While aircraft provide the fastest way to cross great distances, the train still provides the best opportunity to grasp the sheer scale and beauty of the passing scenery.
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Toy train, Darjeeling.
We've challenged our specialists to come up with (what they believe) are a few train facts from the countries they specialise in.
Whilst they have made every effort to validate these 'facts', there may be a few Audley rail enthusiasts who may beg to differ! Here's the world of rail, according to Audley:
Longest rail journey The Trans-Siberian, Russia From Moscow in European Russia to the Siberian port city of Vladivostok is a mammoth 9,302 kilometres (5,780 miles) - the longest rail journey in the world, taking seven days of travel through the frozen taiga forests.
Fastest trainThe Shanghai Maglev, ChinaLinking downtown Shanghai with Pudong International Airport, the Maglev train covers the intervening 30 kilometres (19 miles) in just 8 minutes, and with a top speed of 501 km/h (311 mph). This is the world's fastest train.
Highest passenger railwayThe 'Three Miles High' journey from Lima to Huancayo, Peru Although the train's schedule is irregular, the 335 kilometres journey from Lima to Huancayo is the world's highest passenger rail journey, with the highest point as it passes Ticlio at 4,829 metres above sea level.
Southernmost rail journey The 'Train to the End of the World', Argentina This is a narrow-gauge tourist train that travels from Ushuaia in southern Argentina to Tierra del Fuego National Park, a total journey of 1hour 40 minutes.
Most expensive rail journey per kilometre The Hiram Bingham, Peru The Hiram Bingham is a luxury train between Cusco and Machu Picchu. The carriages are painted blue and gold while interiors are in the style of the 1920's Pullman trains. Fine food is served in the two dining Cars and there is also entertainment on board.
Longest rail tunnel Honshu and Hokkaido island, Japan Japan boasts the world's longest rail tunnel connecting Honshu with northerly Hokkaido island. At approximately 33 miles long it beats the Channel Tunnel by around 2 miles.
Longest straight track The Indian Pacific, Australia No other rail journey traverses so many different terrains in one country, from the spectacular Blue Mountains and the green and gold Sun Belt of Australia, through the Red outback and across the world's longest length of straight railway track, 478 kilometres through the stark and desolate Nullarbor Plain.
Biggest engineering challengeThe Devil's Nose, Ecuador The Devil's Nose section of the Quito to Guayaquil railway in Ecuador, is arguably the world's most difficult rail engineering challenge. Constructing the track is a feat that involved cutting a series of switchbacks into a sheer wall of rock, which allowed the train to climb a gradient of 1-in-18 from 1,800 to 2,600 metres, by going forwards then backwards up the tracks.
Oldest locomotive The Fairy Queen, India The Fairy Queen (1855) is the world's oldest locomotive in working order and runs a regular service from Delhi to Alwar. A short drive to Sariska National Park allows the lucky passengers aboard this comfortable train the chance to catch a glimse of the mighty Bengal Tiger.