A return to the Golden Age of Rail

Back in the Industrial revolution it was the development of the steam engine that gave rise to the relatively modern concept of holiday-making. The linking of the great British cities and the coast meant that factory workers could now travel quickly, cheaply and efficiently to seaside resorts to enjoy their free time.

For over half a century trains became the principal mode of transport for going on holiday. For many, the trips were cheap and cheerful but for others the golden age of railways represented the golden age of travel as well.


And then came the jet engine and cheap mass travel to foreign shores and somehow we managed to forget about the train. Years of under-investment in our own national rail network provided even more disillusionment with a service that had once been the envy of the world. However train travel is increasingly coming back into vogue, not only as a means to get from A to B but also as a holiday experience in its own right, and what’s more research has suggested that it’s a more environmentally-friendly way of travelling.

One only has to mention the name ‘Orient Express’ and you are instantly transported back to an age of elegance and style where ‘getting there’ wasn’t an ordeal but an integral part of the holiday. In fact Orient Express trains & holidays are alive and well and still providing the ultimate in luxury train travel. A number of Orient Express holidays are featured on the inspiringholidays.com website.


Although Orient Express represents the ultimate in train holidays there are in fact train holidays to suit all tastes and budgets. And one of the great things about holidaying by train is that it opens up views and landscapes often unseen by other forms of transport. In fact some train holidays such as the trans-Canadian railroad or cross-Australia route are consistently voted amongst the top travel experiences.


If you’re interested in holidaying by train inspiringholidays.com features a range of train holidays in countries as diverse as Peru, India and Canada as well as luxury journeys around the British Isles. They feature holidays from tour operators such as Orient-Express, Kuoni, Travelsphere, Cosmos and more.

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