Editors: Monisha Rajesh & Shape
Illustrations: Martin Haake
Features: Full color, hardcover, stitch bound, 288 pages
Format: 22.5 × 29 cm | 9 × 11½ inches
Train travel has always been more than just getting from A to B. Whether fast or slow, steam or electric, a journey by train sparks a special kind of romance for the cast of characters brought together by chance and circumstance. It is also one of the only modes of transportation that allows you to truly unwind and get lost in the breathtaking scenery unfolding outside. While on board, one will find that countries and people open up in a way that is specific to train travel. The sense of time and space become clearer and sharper as one passes between villages, cities, and states, rivers weaving and mountains rising like markers along the way. Taking a seat by the window, travelers are granted the luxury of going nowhere, while going everywhere, with a front-row ticket to the theatre of bustling cities in the morning, Australia’s outback at sunset, and the extraordinary first sights of Siberia’s lakes or Canada’s snow-capped Rockies.
Whether traveling by bullet train from Shanghai to Beijing in just over four hours, or traversing a diversity of landscapes on the 45-hour ride, from the bayous of Louisiana to Los Angeles, passing New Mexico’s purple sage and giant cacti, taking the West Highland Line with its magical views of Scotland’s rugged natural beauty, lochs, and sweeping glens, or boarding the commuter train that curves around the Côte d’Azur, that has no glitz and glamour, but reveals the region’s best-kept secrets—Epic Train Journeys introduces some of the highest, fastest, longest, and most historic trains in the world, allowing readers to rediscover not just a magical mode of travel, but terrains that are otherwise hard to access, and occasionally places one rarely dares to venture. A new generation of explorers is on board, too, with the boundless possibilities of rail travel, with many favoring it as an alternative to flying.
Train expert Monisha Rajesh presents 42 epic routes around the world inspired by her extensive voyages. Along the way, readers will find tips on packing for an overnight trip, the art of striking up conversation with fellow passengers, and how to stay sane on a four-night journey. Riding the rails offers the rare opportunity to make lasting friendships—even if they only last for the duration of the time spent on board. Unlike other forms of travel, taking trains is an intimate endeavor—within the four walls of a train compartment, a sense of camaraderie ignites, politics are discussed, stories are shared, and books are swapped.
Throughout this book, there are a variety of routes to satisfy everyone’s curiosity, budget, and wanderlust. From local day trips to cross-country connections, this is a showcase of everything from cheap seats to luxury locomotives. More than just route suggestions, Epic Train Journeys is a ticket to making the most of traveling by train. All aboard!
ABOUT THE CO-EDITOR
Monisha Rajesh is an author and journalist who has worked for the likes of Time, Vanity Fair, The New York Times, and The Guardian and was the train travel columnist for The Sunday Telegraph. In 2010, she set off on a four-month journey around India with a rail pass. With no interest in trains, no railroading family, no nostalgic tales of riding the rails as a kid, she quickly realized that a love affair with trains began to bloom, and before long, found herself drawn to trains wherever she traveled, seeking out routes and wandering around stations.
Her first book, Around India in 80 Trains (2012) was featured in The Independent’s top ten books on India, while her second book, Around the World in 80 Trains (2019) won the National Geographic Travel Book of The Year prize and was shortlisted for the Stanford Dolman Award.
