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25 Spectacular Railways You Should Ride Before You Die

Despite the increase in cheap charter flights and constantly growing numbers of cars per person, travelling by train still ranks among the most popular ways of transportation, and there are several good reasons for that. First, trains are still one of the safest ways to travel compared to other options such as driving and riding a bus. Of course, flying is still the safest way of travel, but if you look at these 25 Nightmarish Airports, you may question the validity of this statement. Second, trains are comfortable, allowing you to just sit back, relax, and enjoy the journey. Definitely more comfortable the flying, with seats comparable in size to business class or even first class in some airlines. Third, trains are usually cheaper than flying, much cheaper in some cases with prices starting at about $60 dollars per ride. Fourth, trains are relatively environmental-friendly. And fifth, they often drive through some of the most beautiful and scenic places. For today´s post, we have compiled a list featuring some of the most amazing railways in the world. From astonishing mountain railways in Switzerland and Norway to the iconic Grand Canyon Railway in Arizona and the luxury Maharaja Express in India, taking a train ride on any of these 25 breathtaking railways is an unforgettable experience that might even outshine the vacation itself. So be sure to take note of these 25 Spectacular Railways you should ride before you die.

25

Tunnel of Love, Ukraine

Source and image: www.dailymail.co.uk

A popular spot for in-love couples (for obvious reasons), the Tunnel of Love is a 3 km (1.9 mi) long, green-arches surrounded railway near Klevan, Ukraine.

24

Hiram Bingham Orient Express, Peru

Source and image: www.inkas.com

Hiram Bingham Orient Express is a luxury train that will take you through the stunning Urubamba River Valley near the legendary mountain Machu Picchu.

23

Landwasser Viaduct, Switzerland

Source and image: en.wikipedia.org

Spanning the Landwasser River between Schmitten and Filisur, the Landwasser Viaduct is a 65 m (213 ft) high and 136 m (446 ft) long viaduct in Eastern Switzerland.

22

Maeklong Market Railway, Thailand

Source and image: landscapeandurbanism.com

As incredible as it sounds, this railway crosses a market. Every time the train passes through, the vendors quickly pack all their stuff and take it away from the tracks. Once the train is gone, they put everything back and continue with their work.

21

Rocky Mountaineer, Canada

Source and image: www.canadianrockies.net

Connecting Banff and Vancouver, the Rocky Mountaineer train takes you on a two-day journey through the spectacular Canadian Rockies.

20

Napier-Gisborne Railway, New Zealand

Source and image: pinterest.com

Yes, you see it right. This railway in New Zealand crosses a local airport´s runway. To pass it, the trains need to seek a clearance from the air traffic control.

19

Trans-Siberian Railway, Russia

Source: en.wikipedia.org, image: www.zerohedge.com

The longest railway line in the world (9,289 km or 5,772 mi), the Trans-Siberian Railway will get you to some of the most amazing places in Russia.

18

Gyeonghwa Station, South Korea

Source and image: www.thegoldenscope.com

Located in Jinhae, South Korea, this railway station is surrounded by thousands of cheery trees. If you travel to this station when the trees are in blossom, you will see a truly breathtaking spectacle.

17

Brocken Railway, Germany

Source: en.wikipedia.org, image: boston.com

One of the most scenic railways in Germany, the Brocken Railway runs from the station of Drei Annen Hohne to the summit of the Brocken, the highest peak of the Harz, a mountain range in north of the country.

16

Bernina Express, Switzerland

Source and image: www.swisstravelsystem.com

Connecting cold north and sunny south of Switzerland, the Bernina Express operates between Chur and Tirano. Surrounded by the monumental Swiss Alps, this railway is considered one the most beautiful in the world.

15

Douro Valley Railway, Portugal

Source and image: dourovalley.eu

Going from Porto to Pocinho, the Douro line crosses 30 bridges and passes through 26 tunnels. Taking a train ride on this railway is a great and easy way to enjoy the panoramic views of the picturesque Douro Valley.

14

Adelaide-Darwin Railway, Australia

Source: en.wikipedia.org, image: www.diariodecultura.com.ar

With a length of almost 3,000 km (1,850 mi), the Adelaide-Darwin Railway is famous for its stunning views of the Outback. It takes 54 hours to complete the journey.

13

Flamsbana, Norway

Source and image: www.visitflam.com

One of the steepest trainlines in the world with almost 80% of the journey having a gradient of 5.5%, Flamsbana runs through majestic mountains, breathtaking waterfalls, beautiful lakes and other landmarks so typical of the diverse Norwegian nature.

12

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, India

Source and image: esikkimtourism.in

Established by the British Government in 1891, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is one of the most popular railways in India.

11

Coastal Classic, Alaska

Source and image: www.bootsnall.com

Running between Anchorage and Fairbanks, this Alaskan railway offers perfect conditions for watching local marvelous nature. From Beluga whales along the coast to dog sledding, taking a ride on this railway will show you all the Alaskan beauties.

10

Tatran Railway, Slovakia

Source and image: www.zelpage.cz

Connecting several tourist resorts in the Tatra Mountains, the Tatran Railway is one of the most beautiful railways in Slovakia.

9

Isumi Line, Japan

Source: en.wikipedia.org, image: pinterest.com

Located in the Chiba Prefecture, the Isumi line extends through the central eastern section of the Bōsō Peninsula, linking Ōhara Station in the city of Isumi to Kazusa-Nakano Station in the town of Ōtaki.

8

Rovos Railway, South Africa

Source and image: edition.cnn.com

Trains running on this iconic South African railway are considered the most luxurious in the world. During the 3-day journey from Pretoria to Cape Town sometimes referred to as “train safari”, you will see much of local astonishing fauna and flora.

7

Settle to Carisle Railway, England

Source and image: www.dailymail.co.uk

One of the most spectacular sights of British railways is the Ribblehead Viaduct on the Settle to Carlisle Railway. During the 2-hour journey, you can enjoy spectacular views of the Northern England´s countryside.

6

Grand Canyon Railway, Arizona

Source: en.wikipedia.org, image: offclouds.com

Arguably the most fascinating railway in the US, the Grand Canyon Railway operates between the city of Williams and the famous Grand Canyon National Park. Trains going on this railway are vintage and their engines run on steam.

5

Talyllyn Railway, Wales

Source and image: dioni.co.uk

Another picturesque railway featuring vintage steam trains, the Talyllyan Railway curves its way through the beautiful Fathew Valley in Northwestern Wales.

4

Oslo to Bergen Railway, Norway

Source and image: www.raileurope.com

Connecting two largest and most popular Norwegian cities Oslo and Bergen, this railroad will take you on a magnificent 7-hour trip around stunning Norwegian nature. Trains along this route rank among the most comfortable and well-maintained in the world.

3

Semmering Railway, Austria

Source: en.wikipedia.org, image: www.austriawanderer.com

The first mountain railway in Europe built with a standard gauge track, the Semmering Railway leads through the Semmering Pass, a large mountain pass known for its panoramic views.

2

Shanghai to Lhasa Railway, China/Tibet

Source and image: www.tibettour.org

Featuring the Sky Train, the highest train ride in the world, the Shanghai to Lhasa Railway passes amidst the grand vistas of surreal mountain range and uniquely shaped Tibetan landscape. It takes 9 days to complete this fascinating ride.

1

Maharaja Express, India

Source: en.wikipedia.org, image: lerablog.org

One of the most luxurious trains in the world, the Maharaja Express operates between the largest Indian cities Mumbai and Delhi. The train runs on 5 circuits covering more than 12 destinations across North-West and Central India including the iconic Taj Mahal.

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Hugh MacLeod’s Illustrated Guide to Life at Microsoft

For the last wee while, Gapingvoid has been working with Microsoft, to create a body of work that expresses the company vision under its new CEO, Satya Nadella.

The Microsoft Stories cartoon series “Hugh MacLeod’s Illustrated Guide to Life at Microsoft” launched today during OneWeek 2015!

---

The team and I have traveled to Seattle for Microsoft OneWeek. I will be giving two talks: one on Creativity, as an update to “Ignore Everybody“, and another on Company Culture as the key to being happy at work. We’ll be premiering the new work there. Windows 10 is also being released to the public during OneWeek, so it’s a pretty big event.

This project was really interesting because it isn’t promoting Microsoft by writing pre-set promo messages in cartoon form. The idea was about seeing the company, from an artist/outsider’s perspective, and trying to get an understanding of its essence and how it has changed.

And I see it, of course, in terms of Culture. I see it in terms of the personal motivations that drive the company.

Sure, Microsoft sells software. Sure, Microsoft is big. Sure, Microsoft is good at some things, less good at other things. We all know all this.

That’s not what interests me the most. Why not? Because all big companies like Microsoft make software and are good at some things and less good at others.

What’s more interesting to me are all the “Freaks” who work there. The world-class scientists, engineers, futurists, and yes, marketers who don’t think about what they can sell today, but what can be theoretically possible in 10, 20, 30 years. And then aim for that.

Trust me, it’s freaky stuff. I’ve seen some of it, up close. But it does create the eventual future, and the rest of us lesser mortals fall in line eventually.

I embodied this idea in my favorite cartoons in the series: “The freakier we get, the better we get.”

I see this “Freak Culture” as what makes Microsoft such  an interesting and powerful company. The products are just an extension of that, not the other way around.

And yes, this is why we at Gapingvoid focus so much on Culture Change.This stuff matters, this stuff is interesting, this stuff is is what REALLY drives business. And the companies that remember that and take it seriously, will be the winners. End of story.

Thanks to Microsoft for a killer opportunity to help make a difference. We could not be more pleased or excited.

Rock on!