Imagine you’re inside a cosy cabin, sipping your favourite coffee, talking about your favourite activities with your friends or partners. It's not a romcom movie script, but it can be a reality if you're travelling through beautiful landscapes. Train travel might be expensive in some cases, but it is ideal for short routes in the United States if you want some “me-time” and “peace”. Driving may also be economical, but you can relax much more in comfy trains.
Across the globe, train travel is making a significant comeback, maybe because of some video creators, mesmerising scenic beauty or because of ecological benefits. Last year, Amtrak in the United States hit a massive number of train riders, i.e 34.5 million. Similarly, in Europe, trains are buzzing with eco-friendly & happy crowds. Here are the reasons why trains are becoming cool again!
Scenic tracks over a cloudy sky
Aeroplanes are ideal for people who feel they are always short on time. Still, for those who enjoy scenic views, better privacy and comfort, trains can be the real winners. Besides, the luggage limit is universally more relaxed in trains, making them best for people moving for a longer time. The beauty of the train is that it makes travel an event.
Especially, when you're travelling in Europe, you can experience spinning windmills like a live postcard. Similarly, the Trans-Siberian routes in Russia are an ultimate dream for many travellers, where you go via the Taiga forests, which are among the most significant forest regions in the world. Thus, trains can give you a fantastic lifetime experience apart from great comfort.
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Sustainability over carbon footprint guilt
If you travel via train on a mid-haul trip, you will produce up to 70–90% less carbon dioxide (CO2) than aeroplanes, as claimed by the United States Energy stats. Rail travel is the low-key hero, which makes travelling efficient while leaving a smaller carbon footprint. Besides, nobody wants to feel guilty while travelling for comfort and fun.
People who don't like rushing often prefer trains over planes. For young guns under 30, trains are not just transportation; they're a vibe. You can imagine how cool it would be to glide across Europe, watching the beautiful mountains and landscapes with your favourite songs on Spotify. In this fast-moving world, trains are something that can calm you.
Slow travel is blowing up.
People are loving steadiness over high-speed flights. There is no hustle and bustle of standing in long queues like international airports. Besides, you don't have to worry about losing baggage on the baggage carousel. Imagine you're chilling in your train cabin, and you see Glacier National Park's epic peaks and wildlife roll by your window. You can not imagine how valuable this travel experience can be.
Similarly, Europe can also give you immense pleasure when you go with Orient Express-style trains, guiding past Italian hills. The slow pace of trains gives you enough time for the pauses you deserve. It's a break from your monotonous yet fast life. Social media is flooded with reels of these visuals, and these are the trips that save you from your burnout.
Planes, planes, go away.
Honestly, there are a lot of problems around air travel. Delays and cancellations are high across the United States. Price volatility, delayed refunds and services, and compromised safety are also challenges that the aviation sector has to face. Apart from that, unexpected weather can cause delays, rerouting and cancellations, turning people towards rail journeys.
Besides, modern trains are not slow and can run up to 125–150 miles per hour on specific corridors, if given conducive tracks, such as the Northeast Corridor in the US. Similarly, the cancellation problem can be experienced in Europe and Eurasian regions because of extreme weather. Although flights are statistically the safest transport in the world, nobody loves waiting in huge spaces.
Also read | Bad Weather Disrupts Air Travel - What you need to know
Let the money flow in
According to a Newsweek article by Sam Stevenson, the US government is pushing to build long-term high-speed and higher-speed rail projects beyond 2026. The government is pouring over $66 billion into upgrading and expanding passenger rail infrastructure, including Amtrak. In 2025, Amtrak made a total operating revenue of around $3.9 billion, which is huge and about 10% more than in 2024. In the last 10 years, Amtrak's revenue fluctuated a bit. Still, it rebounded from a low $2.1 billion in FY2020 to highs near $3.95 billion in operating revenue.
This growth was an aftermath of surging Northeast Corridor ridership, state expansions, and federal investments like the Infrastructure Act. Following the trend, Europe is also dreaming of next-generation high-speed rail networks while researching emerging mobility concepts for making mobility even better. The best things about trains are low emissions, zero traffic stress, and the potential of altogether avoiding road rage.
Embracing the Journey
Travelling via trains is more than just moving from one place to another. It's a conscious choice to take a break from hustle-bustle, slow down, breathe, and experience the true essence of life with astonishing visuals. With growing rail networks, travellers will have a more comfortable, sustainable and meaningful experience to keep with them. These train journeys quietly remind us that sometimes the journey is as beautiful as the destination.
