The best new train routes to travel in 2025

From the green meadows of the English countryside to the dramatic deserts of Saudi Arabia and the glitter of the snow-capped Alps, all from the comfort of your seat!

Between new train routes , high-speed projects and ultra-luxury journeys, 2025 promises to be a very interesting year for train lovers (and there are more and more of us).

And this “rail renaissance” will be felt around the world with the return of the New Orleans-Alabama route after a twenty-year hiatus, as well as new rail adventures in Europe, the Middle East and other parts of the world. By 2025, passengers will be able to explore new geographical and cultural horizons in a new way, and we for one can’t wait to get on board.

Britannic Explorer from Belmond, United Kingdom

Belmond’s new rail routes continue to make waves in the rail travel industry, and next year rail enthusiasts can look forward to the debut of Britannic Explorer , Belmond’s new line through the British countryside. From July 2025, Explorer will begin its journeys from London to Cornwall, Wales and the Lake District. Stops and activities along the way to these three destinations include a private party at a charming Cotswolds pub, a black tie gala at Oxfordshire’s Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons and an exclusive Cornish wine tasting with views of St. Michael’s Mount . Your time on the train will also be memorable, with a subtly beautiful dining car designed to evoke an English garden , a spa and a lounge-cum-observatory car where guests can sip a cocktail inspired by Victorian apothecary shops as the rolling green countryside passes by before their eyes.

The chance to explore Saudi Arabia ’s magnificent desert on a luxury train is coming your way in late 2025. The new 41-compartment train , called Dream of the Desert , is planned to run along nearly 1,300 kilometres of track , stretching from the capital of Riyadh deep in the kingdom to Al Qurayyat near the Jordanian border . During these one- and two-night journeys, travellers will pass dreamlike landscapes, craggy peaks and iconic landmarks such as the King Salman Bin Abdalaziz Royal Nature Reserve . Saudi Arabia’s rail service is partnering on the project with the Arsenale Group , an Italian company that has built luxury trains such as the Orient Express La Dolce Vita . Details about the train's interior are still to be revealed, but it is known that there will be luxury dinners and lounge cars , and that, once the train is finished, the design of the cars will reflect "Saudi style and tradition ," according to both entities.

Orient Express La Dolce Vita, Italy

The highly anticipated Orient Express La Dolce Vita finally looks set to set off across the Italian countryside in 2025. Itineraries will include shore excursions to Venice and Portofino , meanderings through Tuscany ’s wine country and forays into Sicily ’s gems including Palermo and Taormina . The first journeys are expected to begin in April 2025. Inside, guests will have a choice of twelve deluxe compartments and eighteen suites , all fitted with intricate design elements such as wood ceiling panels, geometric textiles and brass sconces. As night falls, the “Grand Transformation” takes place throughout the train, when staff change the décor and atmosphere to a more formal, festive evening energy. Enjoy an hour of cocktails and appetizers in the sophisticated Lounge Bar before heading to the restaurant car for an Italian menu designed by a three-Michelin-starred chef. In the morning, the restaurant car offers an authentic Italian breakfast with a “selection of freshly squeezed fruit juices, Sicilian brioche, artisanal jams and aromatic Italian coffee ” to energize you for sightseeing and excursions.

Brussels to Venice Route by European Sleeper, Europe

But not all train routes launching in 2025 will come with a significant outlay of money: the new European Sleeper overnight route between Brussels and Venice will delight travellers, but at a much cheaper cost. On the way to the city of canals, this train will stop in Antwerp (Belgium), Rotterdam and Utrecht (Netherlands), Munich and Cologne (Germany), Innsbruck (Austria) and two other Italian destinations, Verona and Bolzano , famous for being a gateway to the Dolomites ; the full 20-hour route will cross other incredible landscapes such as the Austrian Alps . This train offers three seating options: sleeper cars, bunk beds and regular seats with built-in sleepers . It also has a restaurant car where travellers can enjoy a meal service, followed by something to drink at the train bar. The seasonal route is planned to operate twice a week in February and March 2025 , perfect for a spring break , ski trip , or enjoying the iconic Venice Carnival , which takes place between February 22 and March 4. Reservations are now open for the first journey of this train, which will hit the tracks on February 5, 2025 .