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Russia Today
5 days ago
- Business
- Russia Today
The train to Kashmir is finally real – and it's stunning
On June 25, 60-year-old Muhammad Fakhrudin Bhat fulfilled a dream nearly four decades in the making: his first-ever train journey out of the Kashmir Valley to India's capital, New Delhi. As he boarded the newly inaugurated Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express – launched with great fanfare by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier that month – Bhat looked on in awe. The sleek, orange train glided gracefully through summer-kissed mountains, verdant valleys, blooming orchards, and dense pine forests, a moving panorama of Kashmir's natural beauty. 'It felt like something long dreamed and a visual treat to pass through the mountains and greenery, in a train,' Bhat said, recalling his maiden journey from Srinagar, the capital of Kashmir, to Katra, a town renowned as the base camp for the Vaishno Devi Temple, one of Hinduism's most revered shrines. What would typically take at least seven hours by road – often more in heavy traffic – was completed in just three hours. In Katra, passengers traveling to New Delhi have to pass security checks before boarding another train. The journey that took two days of road and rail travel from Delhi to Srinagar can now be completed in just 13 hours, which has brought joy to the faces of locals and visitors. For over four decades, Bhat had heard talk of connecting Srinagar to the rest of India by rail. The deadlines kept stretching for years. However, last month, he experienced it firsthand, traveling to Delhi to visit his daughter's family. 'It was exciting – a completely new experience,' he said, smiling. 'I booked my tickets 20 days in advance just to make sure I got a seat.' For Bhat, every glance outside the panoramic windows was a revelation. 'This was not just a ride, but a testament to hope arriving on the rails after forty years of waiting,' he said with a wide smile. 'This will transform tourism and trade in the region. The economy will witness a boost. Kashmiri apples, handicrafts, and other goods can now reach the main markets more swiftly and affordably, while all-weather connectivity will also help during harsh winter months when roads are often blocked,' said Masooma Jan, a resident who deals with the organic fruit new train route is a part of the 272km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link that connects Kashmir with the rest of India's railway network. The route involves 36 tunnels, totaling nearly 119km, and 943 bridges, passing through rugged, seismically active mountains with peaks exceeding 15,000 ft. The rail link is a $5.5 billion engineering marve; it also features the Chenab Bridge, which, according to Indian officials, is now the world's tallest: 359 meters above the riverbed, even taller than the Eiffel Tower. The journey of building railways to Kashmir began in 1892, long before India and Pakistan gained independence from British rule, when the Dogra Maharajas of Jammu and Kashmir, then a princely state, first envisioned a railway line reaching their isolated land. The present project was conceptualized by New Delhi in the mid-1990s but was delayed due to the region's political and security instability. The project gathered steam only in 2002, when the it was declared a national priority. The final leg of the rail link – between Katra and Sangaldan – was completed in early 2024, bringing trains to the valley via one of the world's most challenging terrains. The linking of the remote and mountainous Kashmir Valley to the rest of India by train marks one of the country's most extraordinary infrastructure achievements. The entire project proved to be a challenge for India's engineers and government due to the extreme Himalayan terrain and geological instability. 'At one point, this seemed impossible, but today it is a reality, and there is a lot of rush in bookings. The train journey is affordable and also makes the otherwise cumbersome road journey easy for locals as well as outsiders,' said Adeeba Ishtiyaq, a business management student from Kashmir who studies in Delhi. The scale of the engineering effort is staggering. 'This is a great relief for people who always felt cut off,' Adeeba said. A month after its launch, the Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat train is witnessing unprecedented demand. Railway officials told RT that tickets are sold out one month in advance. At the grand inauguration of the rail link, India's prime minister described the bridge and rail link as 'living symbols of India's strength.' He emphasized that this rail link fulfilled a multi-generational dream, recalling that current Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had been a schoolboy when the foundation stone was laid in 1983-84. Highlighting the Chenab Bridge specifically, Modi called it 'new India's resolve and pride' and said it removes the need for Kashmiris to travel abroad to see wonders like the Eiffel Tower. He also promised that the train would integrate the region – economically, culturally, and strategically – and pledged $5.5 billion worth of additional public projects in the Chenab Bridge at the heart of the new rail link was built with over 30,000 metric tons of steel; it is designed to withstand extreme weather, seismic activity, and even explosions. Dr. Madhavi G. Latha, who was one of the engineers who contributed to the construction of the bridge and has been involved in its work for the past seventeen years, said 'the bridge is a civil engineering marvel.' 'All glory of the planning, design, and construction goes to Indian Railways and AFCONS. Thousands of people have significantly contributed in different ways to the construction of this iconic bridge. There are millions of unsung heroes to whom I salute today. My role as a geotechnical consultant to AFCONS was to help in developing slope stabilization schemes and the design of foundations on slope,' she added. Propelling the vision of # Chenab Bridge is the world's highest railway arch bridge will give a boost to socio-economic development of the J&K region while improving its connectivity with other parts of #BemisaalBharat. The construction, which officially began in 1994-95, was not just delayed by technical challenges, but also geopolitical and environmental ones: landslides, earthquakes, heavy snowfall, political tension, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, Indian engineers pressed on with what has now become a flagship example of infrastructure in difficult terrain. During Kashmir's harsh winters, when the temperature falls below freezing, heavy snowfall frequently blocks the Jammu-Srinagar highway, cutting the region off from the rest of the country. The winter-proof Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat ensures reliable rail travel even in heavy snow. 'These custom-built trains come equipped with heated windshields, triple insulation, and winter-ready water systems, designed to operate in the region's sub-zero conditions,' said Mukhtar Ahmad, a civil engineer based in the region. He added that the arrival of the Vande Bharat Express in Kashmir has been a moment of pride for residents and engineers alike. The officials have noted that the rail link will also streamline troop movement. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah hailed the project and said that it is not just 'steel and concrete.' 'It is the realization of generations of aspirations and will be of immense benefit to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.' Local entrepreneurs are optimistic: shortcuts mean fresher products, new job markets, and expanded trade routes. The train ensures all-weather access, breaking through winter's chokehold.
The Independent
24-07-2025
- The Independent
Caves, cocktails and dances with deers: 11 days on Mexico's Copper Canyon railway route
Before boarding the Chepe Regional train, I'd heard that the state of Chihuahua was considered 'drug cartel land'. But I was still a little surprised to pass a policeman with a machine gun strapped to his back in the carriage aisle. It was day one of my 11-day railway trip through the massive canyons of northwest Mexico, collectively known as Copper Canyon due to their colouring. I wasn't put off by reports of violence – tourists don't tend to get caught up in disputes, and the association frustrates some locals. 'It's sad to say: some tourists don't come [to Chihuahua] because they feel as though they won't be safe,' says Gustavo Lozano, a guide in his early 60s. 'They miss this wonderful trip. If it was dangerous, I wouldn't be here.' The Chepe train route runs 405 miles between the cities of Chihuahua and Los Mochis, trundling through tunnels and forest-dotted canyons, connecting sparse settlements. It launched in 1961 and was supposed to be part of a longer route connecting the US Midwest to the Mexican port of Topolobampo, although it was never completed. For visitors, the route initially provided a rugged rural adventure unique in Mexico. In 2018, a tourist version of the train called the Chepe Express was launched. In contrast to the basic Chepe Regional, the Chepe Express has leather seats, high-end burgers and a bar carriage with thumping dance music. The two train services run a few times per week each, so many tourists travel the route over a day or two. But I decided to ride both the local and tourist trains, getting off at each stop. I first alight at the small town of Creel, from which a driver takes me to the nearby Valley of the Monks. I walk in the shadows of house-tall natural stone structures that (sort of) resemble monks. I'm told that this place used to be known locally as a 'valley of penises', until Catholic church figures gained more influence and baulked at the reference. Either way, it's calming to walk around the boulder bases, briefly escaping the skin-crisping sun. We stop at a huge rock resembling a frog, and then at what looks like a collection of large stone mushrooms. As we traverse rubbly roads between frogs, mushrooms and monks, we occasionally pass women wearing long, crinkly blue skirts. We're in the territory of the Rarámuri: the indigenous group pushed into the canyon depths when Spain colonised Mexico in the 16th century. In the small museum by Creel's train station, videos teach me about the spectacular long-distance running ability of the Rarámuri, which translates to 'runners on foot' in their dialect. Many Rarámuri still live semi-nomadically, building houses among caves. I meet local guide Lozano at my second stop, Divisadero: a sparse outpost overlooking a canyon. No offence to Creel's rocky monks, but the vista is a new level of beautiful vastness. Birds of prey circle overhead, as I scan misty peaks and wiry bushes rooted at improbable angles to copper-coloured dirt ledges. In the distance, I see a lone Rarámuri girl walking between the cliffside thickets, the bright orange of her skirt popping amidst the grey rocks. Lozano leads me down the canyon, and my hiking shoes sporadically skid on loose rock. Lozano points out hosepipes angled between tree roots: makeshift plumbing directing spring water. We pass teapots on stone ledges, goats with bells hanging from their necks, and fluffy puppies peeking out from behind knobbly wooden cave doors. We exchange nods with a moustachioed man craning his neck to watch us from a gap he'd built into his cave house wall. Our ' Kwira bá ' greetings (a Rarámuri variation of 'hello') don't prompt too much enthusiasm. Lozano says that landowners have tried to evict locals from this area, and there are understandably trust issues. Some Rarámuri earn from tourism, leading hikes or working at the nearby zipline park, but Lozano says others won't work with outsiders. After a few nights in a Divisadero cliffside hotel, I board the Chepe Express and order a virgin piña colada in a bar carriage with screens playing Madonna and LMFAO videos. The quieter carriages have plush brown seats, and my on-board gourmet burger is the best train food I've had. As Smells Like Teen Spirit blasts from the train, a Rarámuri woman stands by the track, covering a little girl's ears with her hands as we whizz past. I get off at Bahuichivo: a snoozy, mountain-flanked town with no phone signal. A hotel owner I meet on the town square agrees to drive me to the bottom of the Copper Canyon, on bumpy, snaking roads flanked by witchy, leafless trees. We pass murals depicting Rarámuri women running long-distance races, wearing long pink skirts and determined expressions. When the train gets to its fourth main stop, El Fuerte town in Sinaloa state, we're no longer in Rarámuri land. A guide takes me to nearby Los Capomos, a village that's home to Mayo indigenous people. In a large open-walled building, buttressed by crooked wooden pillars, I'm introduced to a man named Ernesto, who is strapping a deer head to his forehead. I can't tell if it's a realistic model or taxidermy. Ernesto is wearing rattles made from dried butterfly cocoons, known as tenábaris, around his ankles. They make a loud rattlesnake noise as he begins to dance, backed by white-shirted men hitting dried calabash plants with drumsticks. Ernesto scrapes his deer head antlers on the ground, then pushes its mouth to a water bowl. This is maso bwikam, 'deer songs' in Mayo language, often performed as a rain dance. Ernesto's movements are mesmerising, and with researchers reporting that Mayo culture is being lost among modern Mexico, these visits help share the ritual while providing income for performers. But I don't think it's too snowflakey to admit that I feel a teensy bit awkward when paying indigenous people to dance for me. It's feelings of awe and adventure, though, that dominate my Copper Canyon trip. In El Fuerte, I board the Chepe Regional for the final stretch to Los Mochis city: the route's full stop. It's a smooth two-hour ride past fields and a pastel purple sunset. Just before we arrive in Los Mochis, the cop I saw on the first train walks through my carriage, his machine gun still strapped to his back. We trade thumbs-up as I pull my backpack on. Jamie Fullerton was a guest of The Chepe Express. How to get there Aeroméxico and British Airways fly from London Heathrow direct to Mexico City, with flight times of around 11 hours and 35 minutes. Aeroméxico, VivaAerobus and Volaris fly direct from Mexico City to Chihuahua, with flight times of around two hours and 15 minutes. Aeroméxico and Volaris fly direct from Los Mochis to Mexico City, with flight times of just over two hours. How to book Find the schedule for the Chepe Regional (local) train at the link. Chepe Regional tickets can only be booked at station ticket offices or by calling +52 800 122 43 73 (Spanish-language only), and for foreigners, cost around £143 for the entire route, one-way. Book Chepe Express (tourist) train tickets from £115 for the entire route, one-way. The best was El Fuerte's Hotel Posada del Hidalgo, which has large rooms, an outdoor pool, and regularly hosts a mildly cheesy Zorro live show.
Telegraph
17-07-2025
- Telegraph
This Mongolian railway adventure rivals the Trans-Siberian
A long train journey deep into a windswept wilderness: isn't this travel at its most romantic? If such an idea immediately summons thoughts of fur hats and Doctor Zhivago, you're probably one of the many people with the Trans-Siberian railway on your bucket list. Russia is, alas, firmly off limits for the time being. Fortunately, though, there is a more than viable alternative – the Trans-Mongolian Express. Somewhat shorter than its more famous cousin to the north, these days its route (for westerners at least) is curtailed by the fact that after the Mongolian capital, Ulaanbaatar, it ventures into Russian territory and continues to Moscow. Nevertheless, it still more than fulfils that promise of the emptiest of landscapes: deserts, mountains and steppe. Russian influence in Mongolia may have ebbed away since the 1990s, but the two railways have much in common, and the Trans-Mongolian still holds firmly to the old Soviet model. Each compartment has its own fierce, uniformed guard who hold their flags out of the door at a precise 45 degrees in each station until they are given leave to, well, leave. At the Chinese/Mongolian border, passengers are locked in until soldiers posted on the platforms let them out; alternatively, they're locked out and left to roam an empty local station for hours at a time. Officials board the train to check passports repeatedly (five times during one stop). Luggage is taken out and regularly inspected. Compartments have four bunks that may or may not be provided with sheets, which are then collected half an hour before arrival, typically as you are trying to find your shoes; and a reasonable level of athleticism is required to reach the top bunk (no steps). Hot water (one tea bag per person) comes courtesy of a wood-fired stove in the corridor. If it's luxury you're looking for, I'd recommend the Orient Express. It's a journey, though, that's not without its compensations. After arriving in the middle of the night in Sainshand – where for some inexplicable reason, we are disembarked onto the track rather than the platform – I found myself close to the Gobi Desert. Here, herders milk their Bactrian camels three times a day, half for the family bucket, the other half suckled by the calves. Camel milk, sadly, didn't feature in the lunch of mutton dumplings I shared with the herders, but I did get to learn a new variation of the game of knucklebones, as well as how to make a rope from camel hair. The desert is full of surprises. There's a museum dedicated to Danzanravjaa, the fourth reincarnation of the Noyon Khutagt (or 'Lama of the Gobi'). A writer, composer, painter and physician, as well as a monk who took his vows at the age of six, he went on to found the Khamar monastery in 1820, standing eerily alone in the windswept desert. It follows the traditions of Tibetan Buddhism and is surrounded by dozens of prayer wheels and caves, where monks still meditate continuously for 108 days. Within the monastery lies the Khoid Shambalaa, a sacred site that promises to cleanse you through the earth's energy. Nearby is Mount Bayanzurkh, a 'black mountain' that is believed to grant wishes if you climb to its summit. From the desert, it took a further 12 hours for the train to reach the capital where, even on the outskirts of the city, horses grazed by the side of six-lane highways. An hour outside of town, and here was the Mongolia we all picture – endless, windswept grasslands, rolling hillsides and animals everywhere: horses, cattle, sheep and goats. There were yurts (known here as 'gers') in the fields, on the hillsides, even in the backyards – the Mongolian equivalent, perhaps, of the garden shed. A little further on, and the animal numbers increased tenfold, the herds of horses surrounded by little foals, some barely a week old, but already steady on their reed-thin legs. Among nomadic people, wealth is measured in the number of animals you own. While it would have been impolite to enquire too intently, the Divà family with whom I stayed for a couple of nights, admitted to having over a thousand. Because they are not allowed to graze in the Hustai National Park which lies near to the Divàs' traditional camping ground, some of the family take their herd on a continuous migration. Meanwhile, other family members have stayed home to run a business offering visitors a ger for the night. These turned out to be surprisingly cosy, with a stove (fired by dung), candles, scarlet-painted furniture and golden hangings around the perfectly circular walls, made of canvas rather than the traditional felt. The Divàs were preparing to open the camp to visitors for the first time as I arrived, and still had the finishing touches to administer, including a door for the outside loo. 'We're just making it,' they explained. You learn to be resourceful out on the steppe. The National Park permits no domesticated animals, but it does have plenty of wild ones, including red deer and eagles, wolves and gazelles, lynx and, most symbolically of all, the wild horse. Also known as Przewalski's horse, or in Mongolia, the takhi, this is the world's only true wild (as opposed to feral) horse, the difference being wild horses have never been domesticated. The takhi have an extra set of chromosomes compared to the domesticated horse, and were wiped out from their natural habitat on the steppe in 1969. They were successfully re-introduced in 1992, when just 15 were released from a Dutch zoo. There are now over 300. Naturally shy, these beasts are not easy to find, so a certain amount of off-road driving through the park is required to track them down. Small, stocky and with a large head (rather like a donkey's), they have Palomino-like colouring, with light-coloured bodies and dark manes and tails, and are thought to have split from the ancestor they shared with the domesticated horse at least 40,000 years ago. This time spent on the steppe – with its days of soughing wind and sky larks, and nights of rain pattering on canvas – was undoubtedly the highlight of the trip. It felt a long way from where it had all begun, ten days earlier in Beijing, where I had met up with a small group of fellow-adventurers, for a tour arranged (appropriately) by Intrepid. From there, a very different mode of transport from the Mongolian Express – the Chinese bullet train – whisked us away on the first stage of our journey into Chinese Inner Mongolia. We hurtled past haunting mountainous landscapes, extraordinary 'stone forest' rock formations created by two million years of wind and rain, huge lakes with tens of thousands of migrant geese and swans, and vast grasslands of its own. Legend has it that the Mongol people are descended from the progeny of a deer and a wolf. That combination of speed and resourcefulness would, of course, be the perfect traits for a people that spends its life mostly on horseback out on the steppe. The land of Genghis (or Chinggis) Khan still holds him in the highest esteem, and there are countless statues to him (and those beloved horses), including the world's tallest equestrian statue. Made of stainless steel and 130ft tall, you can climb up the horse's back legs to eventually emerge out onto its mane to enjoy the view. Navigating your way round Mongolia is surprisingly easy. The Chinese character signs of Inner Mongolia give way to English, and Mongolian Cyrillic, once you cross the border, even though, outside the cities, westerners are rarely seen. Indeed, such is our novelty value that, when stopping for petrol, we were surrounded by locals asking for selfies, and children daring each other to stand close to the strangers. On the other hand, some things are surprisingly familiar. I'd swear most Mongolian recipes are based on variations of Liverpudlian scouse (most feature mutton, potatoes, onions and carrots). But there again, perhaps this makes perfect sense. Comfort food is surely just what is required for a nomadic life on this wild, magnificent steppe. Essentials Intrepid Travel offers an 11-day TransMongolian Railway trip from £2,321pp, starting from Beijing, China and ending in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Price includes accommodation, transport, selected meals and a local guide throughout. International flights and tips for guides aren't included.
Globe and Mail
10-07-2025
- Globe and Mail
Aboard the Rocky Mountaineer to Jasper, I found a moment to be still
As the train slowed to a halt, the usual chatter of passengers aboard the Rocky Mountaineer dimmed to a quiet hum, as if to mimic our surroundings. I stood outside on the viewing deck, just steps from the still, clear water of Moose Lake, which was gleaming in the sun. The warm smell of fresh-baked bread wafted from the train's kitchen into the crisp air of Alberta's Rockies. Are you travelling in Canada this summer? Send us a postcard I had let time slip away. Maybe it was because I had gone two days without much cell reception and WiFi, or because unlike my usual jam-packed travels, I was forced to stay put. Taking this legendary rail journey last April, I departed from Vancouver, rolled along hills and through hot desert canyons, and found myself near the end among the ice-capped peaks of Jasper National Park. I was pleasantly surprised to have reached this level of disconnection – having no need to worry about logistics, I completely forgot to change my phone's time zone while on board. This route to Jasper, Journey Through the Clouds, just reopened in spring, almost a year since the July, 2024, wildfire devastated the UNESCO World Heritage Site. As Jasper welcomes tourists back, this train is one of the most awe-inspiring ways to get there, turning a 90-minute flight into a two-day, one-night adventure. When travelling a century-old rail path, built in the 1880s by the Canadian Pacific Railway, you're left with time to ponder the past and present. For travellers like myself, it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But even for train staff who make the trip on the regular, it never gets old. 'I have the absolute best office view in the world,' says Wendy McMichael, who has been a senior on-board manager with the Rocky Mountaineer for 14 years, in which she's seen everything from marriage proposals to a bear on its hind legs watching the train go by. 'No two days are the same' she says, reflecting on the ever-changing weather and terrain. Though each day may be different, they are all just as well-rehearsed. Red carpets are rolled out at the station and men in Scottish dress play bagpipes – a nod to the heritage of the founders and owners, the Armstrong family. The Rocky Mountaineer's crew works overnight to get the train ready, says Celia Bautista, who has been a train manager for four years. If you're venturing upstairs to 'GoldLeaf' service, plush, heated seats await and you can almost touch the lush foliage that brushes the outside of the glass-domed ceiling. Soon after boarding, you're offered tea, coffee and cake with lemon glaze poured on top at your seat, before you're invited to the dining cart for breakfast. (The train's cheaper SilverLeaf service still offers great views – the main difference is you're served breakfast and lunch at your seat.) The breakfast and lunch menu uses ingredients local to the regions the train passes through. Elaborate and colourful meals include Fraser Valley chicken paillard with corn and fennel sauté, locally-farmed steelhead with gnocchi, seared albacore tuna with truffle aioli, and for dessert, a lavender lemon posset. The food is prepared fresh by just two people in the tiny kitchen on board. It's a fascinating feat, with the 72 guests split into two groups to allow for service. The first part of the trip cuts through lumberyards and the flower fields and farmlands of Abbotsford, where cows graze under highway bridges. Along the way, big-horned sheep stop their hopping to examine our noisy intrusion, people come out to their porches to wave, and speed boaters show off their drifting skills for the audience. Often, there are relics of the original line such as telegraph poles still standing from when Morse code messages were sent to train stations. As we pass large, unmarked stone graves, our host Tina Mohns acknowledges those who died while building the tracks – among them, around 4,000 Chinese construction workers. As the diesel-electric train twists and turns through the Coast and Cascade Mountains at 50 kilometres an hour to 100 km/h, Mohns tells tales of local sites, legends of long-ago epic journeys, and the 1858 Fraser River Gold Rush. In one day, we go from the steely grey, towering cliffs of Hell's Gate on the Fraser River to the dusty-brown ridges and large osprey nests in Ashcroft, B.C. (which I'm fascinated to learn is classified as an arid desert). Overnight, we get off in Kamloops and sleep at a hotel. The next morning, 10 railcars split off with some heading to Banff, while our three railcars head to Jasper. We were back to lush greens by the Thompson River, one of the longest salmon runs in the world. Here, the train did a 'Kodak roll,' moving slowly past the remote Pyramid Creek Falls – which are difficult to access by car or foot – so passengers could snap pictures. While we were in Jasper National Park's Yellowhead Pass, Mohns told us the area is home to around 1,500 moose and that if we see wildlife, we should yell so the staff can alert the other coaches. Here I was, on the lookout for moose, drinking a Caesar, with Shania Twain's You're Still the One playing over the speaker (could it get more stereotypically Canadian?), when someone yelled 'Bear! Bear! Bear!' I plastered myself against glass-domed windows for a better look, along with the rest of the passengers. Eventually, we reached Mount Robson – the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies and the end of our journey. I enjoyed my cabin in Jasper, walking the trails near the gushing Athabasca Falls, and seeing wildlife such as mountain goats, elk, and a black bear emerging from hibernation. But I missed the train, with its promise of serendipity, and an excuse to be still. It helped me forge a deeper connection to this part of the country. Sometimes, the journey can be as exciting as the destination. Rocky Mountaineer runs between April to October. The Vancouver to Jasper route starts at $2,654 for SilverLeaf class and $3,565 for GoldLeaf. Travellers in wheelchairs can use a lift to get on the train, and also have access to narrow wheelchairs on board that fit in the aisle and the railcar elevator. The Rocky Mountaineer is not a sleeper train – the night in Kamloops is spent in a three- or four-star hotel. Pre and post-trip extensions are offered in five-star hotels, such as the Fairmont Waterfront in Vancouver and Jasper Park Lodge. Rocky Mountaineer packages can include excursions such as wildlife tours, ice plunges and Indigenous plant walks. Some areas of Jasper National Park remain closed because of wildfire damage; you can find updated information on the Parks Canada website. You can extend your trip by booking a bus from Jasper to Banff on the Icefields Parkway, where you pass jagged sawtooth mountains, gravel flats with braided streams, and the Columbia Icefield. The writer was a guest of Rocky Mountaineer and Fairmont Hotels. It did not review or approve the story before publication.
Daily Mail
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Sham train Supernova! Over a 100 £640-a-head luxury train passengers turfed out early amid fears Oasis fans would pack station
Passengers paying hundreds of pounds for a luxury train journey were forced off at an unintended rail station following fears of over-crowding by Oasis fans. More than 100 travellers who had handed over up to £640 a head for a 'champagne supernova'-style day out were meant to arrive at Cardiff Central. But those on board the 1930s Pullman-style 'Northern Belle' train finished their day that had involved fizz and canapes at Windsor Castle and Hampton Court by disembarking 10 miles and half an hour away at Newport instead. The company behind the trip has accused rail bosses of 'setting up a Blunder-wall' blamed on the prospect of Oasis gig-goers taking over the main Cardiff transport hub. Britpop chart-toppers Oasis launched their planned 41-date comeback tour - 16 years after splitting - at the Welsh capital's Principality Stadium on Friday evening. Long-feuding brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher have been hailed for their performance and emotional reunion tipped to net each one tens of millions of pounds. More than 70,000 audience members were there for Friday's concert, which also included support acts Cast and the Verve's former frontman Richard Ashcroft. Oasis devotees were seen celebrating in the sunshine throughout the day ahead of the Gallagher brothers' long-awaited arrival on stage. Yet it was the subsequent arrival of those thousands of Oasis aficionados that appears to have concerned railway officials. An estimated 120 people were on board the Northern Belle service that has been described as 'Britain's poshest train'. The well-dressed passengers had paid between £550 and £640 each for the trip - but instead of arriving in Cardiff in the Northern Belle's plush carriages, the last leg of the journey was in a local Transport for Wales train. Now the firm behind the Northern Belle service has hit out at Network Rail, also punning on some of Oasis's most famous and popular songs. A spokesman said: 'While Oasis were singing hits like Wonderwall and Don't Look Back in Anger, Network Rail were setting up a Blunder-wall which left our passengers fuming. 'The whole thing rather spoiled their Champagne Supernova.' They continued: 'We can understand Network Rail's fears about overcrowding, but they had known about this for months - so why wait until the last minute to derail the last leg of the Belle's journey? 'Our passengers had paid more than £500 expecting a slap-up day out aboard one of the world's most luxurious trains and most dress up for the occasion. 'But they had to cut short their six-course dinner at Newport and leave the comfort of their plush seats to squash on to a regular service back to Cardiff. 'Obviously they were very disappointed and so are we especially as, with a bit of forward planning, this situation could have been avoided.' MailOnline has approached Network Rail for comment. Oasis lovers have been sharing online their affection for both Noel, 58, and 52-year-old Liam who appeared for the first time together since splitting in 2009. Their set, beginning with Hello from their 1995 album (What's The Story) Morning Glory?, took in hits including Supersonic, Wonderwall and Don't Look Back In Anger. And on the second night there Noel and Liam emerged on stage linking arms - before the younger brother let go before bowing down to his elder sibling. Throughout their sets so far, poignant pictures of the Gallagher family's home in Manchester flashed up on the screen along with baby pictures of both brothers. Old black and white pictures of their mum Peggy and dad Tommy were also flashed in the screen from time to time as Stand By Me played. Ahead of their final song Champagne Supernova, Liam told the Cardiff audience on Friday: 'Thanks for putting up with us over the years - we're hard work, we get it.' The group's next scheduled gigs include five nights at Manchester's Heaton Park, including next Friday and Saturday, then five at Wembley. These are due to be followed by performances in cities including Edinburgh, Dublin, Toronto, Mexico City, Tokyo and Buenos Aires. Oasis are also scheduled to play Chicago, Sydney, Melbourne and Santiago. The two final dates are set to be in Brazilian city São Paulo on November 22 and 23.
