Vast forests of fir trees, snow-frosted mountains, sparkling blue lakes.
These are just some of the stunning snapshots you might spot from a brand-new train that’s set to connect six bucket list destinations in North America.
Journeying through the heart of the Canadian Rockies, the Passage to the Peaks route is launching in summer 2026 – and there’s a choice between two and 10-day-long experiences, depending on how much time you’ve got on your hands.
The starting point can either be Banff, Alberta – famous for Mounts Rundle and Cascade, which can be spotted looming over the horizon – or Jasper, another mountain town centred around the Jasper National Park. Expect hot springs and lodges galore.
Next on the route, from railway tour company Rocky Mountaineer, is Lake Louise, a glacier-fed body of water which, in the summer, is a popular canoeing spot.
Amid temperatures as low as -14.9°C, it freezes over in the winter, and skiers flock to the Lake Louise resort, boasting 4,200 acres of slopes spread across an impressive four mountains.
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Right at the confluence of the North and South Thompson rivers, the next stop, Kamloops, crosses the border into British Columbia.
During the summer, it’s popular with hikers and bikers alike – and if you’re into archaeology, the reconstructed Secwepemc village is 2,000 years old, spanning roughly one kilometre.
Along the way, you’ll also be able to spot the likes of Rogers Pass, Shuswap Lake, Castle Mountain, the Spiral Tunnels, and Pyramid Falls – all through the train’s glass-topped ceiling, allowing for panoramic views even when you’re chugging along.
Worried the train won’t fully capture the route’s beauty? Fear not: you’ll be able to get off to explore along the way. Each package features many of the same spots, but the longer it is, the more time you’ll have.
The two-day rail options tick off Lake Louise, Jasper and Kamloops, while the 10-day ‘Grand Adventure’ spans Kamloops, Calgary, Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, and the Columbia Icefield (AKA, the largest in the Rockies at 125 square miles).
The latter includes nine nights in total (you’ll stay overnight at each stop rather than sleeping in a carriage en route), with two days on board the train itself.
Wondering how much it’ll set you back? You’ll need to get your piggy bank ready, as prices range from £1,670 for the two-day option right up to £7,201 for the full shebang.
You’ll need to snap up your tickets quickly, though, as the routes will only be running in summer 2026 as a special edition.
Looking for a train adventure slightly closer to home? Plans for a direct train between Berlin and London have been announced – and it could significantly chop journey times.
This month, Keir Starmer signed a ‘first of its kind’ treaty with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, which, as well as strengthening the relationship between the UK and Germany, also plans to establish a direct route between the capital and three German cities.
At the moment, those looking to travel between the two cities need to take a Eurostar train from St Pancras to Bruxelles-Midi, changing for a service to Cologne and, finally, to Berlin Hauptbahnhof.
While we don’t have any specifics right now, the plans have the potential to change how millions of people travel between the UK and Germany, with an estimated 3,200,000 Brits having visited in 2023.
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