Five Fall rail trips in Europe

Grape harvests, colourful foliage and local festivities make autumn a great time to take a scenic train or tram excursion

- PALKO KARASZ

LAZY RIVERS, SPECTACULAR valleys cloaked in autumn colours, windswept moors: The fall is prime time for slow, contemplative journeys on some of Europe's most scenic rail routes. Here are five rides that are affordable and easily accessible by connections from major travel hubs. They will take you through some of Europe's most magical landscapes.

The Vigezzina Centovalli Railway, known locally as the Centovallina, follows Alpine valleys between the Italian-speaking Ticino region of Switzerland and the Piedmont region of Italy. One end of the line is the Swiss resort city of Locarno, on the shores of Lago Maggiore, and the other is Domodossola, Italy, at the confluence of seven valleys. Leaving behind Locarno's palm-tree-lined shores and flower-filled gardens, the streetcar-like train carriages move at a slow pace, at times vanishing into the shadowed depths of forests and the darkness of tunnels, then reemerging as they cross Alpine rivers.

Along the route, there are opportunities to venture higher into the mountains (tickets include an optional stopover). At Verdasio, Switzerland, you can take the cable car up to the car-free village of Rasa. The hamlet, with its stone cottages, is surrounded by meadows and is the starting point for hiking routes with views of the Alpine landscape. Back on the Centovallina, trains continue past golden beech forests and occasional stands of chestnut. In Domodossola, the station is in the historic centre, near the town's landmark Piazza Mercato, with cafes and trattorias under Gothic arches.

Tickets start at €24, or about $28, including a seat reservation. Panoramic trains allow passengers to observe the foliage. Travel on weekdays to avoid crowds. From Locarno, direct trains serve Zurich, and from Domodossola they serve Milan. You can book both on the SBB swiss Railways website.

Opicina tram, Italy