According to the ABTA Travel Trends 2026 report, travellers aged 18 to 24 have more than doubled their train and interrailing trips over the past three years. There is also a projected growth in the luxury rail market from £1.4 billion in 2024 to £2.7 billion by 2032, as reported by Barclays.
The trend is being fuelled by train journeys being viewed as a more sustainable way to travel, but also because they are increasingly being embraced as part of the adventure itself, offering a more relaxing and immersive way to experience a destination.
Travellers can discover the Pacific Northwest from the rails, from the State of Washington to Portland, Oregon, via Amtrak’s Cascades route.
With a new and modern fleet of trains arriving in 2026, named Airo, guests will travel in style as the trains take them from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Seattle, Portland and Eugene, past Mount St. Helens and across the Columbia River Gorge.
As well as experiencing the region’s stunning scenery, they can hop on and off at key stops. Seattle and Tacoma in Washington are key highlights where visitors can enjoy city culture, delicious seafood, art and history.
In Portland, visitors should stop at the recently expanded Portland Art Museum and the new Mark Rothko Pavillion.
On the east coast, exploring coastal Maine is possible on the multi-stop Amtrak Downeaster journey.
The state’s scenery shifts from rugged coastlines and open meadows to charming New England towns, all accessible via six stops along the route between Boston and Brunswick, with five daily departures.
Travellers can enjoy summer beaches or vibrant autumn foliage, with stops including Wells for Maine’s south coast beaches, seasonal Old Orchard Beach with its iconic pier, the foodie city of Portland, and the quintessential New England town of Brunswick, gateway to Maine’s Midcoastal region.
A Discover Maine rail pass is available from $19 (£14.20) per person.
In the Midwest, Amtrak’s Missouri River Runner offers one of the region’s most scenic rail journeys, travelling between St. Louis and Kansas City along stretches of the Missouri River, past rolling countryside and historic towns.
Departing from St. Louis, passengers can spot the city skyline and Gateway Arch before passing through stops including Kirkwood, Hermann and Jefferson City. Along the way, they can enjoy views of forests, river bluffs, wineries and classic small-town Americana from the train’s panoramic windows.
Wi-Fi and café service are available onboard. One-way tickets start from £37 depending on the season.
Or how about falling asleep in Chicago and waking up in the home of blues, soul and rock’n’roll in Memphis, Tennessee?
Travelling overnight from Chicago to Memphis aboard Amtrak’s City of New Orleans train, passengers can swap city skylines for rolling farmland and Mississippi Delta scenery from the comfort of a private sleeper cabin.
The route links Chicago’s famed architecture and blues heritage with Memphis’ music scene, iconic Beale Street, Graceland and world-famous barbecue.
Departing daily, the journey offers a relaxed, slow-paced way to travel through the heart of America, with dining and accommodation included for sleeper passengers.
Ticket prices start from £90.
Amtrak Vacations is Amtrak’s national tour operator and can tailor-make holidays by offering trips inclusive of rail, hotels, meals, sightseeing and more – with the option to depart from more than 500 Amtrak rail stations across the U.S.
