Published 16th Mar. 2026
Written by Holly Catton
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Train travel has come a long way in the last two centuries and remains one of the more positive expressions of humankind’s restless ingenuity. In Japan, developments are currently underway to cut journey times in half, thanks to the frictionless flair of Maglev (Magnetic Levitation). We’ll have to wait and see how that pans out. In the meantime, why not revel in the splendour of times gone by? Since it would be almost impossible (and ridiculously lengthy) to list all the rail innovations that have taken place over the years, we’ve decided to focus on some of the defining moments. Read on for a history of train travel...
1
It was British civil engineer George Stephenson (suitably dubbed the ‘Father of Railways’) who first introduced the world to train travel back in 1825. On 27th September, his Locomotion No.1 embarked on the first public passenger railway journey between Stockton and Darlington on the very appropriately named Stockton & Darlington Railway. The locomotive has since achieved another milestone, becoming the first ever train to be displayed as a historic artefact, having been mounted on a plinth in Darlington in 1857. As for the journey itself, it marked the dawn of modern rail travel and kick-started a transportation revolution that would reshape the 19th-century world.
Image by Alice Davies / Unsplash
2
On 10th May 1869, it came America’s turn to make waves (or should we say tracks?) in the history of train travel. At Promontory Summit in Utah, the ‘Golden Spike’ was laid, the final action in joining the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads. This marked the culmination of six years of intense labour and realised the dream of many to link the east and west coasts. America’s first transcontinental railway not only slashed travel times from months to days, but it also transformed commerce, migration and national identity, ushering in the wake of the Golden Age. Rail travel has come a long way since then, but the glory of Promontory Summit is preserved in its status as a national historic site. It now welcomes history buffs and rail enthusiasts from around the world.
Image by Matthieu Paley
3
Back in Europe, tracks were being laid in pursuit of a different kind of gilded era. Half a century before Agatha Christie cemented its significance in the literary canon, the wheels of the Orient Express were beginning to spin into motion. In 1883, the now iconic train was launched, stylishly connecting Paris and Istanbul. A truly luxurious locomotive, it invited passengers into a capsule of glamour and intrigue, raising the bar for long-distance travel everywhere. Renowned for its opulence and mystery, the Orient Express has since inspired a cascade of novels, films and legends. It’s easy to see why (despite being synonymous with the word ‘murder’) the train continues to draw passengers in today.
Image by Maxime d'Angeac & Martin Darzacq / Orient Express
4
At the turn of the century, change took an icy track. In 1916, the Trans-Siberian Railway was completed. This vast stretch of rail spans eight time zones and nearly 6,000 miles, connecting the opulent capital of Moscow to the far-flung peninsula of Vladivostok. You’ll have to clear your calendar for this one, though, since it takes a whole week to travel from one end to the other – a timeframe that’s sure to make commuting sound a bit more appetising. It should come as no surprise, then, that the Trans-Siberian Railroad is the longest in the world. A momentous achievement for Russia, it stitches together vast territories, enabling trade, migration and military movement across continents. Today, it remains one of the most iconic rail journeys across Europe.
Image by Johannes Hofmann / Unsplash
5
Picking up the pace, Japan’s first Shinkansen (or ‘bullet train’ as it has come to be known) launched in 1964. This impressive invention transports passengers from Tokyo to Osaka at unprecedented speeds. Sleek, efficient and reliable, it revolutionised high-speed rail travel and became a national symbol of modernity, opening just in time for the Tokyo Olympics – a suitably energetic accompaniment. The line has since been extended in several directions across the country, with hundreds of trains operating daily. While bullet trains originally travelled at speeds of 130mph, they now average between 150-185mph, with some even beginning to reach speeds of 200mph in 2013. As landscapes flash by, you’ll almost believe you’ve stumbled into the future of rail travel.
Image by Olivier Romano
6
To wrap up the history of train travel, we’re bringing things full circle with a return to the country that started it all. In 1994, after almost 100 years of development (having first been proposed in 1802), the Channel Tunnel was completed, creating the first fixed rail link between Britain and mainland Europe. Stretching 31 miles under the English Channel, this pivotal passage links southern England to northern France. A symbol of strong diplomatic relations, its inaugural journey transported Queen Elizabeth II and French President Francois Mitterrand. In the years since, it's allowed Original Travel to become the first British luxury tour operator to launch a tailor-made train travel portfolio.
Image by Chloé Simon
Now that you’re up to speed on your locomotive lore, check out our portfolio of train travel holidays, which endeavour to bring the glory and romance of train travel into the 21st century.
Header image by Maxime d'Angeac & Martin Darzacq / Orient Express
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