Europe’s
Written by ANTHONY HAYWOOD
Give thanks to the engineers who built railways across Europe's most difficult terrain: their hard work has translated into some of the world's most picturesque train journeys.
From mountain valleys to epic fjords, hop aboard for a tour of Europe’s most scenic train routes.
Scotland
This is certainly one scenic journey, with rugged highlands, isolated lochs, flashes of coastline, Ben Nevis (Britain’s highest mountain) and spectacular views from the viaduct at Glenfinnan.
The route and steam train are so easy on the eye that they crop up as the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter films.
Norway
Norway's awe-inspiring Bergen Railway rolls through craggy mountain landscapes and across the beautiful Hardangervidda plateau to Norway’s highest station, Finse at 4010ft (1222m).
On a branch line from Myrdal to Flåm, you go straight up on the world’s steepest railway line.
Italy
Five colorful, rustic villages give Cinque Terre, an 11-mile (18km) stretch of rugged coastline, its name, meaning "five lands."
Cliffs tumble into the picture-postcard turquoise Ligurian Sea, and bucolic vineyards and olive groves line the hills. Regional trains stop at all five Cinque Terre villages.
Switzerland
The chances of meeting a millionaire on this train are higher than average as you curl through the Swiss Alps, through pristine mountains and two of Switzerland's most reputable ski resorts.
It's de rigueur for the ski enthusiast (and, literally, the upwardly mobile).