Travel + Leisure Readers' 3 Favorite Trains of 2023

As life returns to normal following the COVID-19 pandemic, Travel + Leisure readers are more interested in sustainability than ever before. One type of slow travel that has seen growing interest among travelers is rail, which tends to skew on the lower end of carbon emissions as compared to some other common means of transportation: it generates four to six times fewer per-passenger carbon emissions than the average car, for example. This increased popularity is why trains were included for the first time on this year’s World’s Best Awards survey. All the winners on this list of reader favorites take their guests to amazing destinations while also maximizing comfort, luxury, and service. 

How Voting Works

Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 165,000 T+L readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25 percent over pre-pandemic voting levels. A total of more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.).

Trains were specifically rated on the criteria below:

• Accommodations
• Food
• Service
• Itineraries
• Destinations
• Value

For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses. 

What Readers Loved

Coming in third this year is the Inca Rail, which takes travelers through the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu. There are five different train experiences available to guests, ranging from the standard Voyager, which includes comfy seats and background music, to the Private, which has an outdoor balcony and live music. One of the most unique onboard features is the live performances that tell the love story of the Inca warrior Ollanta and the princess Cusi Coyllur. 

The runner-up on this inaugural list is the British Pullman, A Belmond Train. This train a rich history, with past guests including British royalty and heads of state. The Audrey carriage even transported Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, from Portsmouth to Windsor in 1953. Guests can experience touches of that 20th-century glamour in the train's fabrics and fixtures. Today, the British Pullman makes day trips to destinations across England, and along the way, guests are treated to fine dining experiences fit for royalty. 

But this year’s No. 1, as voted by T+L readers, offers sweeping itineraries a bit closer to home. Find out which North American train won and why below.

The Winner

Rocky Mountaineer

The Rocky Mountaineer takes travelers to several destinations along the namesake range, with routes in the United States and Canada. Journeys range from one to 14 nights, and guests have the option of two different levels of service. Besides glass-domed cars, comfortable seating, and exceptional views, the train boasts excellent food (featuring locally sourced ingredients) that received raves from readers. Another unique feature is that the train doesn’t travel at night. Instead, guests spend comfortable evenings in hotels, which means they never miss out on those spectacular Rocky Mountain views. “This is the way to run a railroad,” wrote one voter. “We took the Rocky Mountaineer from Vancouver to Banff round-trip. Gold-leaf service, glass domed cars, comfortable seats, great (almost nonstop) food service and views of the Canadian Rockies outside your window. What an enjoyable trip.”

The Full List

1. Rocky Mountaineer

Reader Score: 88.05

2. British Pullman, A Belmond Train

Reader Score: 85.26

3. Inca Rail

Reader Score: 83.13