TICKET TO RIDE

Luxury train travel is back in vogue. We head off on two enchanting rail journeys through Malaysia and Vietnam that revive the nostalgia and romance of the golden era in train travel.

- DAVID BOWDEN

Train travel is all the rage again with luxury train journeys across the globe, including overnight sleeper trains in Europe, and multiday excursions that include indulgent dégustation meals, vintage wines, and sleeping arrangements befitting renowned hotels.

Forget any preconceived ideas you may have of travelling on trains, as many now offer luxurious services for passengers seeking to travel in style. Trains such as the elegantly furnished Eastern & Oriental Express and The Vietage by Anantara offer the highest levels of panache, recalling classic rail journeys of yesteryear but with contemporary amenities.

While Asia is underserviced by luxury trains, they do exist, and recently, I travelled on these two trains to be immersed in opulent surroundings complemented by five-star service. The Vietage in Vietnam and the Eastern & Oriental Express in Malaysia are two of the most indulgent travel prospects in the region, although they are very different propositions. The former journey lasts from half a day to one day, while the latter typically offers a longer four-day, three-night journey.

MEANDERING THROUGH MALAYSIA

On my first evening on the train, plump rain droplets trickled down the windows of the restaurant car as I dined on a dish of roast duck and pineapple, green grapes, baby aubergine, and tangy sauce while sipping a vibrant Jouffreau-Hermann Cahors Clos de Gamot wine from the finest crystal glassware. There was little to see in the Perak darkness, but the gentle movement of the train added a new dimension to Chef Andre Chiang’s localised dining experience. Just beyond my elegantly set table, I caught glimpses of the kitchen staff and was impressed that such sumptuous meals could be prepared in the confined space.