Japan’s Sagano Romantic Train takes the crown, while three of the top five routes are in Europe.
The views from the carriage window are one of the greatest appeals of a long train journey, and there are myriad rankings of the world’s most scenic routes.
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Now, one company has decided to delve into the matter a little more scientifically.
Insurance experts InsureandGo turned to eye-tracking technology to analyse the attractiveness of the scenery on some of the world’s most popular rail routes.
Participants were shown multiple images of iconic views from train journeys. The analysts then tracked how long they spent looking at the scenery and how quickly their eyes were drawn to it.
Japan’s Sagano Romantic Train takes the crown, while three of the top five routes are in Europe.
The world’s most scenic train journey is in Japan
Taking the top spot is Japan’s Sagano Romantic Train which passes by the Arashiyama bamboo forest in Kyoto.
This is a short 25-minute ride along the Hozu River between Saga-Arashiyama and Kameoka, but it packs some of the most eye-catching scenery in Asia, easily admired from the train’s open-sided carriage.
If you want to include the journey in your itinerary, book well in advance because this one sells out fast, particularly during cherry blossom season, and autumn when the maples turn fiery shades of red and gold.
Europe’s most beautiful rail route is the Bernina Express
Just behind the top spot, the Bernina Express runs along a UNESCO World Heritage railway and is arguably one of Europe’s most iconic rail experiences.
The route crosses the Alps between Chur in Switzerland and Tirano in Italy, climbing up to the Bernina Pass, at a dizzying altitude of 2,253 metres.
For four hours, you can sit back and soak in views of frozen lakes in winter, lush meadows in summer and golden larch forests in autumn.
The world’s slowest express train is also one of the most eye-catching
Switzerland takes two of the top spots, with the Glacier Express rounding out the top three. Its nickname of ‘the world’s slowest express train’ makes sense considering the eight-hour journey between Zermatt and St. Moritz.
However, the trip is slow on purpose, giving you as much time as possible to gaze at the scenery as the train moves through views of the majestic Matterhorn massif and the Rhine Gorge, also known as ‘the Swiss Grand Canyon’.
Window gaze at wild Scottish landscapes along the West Highland Line
The only UK entry to make the ranking is the West Highland Line in Scotland. Travelling between Glasgow and Mallaig, here you’ll gaze out the window at wild Highland scenery, including the bonnie (beautiful) banks of Loch Lomond.
Harry Potter fans will instantly recognise the Glenfinnan Viaduct, the bridge that the Hogwarts Express crosses in the films.
Unlike many of the other eye-catching train journeys, the West Highland Line is a regularly scheduled service; you don’t need a special tourist pass to experience it. That said, the Jacobite Steam Train runs seasonally along a portion of the route for a more nostalgic experience.
See the sunrise on Taiwan’s Alishan Forest Railway
A fantastic rail journey that doesn’t always get the international recognition it deserves, Taiwan’s Alishan Forest Railway rounds out the top five.
A mountain railway that takes you from forest to tea plantations, the landscape transforms around you, crossing through three different vegetation zones as the train climbs higher and higher up to an altitude of over 2,000 metres.
This red train is especially popular at sunrise, so avoid that time if you want to escape the crowds. However, if you’re willing to mingle with the masses, the reward is watching the sun rise above the clouds from your privileged position in the mountain peaks.
