We spent 225 cumulative hours on trains around the world, and these disappointing photos show what rail travel is really like

Mikhaila Friel,Joey Hadden,Monica Humphries,Rachel AskinasiDec 17, 2022, 17:56 IST

You might expect plenty of room to spread out in a cabin, but there's often less space than you'd imagine.helivideo/Getty Images, Joey Hadden/Insider

Insider reporters have traveled on trains across the US, Canada, and Europe.
They spent 225 hours combined enjoying stunning views on long-haul train rides across nearly 8,000 miles.

From riding luxury trains across US and Canadian mountain ranges to crossing the rolling hills of the English countryside, Insider's reporters have spent a cumulative 225 hours seeing the world by train.

Authors Joey Hadden (top left), Monica Humphries (top right), Rachel Askinasi (bottom left), and Mikhaila Friel (bottom right).Joey Hadden/Insider, Monica Humphries/Insider, Rachel Askinasi/Insider, and Mikhaila Friel/Insider

From riding luxury trains across US and Canadian mountain ranges to crossing the rolling hills of the English countryside, Insider's reporters have spent a cumulative 225 hours seeing the world by train.

They found that train travel came with several benefits, like seeing stunning scenery and making lasting connections with fellow travelers.

Views from the Rocky Mountaineer's ride from Colorado to Utah.Monica Humphries/Insider

But while our reporters expected scheduled stops, a variety of eats, and sizable amenities …

A general photo of a train passenger looking out a train bedroom window.helivideo/Getty Images

… they were disappointed by train delays, and mediocre food, and underwhelming upgrades.

Hadden lays in the train bed looking out the window on the left side.Joey Hadden/Insider

In general, train delays were frequent and put a cramp in their vacations. Joey Hadden experienced delays on nearly all 10 train trips she took in 2022.

A timetable shows an estimated schedule for Askinasi's journey along Via Rail's The Canadian.Rachel Askinasi/Insider

On an August 2022 train trip to Niagara Falls, Hadden arrived at her destination two hours later than planned, giving her less time to explore the falls during daylight hours.

Amtrak passengers board a bus in New York in August 2022.Joey Hadden/Insider

On an August 2022 train trip to Niagara Falls, Hadden arrived at her destination two hours later than planned, giving her less time to explore the falls during daylight hours.

On Monica Humphries' Rocky Mountaineer ride in May 2022, freight trains caused three delays and cut short her stop in one of Colorado's historic mountain towns.

The Rocky Mountaineer waits for a freight train to pass by causing a delay in May 2022.Monica Humphries/Insider

Similarly, Rachel Askinasi's trip on Via Rail's The Canadian in October 2019 was meant to include some lengthy stops along the way, but many were shortened.

Via Rail's The Canadian stopped in Jasper, Alberta, in October 2019.Rachel Askinasi/Business Insider

Askinasi's scheduled four-hour stop in the wintery wonderland of Jasper, Alberta, was cut short to just 45 minutes thanks to train delays.

A view of the Rockies in Jasper, Alberta, from aboard The Canadian.Rachel Askinasi/Insider

Delays also caused problems when Askinasi wanted to make practical purchases at other stops, and the train arrived outside regular retail hours.

Inside the Forks Market in Winnipeg, Manitoba.Rachel Askinasi/Business Insider

Some of Insider's reporters found that there was limited space, no matter how much they paid for their coach tickets.

A bathroom aboard the Rocky Mountaineer train.Monica Humphries/Insider

Humphries learned that the hard way during her first train ride on the Rocky Mountaineer.

An arrow points to the only bag Humphries brought onboard the Rocky Mountaineer due to tight space in May 2022.Monica Humphries/Insider

When traveling on a standard train ticket in July 2022, Mikhaila Friel noticed that there wasn't enough luggage space for passengers with large suitcases and no one to help.

The luggage shelves on a Lumo train in July 2022.Mikhaila Friel/Insider

When traveling on a standard train ticket in July 2022, Mikhaila Friel noticed that there wasn't enough luggage space for passengers with large suitcases and no one to help.

But the upgrade to business or first class may not be worth the cost, either.

Hadden sits on an Amtrak train in first class.Joey Hadden/Insider

Hadden didn't feel the perks of Amtrak's first class — including lounge access, meal service, and more space — were worth the additional $152 she paid in February 2022.

Hadden's breakfast on a first-class Amtrak Acela ride in August 2022.Joey Hadden/Insider

Hadden didn't feel the perks of Amtrak's first class — including lounge access, meal service, and more space — were worth the additional $152 she paid in February 2022.

Friel similarly didn't think Avanti's first-class carriage was different enough from coach, which seemed to have the same seats and bathrooms, to warrant the hefty price.

The first-class section of Avanti West Coast's train from Glasgow to London.Mikhaila Friel/Insider

Friel similarly didn't think Avanti's first-class carriage was different enough from coach, which seemed to have the same seats and bathrooms, to warrant the hefty price.

Friel felt that the only significant difference was that first-class passengers received lunch and had access to the first-class lounge, which she didn't think was worth the additional cost.

Both the coffee machine (left) and the fridge (right) were broken.Mikhaila Friel/Insider

Friel felt that the only significant difference was that first-class passengers received lunch and had access to the first-class lounge, which she didn't think was worth the additional cost.

When riding in Amtrak's business class in February 2022, Hadden expected in-seat service, but during her 10-hour ride, she didn't see attendants checking in with passengers in the business-class car.

Seats in a business-class Amtrak car.Joey Hadden/Insider

When riding in Amtrak's business class in February 2022, Hadden expected in-seat service, but during her 10-hour ride, she didn't see attendants checking in with passengers in the business-class car.

Reporters also thought rooms felt smaller and less private and came with fewer amenities than advertised.

Hadden sits in a bunk in an Amtrak roomette in October 2021.Joey Hadden/Insider

Hadden felt cramped when she booked a private roomette aboard a 30-hour Amtrak train from NYC to Miami in October 2021.

Hadden sits in an Amtrak roomette in October 2021.Joey Hadden/Insider

During an overnight train trip through Europe in October 2022, Hadden spent 11 hours in a shared cabin and found the journey too bumpy to sleep. It wasn't the first trip she felt this way, either.

Hadden rides an ÖBB Nightjet in Europe in October 2022.Joey Hadden/Insider

During an overnight train trip through Europe in October 2022, Hadden spent 11 hours in a shared cabin and found the journey too bumpy to sleep. It wasn't the first trip she felt this way, either.

She shared the enclosed, 74-square-foot room with three other travelers and thought there wasn't enough space for everyone.

Hadden's shared cabin on a Nightjet train in October 2022.Joey Hadden/Insider

Hadden was also surprised by the lack of privacy the room provided.

Hadden's shared cabin on a Nightjet train in October 2022.Joey Hadden/Insider

Even in her own private bedroom, Askinasi also worried about privacy, as her door didn't lock from the outside.

Askinasi's door that only locked from the inside with a small lock.Rachel Askinasi/Insider

While their respective journeys might not have been everything they expected, Insider's reporters are grateful to have experienced the ups and downs of long-haul train travel and feel they're more experienced travelers because of it.

People boarding an Amtrak train.Joey Hadden/Insider

While their respective journeys might not have been everything they expected, Insider's reporters are grateful to have experienced the ups and downs of long-haul train travel and feel they're more experienced travelers because of it.

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We spent 225 cumulative hours on trains around the world, and these disappointing photos show what rail travel is really like

From riding luxury trains across US and Canadian mountain ranges to crossing the rolling hills of the English countryside, Insider's reporters have spent a cumulative 225 hours seeing the world by train.

They found that train travel came with several benefits, like seeing stunning scenery and making lasting connections with fellow travelers.

But while our reporters expected scheduled stops, a variety of eats, and sizable amenities …

… they were disappointed by train delays, and mediocre food, and underwhelming upgrades.

In general, train delays were frequent and put a cramp in their vacations. Joey Hadden experienced delays on nearly all 10 train trips she took in 2022.

On an August 2022 train trip to Niagara Falls, Hadden arrived at her destination two hours later than planned, giving her less time to explore the falls during daylight hours.

On Monica Humphries' Rocky Mountaineer ride in May 2022, freight trains caused three delays and cut short her stop in one of Colorado's historic mountain towns.

Similarly, Rachel Askinasi's trip on Via Rail's The Canadian in October 2019 was meant to include some lengthy stops along the way, but many were shortened.

Askinasi's scheduled four-hour stop in the wintery wonderland of Jasper, Alberta, was cut short to just 45 minutes thanks to train delays.

Delays also caused problems when Askinasi wanted to make practical purchases at other stops, and the train arrived outside regular retail hours.

Some of Insider's reporters found that there was limited space, no matter how much they paid for their coach tickets.

Humphries learned that the hard way during her first train ride on the Rocky Mountaineer.

When traveling on a standard train ticket in July 2022, Mikhaila Friel noticed that there wasn't enough luggage space for passengers with large suitcases and no one to help.

But the upgrade to business or first class may not be worth the cost, either.

Hadden didn't feel the perks of Amtrak's first class — including lounge access, meal service, and more space — were worth the additional $152 she paid in February 2022.

Friel similarly didn't think Avanti's first-class carriage was different enough from coach, which seemed to have the same seats and bathrooms, to warrant the hefty price.

Friel felt that the only significant difference was that first-class passengers received lunch and had access to the first-class lounge, which she didn't think was worth the additional cost.

When riding in Amtrak's business class in February 2022, Hadden expected in-seat service, but during her 10-hour ride, she didn't see attendants checking in with passengers in the business-class car.

Reporters also thought rooms felt smaller and less private and came with fewer amenities than advertised.

Hadden felt cramped when she booked a private roomette aboard a 30-hour Amtrak train from NYC to Miami in October 2021.

During an overnight train trip through Europe in October 2022, Hadden spent 11 hours in a shared cabin and found the journey too bumpy to sleep. It wasn't the first trip she felt this way, either.

She shared the enclosed, 74-square-foot room with three other travelers and thought there wasn't enough space for everyone.

Hadden was also surprised by the lack of privacy the room provided.

Even in her own private bedroom, Askinasi also worried about privacy, as her door didn't lock from the outside.

While their respective journeys might not have been everything they expected, Insider's reporters are grateful to have experienced the ups and downs of long-haul train travel and feel they're more experienced travelers because of it.