When people talk about Amtrak, the national passenger railroad service of the United States, known for long-distance routes across vast landscapes. Also known as U.S. rail travel, it connects cities with a steady, scenic rhythm—but it’s not what you’ll find in India. In India, trains aren’t just transportation. They’re part of the landscape, the culture, the rhythm of life. While Amtrak runs on fixed schedules through empty plains, Indian railways roar through crowded platforms, spice markets, and mountain passes, carrying millions daily on routes that have barely changed in a century.
India’s train system doesn’t compete with Amtrak—it redefines it. You won’t find private suites or gourmet meals on most Indian trains, but you will find something rarer: authenticity. The Pride of Africa, a luxury train journey across Africa costing over $12,500 per person, with restored 1920s carriages and curated excursions might feel like the pinnacle of rail travel, but the Great Himalayan Trail, a 4,500 km trek that stretches across India’s northern mountains, often accessed by remote rail lines is where real adventure begins. Many travelers take trains to reach trailheads for Kedarkantha or Roopkund, using rail as the first leg of a deeper journey into wild India. The same train that drops you in Nagpur—the Heart of India, the geographical center of the country and a gateway to jungle camps and adventure sports—might also carry you past temple towns, coastal villages, or wildlife corridors where tigers roam near the tracks.
Amtrak is a service. Indian railways are a system, a story, a lifeline. You’ll find no Uber in remote hill stations, but you’ll find a train that stops at a platform no map shows. You won’t need a visa for Amtrak, but you’ll need a local guide to navigate temple etiquette or safe food spots after a 12-hour ride. The posts below cover everything from how to stay healthy on long Indian train journeys, to which cities are safest for solo travelers, to why the Taj Mahal and UNESCO heritage sites are often reached by rail. Whether you’re planning a luxury ride like the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, a historic European train known for opulence and fine dining, or just want to ride the local express to a jungle camp, India’s trains offer something no Amtrak route ever could: a direct line to the soul of the country.
