The phrase ‘World’s Leading Luxury Train’ evokes images of glass-domed rail cars revealing breathtaking vistas, gliding through otherwise-inaccessible landscapes that awe pampered travelers within. It’s the romance of travel at its best – and it’s much easier to achieve than you may realize.

That’s because a passenger train company rather close to home has been awarded the title of ‘World’s Leading Luxury Train’ at the latest World Travel Awards. Of all the epic train journeys in all the most incredibly scenic places in the world… Rocky Mountaineer has rolled away with the title.

Based in Western Canada, Rocky Mountaineer is the largest, privately-owned upscale tourist train company in the world. It offers luxury rail journeys that showcase some of the most spectacular scenery the Great West – in both Canada and the United States - has to offer. From the perspective of the rails, you get to see a West you’ve never seen before, by air or road.

As its name suggests, Rocky Mountaineer was born to give travelers not just passage through, but a whole new perspective on the Rocky Mountains.

Three of the luxury train company’s routes connect Vancouver on the Pacific coast to the legendary Canadian Rockies national parks towns of Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper, traveling over the Rockies themselves and through scenery unparalleled anywhere in the world, past misty waterfalls where no humans roam, to the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, even “Hell’s Gate!”

The legendary rail route ‘First Passage to the West’ between Banff/Lake Louise and Vancouver is the only passenger train service today on this historic rail route that famously was the first connection from East to West.

A spectacular fourth route travels between Denver, Colorado and Moab, Utah in the Southwest United States (pictured, top). In this rail “Journey to the Red Rocks,” spellbound guests are treated to views only seen by train of vast canyons, inspiring deserts, natural archways and enchanting hoodoos, including Ruby Canyon, and Mount Garfield.

All four rail journeys in both the U.S. and Canada give guests the experience of crossing North America’s Continental Divide: the highest point on the continent, from which water flows down in both directions.

Despite the rugged wilderness outside, inside Rocky Mountaineer cars, guests experience the height of comfort.

Custom-designed, glass-domed coaches open the panoramic view up wide – or you can get even closer to the scenery passing by on the train’s outdoor viewing area.

Unlike train rides you might be used to, where a conductor comes around to check your ticket, leaving you otherwise on your own, Rocky Mountaineer hosts are on hand every mile of track you cover. From ensuring your wine glass is full – to you seeing a special landmark coming up, and regaling guests with stories about historic sites, scenery, and wildlife along the way, hosts help make memories of more than the scenery.

You’ll feel connected to the West through your taste buds, too, with locally-inspired cuisine based on regional ingredients, flavors and recipes featured in gourmet breakfasts and lunches on board.

You might be surprised to learn there are no sleeper cars. Uniquely, every journey is an all-daylight experience so you don’t miss a single sight, sleeping nights in superb hotels – with your luggage delivered to your hotel.

With all of these details thought out, and a focus on making rail journeys through America’s frontiers the very best way to experience the West, it’s no wonder Rocky Mountaineer has been hailed the “World’s Leading Luxury Train.”