<strong>Glamor of sleeper trains: </strong>Sleeper trains have connotations of romance and adventure, falling asleep in one country and waking up in another, but in the age of budget flights, can you still see the world by rail?
Glamor of sleeper trains: Sleeper trains have connotations of romance and adventure, falling asleep in one country and waking up in another, but in the age of budget flights, can you still see the world by rail?
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
<strong>The Caledonian Sleeper: </strong>This service connects the bustling city center of London with the Scottish hubs of Edinburgh, Glasgow and beyond. Waking up surrounded by Highland hills is an unforgettable experience.
The Caledonian Sleeper: This service connects the bustling city center of London with the Scottish hubs of Edinburgh, Glasgow and beyond. Waking up surrounded by Highland hills is an unforgettable experience.
Courtesy Caledonian Sleeper
<strong>Luxurious experience: </strong>In the mid-20th century, Scottish sleeper trains were designed to be as luxurious as possible. This image depicts the Nightcap Bar on the London to Glasgow overnight sleeper train in 1964.
Luxurious experience: In the mid-20th century, Scottish sleeper trains were designed to be as luxurious as possible. This image depicts the Nightcap Bar on the London to Glasgow overnight sleeper train in 1964.
Kaye Express/Hulton Archive/ Getty Images
<strong>New train experience</strong>: Come spring, the Caledonian Sleeper intends to hark back to its opulent origins with a revamp of the carriages and services on offer. This image depicts the club car on the new Scottish sleeper train service.
New train experience: Come spring, the Caledonian Sleeper intends to hark back to its opulent origins with a revamp of the carriages and services on offer. This image depicts the club car on the new Scottish sleeper train service.
Courtesy Caledonian Sleeper
<strong>Double bed:</strong> The priciest tickets on the new trains will allow you to enjoy a double beds and en-suite services, as depicted in this image.
Double bed: The priciest tickets on the new trains will allow you to enjoy a double beds and en-suite services, as depicted in this image.
Courtesy Caledonian Sleeper
<strong>Nightjet:</strong> Austrian Railways offers the Nightjet sleeper train service, which connects train tracks across Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy.
Nightjet: Austrian Railways offers the Nightjet sleeper train service, which connects train tracks across Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy.
Courtesy Nightjet
<strong>International service</strong>: Nightjet recently introduced a Vienna, Austria to Berlin, Germany sleeper train service and operates a Berlin, Germany to Zurich, Switzerland sleeper.
International service: Nightjet recently introduced a Vienna, Austria to Berlin, Germany sleeper train service and operates a Berlin, Germany to Zurich, Switzerland sleeper.
Courtesy Nightjet
<strong>Thello:</strong> The Thello sleeper service takes you from the city lights of Paris to the watery streets of Venice and back.
Thello: The Thello sleeper service takes you from the city lights of Paris to the watery streets of Venice and back.
Courtesy Giuseppe Senese
<strong>Sleeper service:</strong> There are no 'regular' seats on this train, you either opt for the sleeping berth or the couchette car.
Sleeper service: There are no 'regular' seats on this train, you either opt for the sleeping berth or the couchette car.
Courtesy mostras.net
<strong>The Night Riviera:</strong> This romantically named UK train service takes you overnight from London, England to Penzance, Cornwall.
The Night Riviera: This romantically named UK train service takes you overnight from London, England to Penzance, Cornwall.
Courtesy of GWR
<strong>Trenhotel Lusitania</strong>: If you're enjoying the Mediterranean and want to hop on a shuttle from Spain to Portugal, turn to Trenhotel Lusitania, which offers reclining seats or berths.
Trenhotel Lusitania: If you're enjoying the Mediterranean and want to hop on a shuttle from Spain to Portugal, turn to Trenhotel Lusitania, which offers reclining seats or berths.
PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>French intercités de nuit</strong>: This service whisks you from Paris to the South of France while you sleep. The service has been cut back in recent years, but it's still running, with stops including Toulouse and Rodez.
French intercités de nuit: This service whisks you from Paris to the South of France while you sleep. The service has been cut back in recent years, but it's still running, with stops including Toulouse and Rodez.
Courtesy Matthieu Raffard
<strong>True romance?</strong> Train expert Mark Smith, AKA <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.seat61.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">The Man in Seat 61</a>, admits that the romance of sleeper train travel is overhyped, but sleeper trains remain one of his favorite forms of transport: "Romance is not something you buy, it's something that happens, it's in the eyes of the beholder, as it were," he says.
True romance? Train expert Mark Smith, AKA The Man in Seat 61, admits that the romance of sleeper train travel is overhyped, but sleeper trains remain one of his favorite forms of transport: "Romance is not something you buy, it's something that happens, it's in the eyes of the beholder, as it were," he says.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
<strong>Orient Express</strong>: The Orient Express may be the most famous -- and most romantic -- sleeper train service of them all, whisking passengers from London to Venice in a whirlwind of vintage luxury.
Orient Express: The Orient Express may be the most famous -- and most romantic -- sleeper train service of them all, whisking passengers from London to Venice in a whirlwind of vintage luxury.
Courtesy Belmond
<strong>Old school glamor</strong>: The trip takes 24 hours, so you have plenty of time to enjoy the experience -- which comes with a hefty price tag attached.
Old school glamor: The trip takes 24 hours, so you have plenty of time to enjoy the experience -- which comes with a hefty price tag attached.
Courtesy Belmond
<strong>Lovcen sleeper train</strong>: This vintage train transports you from Belgrade, Serbia to Bar, Montenegro.
Lovcen sleeper train: This vintage train transports you from Belgrade, Serbia to Bar, Montenegro.
Courtesy Suzanne Plunkett
<strong>Incredible scenery:</strong> The journey takes you through mountains and across high railway bridges, through tunnels and past Alpine lakes.
Incredible scenery: The journey takes you through mountains and across high railway bridges, through tunnels and past Alpine lakes.
Courtesy Suzanne Plunkett
<strong>Throwback:</strong> The sleeper cabins are pretty old, but that adds to the retro vibe.
Throwback: The sleeper cabins are pretty old, but that adds to the retro vibe.
Courtesy Suzanne Plunkett
<strong>Taking your chances:</strong> It's hard to book this train, there's no online service -- so you've got to turn up and chance it.
Taking your chances: It's hard to book this train, there's no online service -- so you've got to turn up and chance it.
Courtesy Suzanne Plunkett
<strong>Belgrade to Bar:</strong> Perhaps the best idea to get the most out of the scenery is to sleep one way and then enjoy the daytime views on the way back.
Belgrade to Bar: Perhaps the best idea to get the most out of the scenery is to sleep one way and then enjoy the daytime views on the way back.
Courtesy Suzanne Plunkett
<strong>SJ Night Train: </strong>You can journey north in Sweden on board this train, operated by Swedish rail company SJ.
SJ Night Train: You can journey north in Sweden on board this train, operated by Swedish rail company SJ.
Courtesy SJ
<strong>Arctic experience:</strong> The tracks span from Malmö in the South to Narvik in the far North.
Arctic experience: The tracks span from Malmö in the South to Narvik in the far North.
Courtesy SJ
<strong>SJ Sleeper: </strong>The SJ train compartments are particularly well kitted out -- think mood lighting and duvet-included for the higher end tickets
SJ Sleeper: The SJ train compartments are particularly well kitted out -- think mood lighting and duvet-included for the higher end tickets
Courtesy SJ
<strong>Comfortable offerings:</strong> Even the more budget options are pretty snazzy.
Comfortable offerings: Even the more budget options are pretty snazzy.
Courtesy SJ
<strong>Russian Railways:</strong> Travel in style from Moscow, Russia to Nice, France on this Russian Railways train -- a spiritual successor to the Nord Express.
Russian Railways: Travel in style from Moscow, Russia to Nice, France on this Russian Railways train -- a spiritual successor to the Nord Express.
Courtesy Russian Railways
<strong>Dining in style: </strong>As you might expect for a journey of this length, there's a restaurant car.
Dining in style: As you might expect for a journey of this length, there's a restaurant car.
Courtesy Russian Railways