for those nights, making multi-day journeys surprisingly affordable.
Weather independence
Unlike flights that get cancelled for storms or cars that become dangerous in snow, trains typically maintain schedules regardless of weather conditions. This reliability makes them particularly attractive for travelers who can’t afford schedule disruptions.
Winter travel becomes less stressful when you’re not worried about closed highways or cancelled flights.
Scenic value as entertainment
Train windows frame constantly changing landscapes like a moving art gallery. Travelling by rail lets you soak up the changing landscapes, see towns and villages where real people go about their lives, and generally get a richer experience.
The scenery isn’t just something to endure while getting somewhere else. It becomes part of the destination.
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Safety statistics
Injuries per 100 million passenger train-miles fell from 1,639.6 to 547.7 in 2023, while fatalities per 100 million passenger train-miles dropped from 6.7 in 2022 to 0.9 in 2023. Modern rail travel combines the romantic appeal of classic train journeys with contemporary safety standards.
These improvements make train travel accessible to travelers who might have previously chosen other options due to safety concerns.
The rails ahead
Train travel’s renaissance reflects broader changes in how people think about time, sustainability, and authentic experiences. This trend is expected to continue growing in 2025, partly due to advances in rail technology and infrastructure, as well as the expansion of slow travel specialists.
The iron horse is galloping back into fashion, carrying passengers who’ve rediscovered that sometimes the best way forward is to slow down and enjoy the ride.
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