Trains can be an interesting, comfortable and environmentally-friendly way to travel in many countries worldwide. UK train companies do not sell tickets for overseas railways, but you can find out about train services in other countries using the links and phone numbers shown below.
| COUNTRY |
OPERATOR | INFORMATION |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | 'Satellite Railway' | Trains link a number of Argentinean cities. www.sateliteferroviario.com.ar/horarios/ (in Spanish only - Translate Satellite Railway site with BabelFish) has information about all Argentinean train operators. |
| Australia | Rail Australia | This website has routes, times, and fares for most Australian train services. |
| Great Southern Railway | Great Southern Railway (GSR) runs the "Indian Pacific" linking Sydney, Adelaide and Perth, "The Ghan" linking Adelaide, Alice Springs and Darwin, and the "Overland" linking Melbourne with Adelaide. GSR's UK agents are International Rail, 0870 751 5000. | |
| Countrylink | Trains link Sydney with Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra. Countrylink's UK agents are International Rail, 0870 751 5000. | |
| Queensland Railways | Trains link Brisbane with Rockhampton, Townsville and Cairns. Queensland Railways' UK agents are International Rail, 0870 751 5000. | |
| V/Line | V/Line runs Internal trains within Victoria | |
| Transwa | Transwa provides a modern, comprehensive range of high-comfort rail and coach services across the southern half of Western Australia from Meekatharra in the north to Esperance and Kalgoorlie in the east and Albany and Augusta in the south. | |
| Bangladesh | Bangladesh Railways | Trains link Dacca, Chittagong and other cities in Bangladesh. |
| Burma (Myanmar) | Myanmar Railways Corporation | Trains link Rangoon, Mandalay and other cities in Burma (Myanmar). No official website, but see www.seat61.com/Burma.htm and www.burma-travels.com/trains.htm. To arrange tickets from outside Burma, try e-mailing AnandaTravel@myanmar.com |
| Cambodia | Chemins de fer de Cambodge | Trains link Battambang and Phnom Penh. Cambodian railways have no official website, but see www.seat61.com/Cambodia.htm |
| Canada | VIA Rail | Trains link Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, Quebec, Winnipeg, Edonton & Jasper. UK agents for VIA Rail: First Rail, call 0845 644 3553. |
| Ontario Northland | Trains link Toronto with Northern Ontario. | |
| Rocky Mountaineer | A tourist train between Calgary, Banff and Vancouver. | |
| Chile | Chilean State Railways (in Spanish only) | Trains link several Chilean cities. |
| China | Chinese Railways | Trains link Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Hong Kong, and most other Chinese cities. For train times in English, see www.travelchinaguide.com/china-trains/ For local and long distance trains from Hong Kong, see www.kcrc.com |
| Cuba | Ferrocarriles de Cuba | Trains link Havana, Santiago, and most Cuban cities. Ferrocarriles de Cuba has no official website, but see www.seat61.com/Cuba.htm |
| Egypt | Egyptian National Railways (ENR) | Trains link Cairo, Alexandria, Port Said, Suez, Luxor and Aswan. Egyptian National Railways have no official website, but see www.seat61.com/Egypt.htm. You can download timetables at www.egyptianrailways.com. The deluxe sleeping-car trains from Cairo to Luxor & Aswan are run by Abela Egypt, www.sleepingtrains.com |
| India | www.indianrail.gov.in/ | Trains link almost all Indian cities. You can book Indian trains online at www.irctc.co.in. The UK agent for Indian Railways, including Indian rail passes, is SD Enterprises in Wembley, 020 8903 3411. |
| Indonesia | Indonesian railways | Trains link Jakarta, Surabaya and other cities on Java. |
| Iran | Iranian Railways | Trains link most Iranian cities, run by the Raja Trains passenger department. International trains link Tehran with Damascus and Istanbul. |
| Iraq | Iraq Republic Railways | Trains link Baghdad, Mosul and Basra. |
| Israel | Israel Railways | Trains link Haifa, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and many other Israeli cities. |
| Japan | JNR | Trains link most cities in Japan. For train times and fares in English, see Hyperdia-timetable. UK agents for Japan rail passes include www.railchoice.co.uk. Also see www.japanrail.com |
| Jordan | Jordan Hedjaz Railway | Trains link Damascus and Amman twice a week. Also see www.seat61.com/Jordan.htm |
| Kazakstan | Kazak Railways | Also try www.poezda.net. |
| Kenya | Kenya Railways | Trains link Mombasa, Nairobi and Kisumu. Kenya Railways has no official website, but see www.seat61.com/Kenya.htm or www.eastafricashuttles.com/train.htm |
| Korea (South) | Korean National Railroad | Trains link Seoul, Busan and most other cities in South Korea. |
| Malaysia & Singapore | KTM | Trains link Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Khota Bahru. Trains also link Singapore and Malaysia with Bangkok, see www.seat61.com/Malaysia.htm |
| Mali | Chemin de Fer du Mali | A weekly train links Dakar with Bamako. Also see www.seat61.com/Senegal.htm |
| Mexico | The Mexican government has recently discontinued virtually all long-distance passenger trains. For a summary of what remains, see www.mexlist.com/pass.htm For the famous 'Copper Canyon' train see www.chepe.com.mx/ing_html/ | |
| Morocco | ONCFM | Trains link Tangier, Fez, Meknes, Rabat, Casablanca and Marrakech. |
| Namibia | Transnamib | Select 'Star Line' for passenger services. Also see www.desertexpress.com.na |
| New Zealand | Rail New Zealand | Passenger trains in New Zealand. For the inter-island ferry see www.interislandline.co.nz |
| Pakistan | Pakistan Railways | Trains link Karachi, Quetta, Lahore, Peshawar and most other cities in Pakistan. |
| Peru | PeruRail | Peruvian passenger trains, including trains to Macchu Pichu. |
| Saudi Arabia | Saudi Railways Corporation | Trains link Dammam and Riyadh. |
| South Africa | Spoornet (Shosholoza Meyl) | Trains link Cape Town, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and Durban. Also see www.seat61.com/SouthAfrica.htm |
| Blue Train | The luxurious Blue Train links Cape Town and Pretoria. | |
| Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka Railways Corporation | Trains link Colombo, Kandy and many other Sri Lankan cities. |
| Syria | Chemin de Fer Syrien | Trains link Aleppo, Damascus, Lattakia, and (once weekly) Aleppo, Istanbul and Tehran. Also see www.seat61.com/Syria.htm |
| Taiwan | Taiwan Railways | Trains link most major cities in Taiwan. |
| Tanzania | Tanzania Railway Corporation | Trains link Dar es Salaam, Kigoma and Mwanza. |
| Tanzania & Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) | Trains link Zambia & Tanzania, between Dar es Salaam, Mbeya and Kapiri Mposhi. | |
| Thailand | State Railway of Thailand | Trains link Bangkok with Chiang Mai, Kanchanburi, and most other cities in Thailand. Trains also link Bangkok with Malaysia and Singapore. Also see www.seat61.com/Thailand.htm |
| Tunisia | Tunisian Railways | Modern trains link Tunis, Sousse, Monastir, Sfax, Gabes and other Tunisian cities.. |
| Turkey | TCDD | Trains link Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Konya, Pamukkale, Kars and many other cities in Turkey. For train information in English, see www.seat61.com/Turkey2.htm |
| USA | Amtrak | Trains link the most important US cities. Amtrak's UK agents are www.thetravelbureau.co.uk, 0800 698 7545. |
| Alaska Railroad | ||
| Uzbekistan | For train times, see www.poezda.net | |
| Vietnam | DSVN | Trains link Saigon, Danang, Hue, Hanoi and Lao Cai (for Sapa). Also see www.seat61.com/Vietnam.htm |
| Zambia | Tanzania & Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) | Trains link Zambia & Tanzania. |
| Zambia Railways | Trains link Livingstone, Lusaka, and Kapiri Mposhi. Zambia Railways have no official website, but see www.seat61.com/Zambia.htm | |
| Zimbabwe | National Railways of Zimbabwe | Trains link Bulawayo with Harare and Victoria Falls. Also see www.seat61.com/Zimbabwe.htm |