10 Iconic Train Journeys in Movies You Can Experience in Real Life

Train journeys in movies have given audiences some of cinema’s most unforgettable moments, transporting characters through snow-capped mountains, dramatic coastlines, and sprawling countryside. While some railway adventures exist only on screen, many of the routes featured in famous films can still be experienced in real life. Whether you’re dreaming of crossing Scotland’s iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct or stepping aboard a luxury European sleeper train, these cinematic rail journeys offer the perfect inspiration for your next trip.

Here are 10 iconic train journeys in movies that every film lover should add to their travel bucket list.

1. Harry Potter (2001–2011)

Train: The Jacobite Steam Train (Scotland)

No cinematic railway is more recognisable than the Hogwarts Express. While the magical train doesn’t exist, the real locomotive used for filming is the Jacobite Steam Train, which travels between Fort William and Mallaig in the Scottish Highlands. The route crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct, one of Britain’s most photographed landmarks, making it a must-do experience for Harry Potter fans.

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2. Murder on the Orient Express (1974 & 2017)

Train: Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Luxury rail travel has rarely looked more glamorous than in Murder on the Orient Express. Although the film combines several European locations, travellers can still experience the legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, complete with restored Art Deco carriages, gourmet dining and overnight journeys through Europe.

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3. Before Sunrise (1995)

Train: Budapest to Vienna

Richard Linklater’s romantic classic begins aboard a train travelling from Budapest to Vienna, where Jesse and Céline first meet. Today, the same international rail journey remains one of Central Europe’s most popular routes and can be completed in under three hours.

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4. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning (2023)

Train: Rauma Railway, Norway

Tom Cruise’s jaw-dropping finale unfolds aboard a speeding train crossing spectacular mountain scenery. Many of the surrounding landscapes were filmed in Norway, with the Rauma Railway offering travellers dramatic fjords, waterfalls and towering peaks.

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5. The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

Train: Maharajas’ Express & Palace on Wheels (India)

Although Wes Anderson’s fictional train was created specifically for the film, travellers wanting a similar experience can board India’s luxury Maharajas’ Express or Palace on Wheels, both known for lavish interiors and unforgettable journeys across Rajasthan.

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6. The Polar Express (2004)

Train: Polar Express heritage railways

Every festive season, heritage railways across the UK, the United States, and Canada recreate the magic of The Polar Express. Families can board themed trains complete with hot chocolate, Christmas characters, and visits from Santa Claus.

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7. The General (1926)

Train: Great Locomotive Chase route, Georgia

Buster Keaton’s silent masterpiece remains one of cinema’s greatest train films. Inspired by the real Great Locomotive Chase during the American Civil War, visitors can still explore historic railway sites throughout northern Georgia.

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8. Doctor Zhivago (1965)

Train: Trans-Siberian Railway inspiration

Although filming took place outside Russia, the film’s epic rail sequences evoke the legendary Trans-Siberian Railway, one of the world’s longest and most famous train journeys stretching from Moscow to Vladivostok.

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9. Snowpiercer (2013)

Train: Trans-Siberian Railway inspiration

The perpetual train circling an ice-covered Earth is fictional, but many fans compare its atmosphere to the Trans-Siberian Railway, whose multi-day journey through forests, mountains and remote settlements inspired similar feelings of isolation and adventure.

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10. North by Northwest (1959)

Train: 20th Century Limited (New York to Chicago)

Alfred Hitchcock’s thriller features one of cinema’s most memorable railway romances aboard the famous 20th Century Limited. Although the original service no longer operates, its legacy lives on as one of America’s most iconic luxury trains and continues to inspire rail enthusiasts today.

From magical steam trains in the Scottish Highlands to luxurious sleeper services crossing Europe, train journeys in movies continue to inspire travellers long after the credits roll. Whether you’re retracing the route of the Hogwarts Express or enjoying the elegance of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, these unforgettable rail adventures prove that some of cinema’s greatest locations can be experienced beyond the screen.