Six of Europe’s best slow, scenic rail journeys

The views are better from a slow train, says our rail expert, who recommends six leisurely routes across some of Europe’s most captivating landscapes

Few pleasures compete with relaxing on a comfortable train and watching the landscape slip by beyond the window. Here are six of my favourite routes, ranging from under four to over nine hours, so easily completed in a day. Interrail passes are valid on all these journeys, although a small supplement (€1.50 to €4) is payable by passholders on the French, Polish and Spanish routes.