Polite Train Travel Etiquette

The dining experience is usually formal, so understanding dining etiquette is key to navigating your preciously set place setting.  Make sure you know the course timings and pace yourself to appreciate the food, service, and sights from your window.

THE POLITE PASSENGER'S GUIDE 

Ladies and gentlemen welcome to Gare de I’Est Station, Paris.  This is the final boarding call for the Orient Express to Istanbul.  Please have your tickets ready and proceed to the platform four soon.  Thank you for travelling with us and have a pleasant journey.

Agatha Christie the world’s bestselling mystery authoress of all time, immortalized overnight train travel and in classic literature and Kenneth Branagh's recent remake of Murder on the Orient Express. Luxury train travel offers a unique blend of elegance, nostalgia, and adventure, allowing passengers to experience the charm of a bygone era while enjoying modern-day comforts.

Whether you're embarking on a journey on the Belmond Royal Scotsman, exploring the highlands of Scotland or The Ghan, or discovering Australia’s ‘red centre’ to ensure that your trip is enjoyable for both you and your fellow passengers, it's essential to adhere to certain etiquette guidelines. Here are some suggestions.

Safety First

• Train travel is known for its smooth travel. The obvious safety precaution would be not to open doors while the train is in motion.  Smoking or vaping is not allowed within the cabins. If in an emergency, follow the guidance of staff to exit the carriage in an orderly fashion.
• Another point is that many luxury train operators advise hand luggage, such as expensive and valuable items, to be kept by the passenger at all times and not checked in. Cabin luggage is packed separately from large luggage, as checked baggage cannot be accessed during the train trip to the final destination.

Respect Your Fellow Enthusiasts

• Luxury train travel has a carefully curated itinerary with scheduled stops and activities. Being punctual is not just polite; it’s necessary.  Whether it's for meals, excursions, or departure times, ensure that you are on time, otherwise you might find yourself boarding a flight at your own expense to meet the train, again.
• There is a certain elegance when it comes to what you wear onboard.  Many luxury train services ask that you wear formal attire in the evening and smart day wear during the light hours. So, carefully curate your clothing by following the trains timetable.
• The communal areas on luxury trains, such as lounges, dining cars, and observation decks, are designed for relaxation and socialization. When in these spaces, be mindful of having quiet conversations and respecting people's personal space as the carriages have limited free space.
• Luxury train travel is often a social experience, with opportunities to meet and mingle with fellow passengers. Engaging in conversation and making new acquaintances is part of the charm.  However, it's important to recognize when others prefer quiet.  Respecting privacy, make sure photos are taken of you and your travel companion(s) and not of the whole cabin.
• Dining on a luxury train is often one of the highlights of the journey, with gourmet and seasonal meals prepared by Le Cordon Bleu trained chefs.  The dining experience is usually formal, so understanding dining etiquette is key to navigating your preciously set place setting.  Make sure you know the course timings and pace yourself to appreciate the food, service, and sights from your window.
• If you feel the service of a particular staff member was extraordinary, don’t be shy. You can tip at your discretion.

 
Show Appreciation to the Crew

• The staff on luxury trains are there to ensure your experience is exceptional — treat them with respect and courtesy.  Remember to express your gratitude to the staff and crew.  A kind word, a note of thanks, or a smile goes a long way.  
• Many luxury trains provide a guest book or feedback form — consider leaving a positive comment or a thank-you note to acknowledge the efforts of those who made your journey special.

Ladies and gentlemen, The Orient Express welcomes you to Istanbul.  The local time is 2.45pm. We hope that you have had a pleasant, safe, and comfortable journey.  Luxury train travel is a unique way to explore the world.  It is on many people's bucket lists; it is certainly on mine.

For many years, Etiquipedia contributor, Elizabeth Soos, has had a keen interest in cultural customs. With her European background and extensive travel, Soos developed an interest in the many forms of respect and cultural expectations in the countries she has visited. With her 20 years’ experience in customer service within private international companies based in Australia, and her lifetime interest in manners and research, she decided to branch out into the field of etiquette and deportment. Through her self-directed studies and by completing the Train-The-Trainer’s course offered by Emma Dupont’s School of Etiquette in London and by Guillaume Rue de Bernadac at Academie de Bernadac based in Paris and Shanghai, she founded Auersmont School of Etiquette. Elizabeth is currently traveling throughout India and brushing up on her Hindi.

 🍽️Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia