Jonathan Phang's top train journeys of all time

“The silver steel train has up to thirty carriages and, because of its length, the train is split in two when stabled,” remembers Phang. “My gold class double cabin was very spacious and reminiscent of a 1980’s corporate hotel, tasteful, bland and comfortable. There were large windows, a table and chairs, a fridge, a TV with a DVD player and even an ironing board in the wardrobe.

Over four days, I marvelled at the ever-changing landscapes from my cabin window. The greens of the Avon Valley, the wild west Kalgoorlie, the desolate Nullabor Plain, the ghost town of Cook, the rolling South Australian countryside, the mallee scrubs of the outback and the magnificent Blue Mountains. To this day, I cannot believe that I travelled the breadth of this huge country and I will forever feel humbled by the beauty and sheer size of Australia, and its unforgiving landscape.

Staff on the Indian Pacific are young, fun and enthusiastic, and onboard the train it is like Australia itself, laid-back and relaxed. This journey suspended me in time and made me feel detached from my regular life – just what I crave when I travel."

Dining: The onboard menu takes inspiration from regional flavours, and produce. Guest chefs and producers proudly present meals from the regions that guests see from the train’s windows. "Each meal was memorable, while the wines from the Margaret River and the Adelaide Hills were fantastic," says Phang. "Meeting the chefs and producers in person heightened the anticipation of meals and inspired lively conversations between guests."

Travel by rail with Radio Times Travel, see here for more details

Travel by rail with Radio Times Travel, see here for more details

THE CANADIAN

Route: Travelling from Vancouver to Toronto via the Canadian Rockies it journeys across four time zones and takes five-days, four-nights.

“For me, Vancouver is the most beautiful city in Canada,” explains Phang. “It has the perfect blend of urban lifestyle, geographic beauty and is a culinary, cultural melting pot. It is also the gateway to the Rocky Mountains and home to some of the most spectacular scenery on the planet.

"I boarded the Via Rail, Canadian at nightfall, at Vancouver’s Pacific Central Station. The silver bullet 1950’s train looked like it was straight out of Some Like It Hot and it powered me through the Canadian Rockies to Jasper, on to Edmonton and to my final destination, Winnipeg in Manitoba.

My cabin was clean, functional and very cleverly designed; the beds are wider than those on European trains and the cabins are well air-conditioned, I slept better on the Canadian train I have on any other train so far. I woke to the colourful intensity of the fall foliage, winding rapids, cascading waterfalls and mirror lakes with the snow-capped Rockies, as a backdrop. The 360 degree observation car allowed me to view the panoramic vistas and feel part of the landscape. The scenery is heart-warming, and on occasion, took my breath away."

Dining: "The bars and dining cars were well preserved and decorated in warm pastels shades with glass etchings and soft uplighting," says Phang. "Meals were creative, well executed and generous. Dishes are selected depending on the region the train is travelling through, from seafood to fresh water fish."

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THE EASTERN AND ORIENTAL EXPRESS

Route: From Singapore to Bangkok, through the Malay Peninsula. Journey time takes between two and six nights depending on the itinerary.

“Capturing the exotic spirit of South East Asia and the art deco glamour of its colonial past, the Eastern and Oriental's Japanese built coaches were originally used for the Silver Star sleeper service from Auckland to Wellington in the 1970’s,” explains Phang. “My State Cabin was spacious, with a large sofa, air chair, table, plenty of wardrobe and cupboard space, while the elegant, compact en suite was decorated with colourful local fabrics and decorative teak wood inlay. The final day brought us the most beautiful scenery through South Thailand passing through rural villages, hilltop temples and lush fields and swaying palms. Upon arrival at Bangkok’s Hualamphong station, I was genuinely sad to leave."

Dining: "The train has two dining cars, open for lunch and dinner; both beautifully furnished and romantically lit," says Phang. "The food was delicious, and at each meal we were given a choice of local or European cuisine. My favourite dishes included an Oriental mackerel starter and a Malay mild fish curry. Service was impeccable. Continental breakfast and afternoon tea are served in the cabins. There are two bars, a reading room, gift shop, and a fabulous open-air observation car. Given the weather, I spent a lot of time outside soaking up the views and chatting with the smokers. After dinner the piano became quite lively, with the resident pianist Pete in full swing singing everything from Cole Porter to Elvis Presley. Other entertainment included traditional Thai dancers and a lesson in exotic fruit carving."

THE BLUE TRAIN

Route: Two routes are available, including a round trip from Pretoria to Cape Town and a round trip from Pretoria to Hoedspruit. They last approximately three hours.

"There is no doubt that train travel is expensive, so a perfect way to experience this level of luxury is to book a day trip," advises Phang. "I took the Blue Train from Pretoria on a three-hour all-inclusive round trip for lunch and it was well worth it. We were given the full red carpet treatment as we boarded this monumental train, and with champagne in hand, we were encouraged to look around the three tiers of cabins and bars. The De Luxe suites have marble and gold fitted bathrooms, with bath tubs, plasma screen TVs and double beds with goose-down and 100 per cent percale cotton sheets, under floor heating and a professionally trained butler at your disposal, for the entire duration of your stay."

Dining: "We were offered pre-lunch cocktails and canapés and settled in. The dining room was equipped with the finest bone china, cut crystal and classic silver cutlery," says Phang. "Service could not have been better and the atmosphere was that of excitement and merriment. Subtle hues of burley wood and original South African art complimented the sweeping African landscape. I enjoyed a spicy grilled calamari tube stuffed with vegetables and couscous, followed by loin of lamb and a summer medley of berry sorbet, vanilla Madeleine’s and strawberry Swiss roll. The wines were exquisite and the service unobtrusive and faultless."

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