New sightseeing train to launch in Japan
Japan’s Nankai Electric Railway has revealed details for its new sightseeing train, Gran Tenku.
The four-carriage train will offer seating for 70 passengers, including reclining seats in the first carriage with plans to incorporate a lounge and sofa seats for dining in the third and fourth carriages.
The train will begin running from Namba Station in Osaka to Gokurakubasi Station in Wakayama from April 24. An official from the company said: “We hope more people will learn about how great this route is through the carriages,” with the aim of attracting potential tourists to explore Mt. Koya – the region’s Unesco World Heritage Site that forms part of the sacred sites and pilgrimage routes in the Kii mountain range.
100-day train bookable in segments
Adventures By Train’s flagship Around the World by Train in 100 Days itinerary will now offer six separate segments.
This means travellers no longer need to book the full 100-day adventure from March 14-June 22, 2027, with six individual legs of the journey sold independently.
The six legs available are:
- London to Uzbekistan (31 days), departing March 14.
- London to Shanghai (42 days), departing March 14.
- Istanbul to Uzbekistan (21 days), departing March 24.
- Istanbul to Shanghai (32 days), departing March 24.
- Vancouver to New York (22 days), departing May 24.
- San Francisco to London (20 days), with a transatlantic crossing on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, departing June 2, 2027.
Italian rail operator introduces Starlink
Italian high-speed rail operator Italo will introduce Starlink Wi-Fi across its entire fleet from mid-2026, with full implementation expected by 2027.
The agreement marks the first step in Italo’s plans to enhance onboard multimedia services, with a wide range of products and services expected to be introduced throughout the year.
German FlixTrain increases fleet capacity
German private train operator, FlixTrain, is to gradually introduce new high-speed trains to operate on its German and European network from 2028.
The operator ordered 65 new high-speed trains, equipped with modern passenger information systems, high-speed Wi-Fi and enhanced comfort features, last year.
In the interim, FlixTrain plans to expand its current German operations by introducing modernised rail cars with more leg-room, air-conditioning, and upgraded onboard amenities.
“We are pursuing a long-term strategy with FlixTrain and we will significantly expand our services in the coming years,” says André Schwämmlein, CEO and co-founder of Flix. “With the tremendous expansion of our train fleet, we will start a new era of train travel in Germany and Europe.”
New Norway-Sweden trains to launch in June
From June 15, the independent rail operator Snälltåget will introduce a new direct daytime service connecting Oslo in Norway with Gothenburg in Sweden.
The new route further expands independent cross-border rail operations in the Nordic region, linking the Norwegian and Swedish markets through a commercially operated daytime service. The operator has already revealed plans to operate a route between Oslo and Malmö.
