International Railroad Discussion > another article of the japan luxury train

http://luxurylaunches.com/travel/inside-japans-newest-luxury-train-which-is-like-the-burj-al-arab-on-wheels.php?utm_source=justluxe.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pubexchange_module

I wish we could do this in the USA.

CPRR Wrote:
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> I wish we could do this in the USA.

Besides JR East's Train Suite Shikishima (this article), they have two other luxury trains in service currently, JR West's Twlight Express Mizukaze, and JR Kyushu's Seven Stars. That's after Luxury Sleeper Cassiopeia was "retired" from regular service (now used occasionally for charters).

No such wish here, because it requires us to integrate train travel as mainstream in our culture, without the political B.S. and the indifference/mockery of trains. Don't know if that will ever happen.

Japan, Scotland, Ireland, Thailand, South Africa, India, Russia and now Peru all have high end luxury tour type trains. Some with more than one. Australia tried it but it didn't succeed. There is just as much tourist money to spend here as anyplace else. Probably more. So it is a mystery why something like these Japanese trains wouldn't succeed here. We did have the American Orient Express (later Grandluxe Rail) but that train, while nice, only offered mostly traditional Pullman size rooms or suites (two Pullman rooms put together en suite). Far to small for the average client expecting something more. Equipment was also old and while looked nice, was tired and mechanically unreliable.

They also mention the train only carries 35 guests and the sticker shock price. However I just priced out Delta from DTW to NRT (Tokyo) in Delta's re-designed Business Class on their new A350's and it's $13,000 for a 12 hour flight! (at least on the first one). That makes this train seem cheap by comparison!

right, but since there is no availability until next march. the non stop airfare from dtw to nrt on march 21st and return march 26th is $1,668ea. big difference... dave, out.