Full Steam Ahead: The Trends Driving Rail Travel in 2026

Rail is quickly becoming an indispensable tool in the travel advisor’s toolkit.

Whether it’s exploring the majestic cliffsides of the Rocky Mountains or traversing the untamed wilderness of Australia’s Outback, rail travel affords travelers unparalleled immersion into some of the world’s most spectacular natural landscapes. It’s no wonder then that the segment continues to grow: in 2026, rail travel is thriving.

Last year’s “rail renaissance” trends have continued into this year, driving growth in the segment. Companies like Belmond and Intrepid are investing in rail, while traditionally Europe/Australia-serving operators like Journey Beyond are actively investing in attracting American travelers and travel advisors to their rail products.

“Rail is having a moment,” Cris David, vice president of global sales for Railbookers, told Travel Market Report Canada in a recent interview.

With so much demand right now for rail packages, travel advisors have a unique opportunity to embrace the moment and deliver unforgettable land experiences to their clients — with the added bonus of having tried-and-true trade-friendly brands to depend on.

To shed light on what trends are shaping rail travel in 2026, Travel Market Report spoke with three key operators in different regions: Rocky Mountaineer for North America, Europe Express for Europe, and Journey Beyond for Australia.

“2026 has been an exceptional year for our brands, Rocky Mountaineer and Canyon Spirit, and the entire rail segment,” said Jonathan Hope, managing director sales, core markets, Rocky Mountaineer. “As we look ahead to 2027, we expect demand to remain healthy as travelers continue to prioritize meaningful, experience-led vacations, and advisors look for products that can be packaged into broader itineraries and tailored to different travel styles.”

Rail Isn’t Just Transportation: It’s the Destination

One of the main trends driving interest in the rail segment in 2026 is the on-board experience. Seeing a country by train just feels different: it’s much more immersive than flying over an area, and much more luxurious and romantic than driving by car or coach bus. In fact, in some cases, the train tracks run through idyllic landscapes that roads do not, such as Canyon Spirit’s Rockies to the Red Rocks route.

“What makes rail so appealing is that it lets people slow down. At its core, it is the ultimate antidote to the rush of modern life and turns the journey into the destination,” Hope told TMR. “From our glass-dome coaches, we’re giving guests an exclusive, front-row seat to spectacular wilderness you just can’t see from a highway or a flight path.”

Similarly, Journey Beyond’s rail options traverse Australia, giving travelers the opportunity to immerse themselves in the country’s rugged landscapes without sacrificing comfort. The Ghan in particular is a beloved route, and is considered a bucket list experience for many Australians.

“The Ghan, Indian Pacific, and Great Southern aren’t transportation products — they’re front-row seats to the great Australian story,” explained Josh Basir, business development manager, ITO & The Americas. “You’re travelling through really remote areas that tourists don’t typically come to Australia and think they’re going to visit… we provide that access. And that really just goes to show the power of train travel.”

While Rocky Mountaineer and The Ghan are both bucket list experiences in themselves, rail’s appeal also extends to more functional in-destination transit. Stephanie Williams, vice president, product & revenue management at FIT tour operator Europe Express, told TMR that rail is a popular add-on for its European itineraries because travelers are drawn to its sightseeing potential — so much so that Europe Express released a Train Travel guide for travel advisors.

“Rail has become an increasingly important component of a lot of our custom itineraries that we’re building,” she explained. “It’s not even just about getting from point A to point B — it’s about the journey along the way. It’s like you’re traveling through a painting … It’s the scenery that you get to pass. It becomes a part of the experience.”

Top Trends Shaping Rail Booking in 2026

The rail segment is not just growing: it’s evolving.

Basir told TMR that booking behavior for Journey Beyond’s rail portfolio is changing. Because the train trips themselves are three to four days in duration, The Ghan, Indian Pacific, and Great Southern are often being combined with land tour packages or cruises, as more and more travelers are looking to book longer vacations.

“When you include The Ghan or the Indian Pacific into an itinerary, they are really the anchor points for these journeys, and then everything’s kind of built in on that,” he said.

Basir noted that booking windows are extending. North American travelers are booking anywhere from nine to 18 months out, and staying for around 14 days in destination. And while the core demographic is still retirees, there has been a noticeable increase in honeymooners, multi-gen families, and groups interested in including rail travel in their Australia vacation.

“We’re also seeing guests stay longer than the traditional 14 days and building experiences around their rail journey. Rather than taking a train trip in isolation, many are creating multi-region itineraries that include wildlife, food and wine, Indigenous cultural experiences, and iconic destinations like Uluru [and] the Great Barrier Reef,” Basir said.

Given not just the length of a flight to Australia but also the rising cost of airfare for American travelers, it makes sense that travelers want to spend more time in-destination and that booking windows are extending. Similarly, Williams said that Europe Express is seeing a boost in multi-destination trips that visit multiple countries — if travelers are paying extra just to cross the Atlantic, it makes sense that they want more bang for their buck.

“What we’re seeing is a lot of the itineraries that we are creating for travelers are multi-destination… they want to be able to seamlessly get into different cities in different countries quickly,” she said.

Today’s travelers are also willing to pay more for a more premium rail experience. Williams said that Europe Express has seen an increase in travelers opting for the higher-tier fares or more luxurious rail lines.

“We get a lot of demand coming in for those high-end rail experiences… We’ve seen that pick up as well,” Williams said. “They’re that once-in-a-lifetime, unforgettable experience.”

Luxury is nothing new for Rocky Mountaineer: the rail operator built its reputation based on first-class service on its trains, as well as enhanced comfort and sightseeing. Its Gold Leaf service includes access to a double-decker car with dining on the first floor and domed panoramic windows on the second. Guests booking this premium experience can even package the rail travel with stays at the acclaimed Fairmont Banff Springs and Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise (Rocky Mountaineer and Canyon Spirit do not feature sleeper cars).

For Journey Beyond, which operates several popular train routes in Australia like The Ghan and Indian Pacific, leaning into luxury has meant updating their trains. The tour operator has added two new luxury cabins on The Ghan, The Indian Pacific, and The Great Southern: The Aurora Suite and Australis Suite. These updated accommodations are three times the size of the next largest category and include elevated in-suite benefits like butler service, a personalised bar, and premium amenities.

“The increased demand for rail… the way that we’ve included these new luxury suites, it is really putting us on a global scale in terms of demand and interest,” Basir said.

What Rail Itineraries Are Popular in 2026?

Although the three tour operators we spoke to sell rail travel in different parts of the world, there were a few key similarities in the types of itineraries that are popular in 2026. Travelers are drawn to routes that showcase the landscape of a destination, particularly in areas where the train travels through scenic, natural beauty.

Hope said travelers are attracted to Canyon Spirit’s Rockies to the Red Rocks route because of the dramatic geological features seen in the American Southwest, while Williams pointed to the stunning Swiss Alps as a draw for rail travel to and from Switzerland.

Rail is also rarely booked on its own, so the most popular itineraries for all three tour operators are typically associated with a nearby popular tourism destination or experience; for example, both Rocky Mountaineer and The Ghan are combined with cruises in Alaska and Australia’s Kimberley region, respectively.

For both Rocky Mountaineer and Journey Beyond, the “flagship” routes remain the most in-demand: First Passage to the West, a two-day journey which connects Vancouver with Lake Louise and Banff, and The Ghan, a three-day trip through the heart of Australia between Adelaide and Darwin.

Europe Express, which serves a much larger range of destinations, has various popular rail routes, including London–Paris (Eurostar), Scotland, Rome–Florence–Venice, and Norway, but the standout is definitely Switzerland as the premier rail destination.