Railbookers‘ recent launch of a round-the-world luxury rail product that quickly sold out illustrates just how powerful demand for “slow travel” has become, particularly at the upper end.The 59-day journey traverses four continents, 12 countries and seven luxury trains, with numerous opportunities for cultural immersion. For example, it includes a private tour of Edinburgh Castle, Rome’s Colosseum and the ancient wonders of Istanbul, followed by a visit to the majestic Taj Mahal and a jeep safari in Ranthambore National Park.“When we put it on our website, over 1,500 signed up on the interest list, and then it sold out,” Railbookers CEO Frank Marini told LATTE. With waiting lists already filling for next year, luxury rail is clearly striking a chord. “Customers are saying, ‘I can’t go 59 days, but I’ll do this leg, or this one.’”Indeed, a shift in traveller behaviour toward “little luxury” is driving a surge in rail travel across the board, and Marini is confident the trend will continue well into the future.Speaking at a media event at Fix Wine Bar & Restaurant in Sydney, Marini shared the growing trend towards experiences that prioritise comfort, elegance and ease without the logistical headaches often associated with booking international rail.“Rail is really the new river,” he said. “It’s sustainable, scenic, and lets people travel in comfort through some of the most stunning landscapes on Earth.”
US-headquartered Railbookers is well-placed to tap into the trend with its broad portfolio of rail networks all around the world, with iconic rail destination Japan its newest addition. Its booking platform specialises in both national and luxury rail systems, including iconic lines such as the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, Rocky Mountaineer, and Switzerland’s Glacier Express.Marini reported a 71% global increase in bookings this year, with company revenue up 165%. These figures underscore the broader rebound of the travel industry and the growing appetite for curated, sustainable travel experiences.To support this growth, in the past year alone, the company has grown from 250 to 360 remote employees across six countries, leveraging its scalable model and agent-first support system.Australia, in particular, has shown strong demand for Railbookers’ high-end rail experiences, he revealed, with Aussies choosing to fly into Europe or North America for short, luxury rail journeys, often as part of milestone celebrations or bucket-list trips.“We’re seeing major growth in destinations like Switzerland, Italy, and France, especially post-Olympics,” Marini shared. “And more surprising spikes in places like Norway, Canada, and even the US.”In recognition of the importance of the market, its second-fastest growing, the company has expanded its local workforce to 45. Australia is also home to the company’s top-selling agent globally, Marini revealed.
One of the company’s key differentiators is its white-glove approach to support, which includes three-way calls with travel agents and their clients to plan detailed itineraries and answer technical questions.“We’re not just a booking engine—we’re a team of experts that agents can lean on,” he explained. “You don’t need to know every rail system in the world. We do.”The biggest challenge now facing the company is building awareness of its offering, according to Marini.“We’re the only ones saying, ‘Yes, you can do that.’ And a lot of agents don’t even know this kind of support exists yet,” he admitted.As the company looks ahead to 2026, it plans to continue expanding its team, strengthening its partnerships with travel agents, and staying at the forefront of a rail travel renaissance – particularly as more luxury brands eye the space.“You can see things by train you don’t see any other way,” he said. “Whether it’s Vancouver then into the plains or a sleeper into Edinburgh, it’s not just travel. It’s memory-making.”
