The Most Beautiful Train Routes You Can Still Ride

Some railway journeys are not just about getting from point A to point B. They are about mountains, oceans, forests, and history rolling past your window. These routes prove why rail travel remains one of the most emotional and visually powerful ways to explore the world.

For fans of railways, these routes also inspire the worlds we build in a train game, a train simulator, or a detailed train station simulator. They show what railways can be when engineering meets nature.

Let’s explore the most beautiful train routes you can still ride today – and why they continue to inspire railfans and players of online train games around the globe.

Glacier Express – Switzerland

Often called the “slowest express train in the world,” the Glacier Express travels between Zermatt and St. Moritz through the Swiss Alps.

Technical & route highlights

• Crosses 291 bridges and 91 tunnels

• Runs on narrow-gauge mountain railways

• Uses panoramic carriages for full landscape views

• Climbs to over 2,000 meters above sea level

Why it inspires train games
The careful speed control, mountain gradients, and precise scheduling feel like a real-life railway game scenario. It’s easy to imagine recreating this route in a train simulator online with weather and terrain challenges.

Trans-Siberian Railway – Russia

Stretching nearly 9,300 km from Moscow to Vladivostok, the Trans-Siberian Railway is the longest continuous railway journey on Earth.

Technical & route highlights

• Electrified mainline

• Multiple climate zones

• Dozens of major stations

• One of the busiest long-distance routes globally

Gaming connection
Managing such a massive route feels like playing a strategic pc train game where logistics, refueling, and time management matter. It’s the ultimate test of what a virtual train conductor would handle.

Rocky Mountaineer – Canada

This famous Canadian route crosses the Rocky Mountains, offering views of glaciers, rivers, and wildlife.

Technical & route highlights

• Glass-dome panoramic cars

• Low-speed sightseeing operation

• Specialized tourist rolling stock

• Focus on daylight scenic travel

Why players love it
Routes like this inspire peaceful modes in train games online, where beauty and exploration matter as much as efficiency.

West Highland Line – Scotland

Running from Glasgow to Mallaig, this route passes lochs, moors, and the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct.

Technical & route highlights

• Single-track sections

• Coastal and mountain terrain

• Historic steam and diesel operations

• Complex signal and passing loops

This mix of heritage and technical operation makes it ideal for a train simulator free scenario with historical charm.

Bernina Express – Switzerland & Italy

This UNESCO-listed route climbs from icy glaciers to palm-lined towns in Italy.

Technical & route highlights

• Steep gradients up to 7%

• Open-air viaducts

• Narrow-gauge design

• Electric traction

It perfectly shows how railways adapt to extreme environments – the kind of challenge players enjoy in a train station management game.

Flåm Railway – Norway

Only 20 km long, but one of the steepest standard-gauge railway lines in the world.

Technical & route highlights

• Gradient of 1 in 18

• Mountain tunnels and waterfalls

• Heavy braking systems

• Tourist-focused service

This route feels like a compact level inside a rail game, where engineering precision matters more than distance.

 

Experience Scenic Railways in TrainStation 3 – Sweden Region

Some of the most beautiful train routes can also be explored in digital form. In TrainStation 3: Journey of Steel, players experience scenic railways inspired by Sweden’s forests and lakes, showing how real-world routes influence today’s train simulators and online train games.

Watch the video below to see how the Swedish region comes to life in TrainStation 3.

Why These Routes Still Matter to Train Enthusiasts

Beautiful train routes teach us:

• How railways adapt to geography

• Why infrastructure planning is critical

• How safety and design meet tourism

• Why rail travel remains emotionally powerful

These lessons are exactly what modern railroad games and train simulator titles are built around: balance, planning, and respect for the landscape.

Whether you love exploring nature or optimizing routes, these journeys remind us that railways are living systems, not just transport lines.

Conclusion – From Scenic Rails to TrainStation by Pixel Federation

The world’s most beautiful train routes prove that railways are about more than speed or cargo. They connect people with landscapes, cultures, and history. That same passion lives on in digital form through modern online train games and simulations.

If you enjoy building networks inspired by real routes, collecting iconic trains, and managing stations, you’ll feel at home in PixelFederation TrainStation.
In  TrainStation 2 and TrainStation 3: Journey of Steel, players experience railway history and scenery through strategy and smart planning.

Whether you prefer a relaxed train game free experience or a deeper train simulator online free challenge, TrainStation lets you become part of the story of rail travel – past, present, and future.

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