It's no secret to regular viewers of Classical Drives that I appreciate all forms of vintage transport, and that includes railroads. I'm especially enthusiastic about the luxury trains that roam the rails in various countries of which this one, The Danube Express, is the latest. It is billed as the "first five-star hotel on wheels to be launched in central Europe for almost 30 years." Cars on the Danube Express are genuine classics that have been restored and upgraded with hand-built wood-paneled sleeping compartments featuring en suite baths. The London Times reports that there's also a VIP compartment with velvet and copper accents that was formerly the private quarters of Hungary's last Communist president. That one will cost you an addional $5000 for the journey between Budapest and Berlin. Other destinations to be added soon are Prague, Vienna, and Istanbul.

It's one of my ambitions to travel on one of these luxury classics but considering that the tickets are very expensive such a journey won't be happening any time soon. Meanwhile I frequently browse through the pages of my favorite coffee table book, "Great Railway Journeys of the World." Among the luxury train rides featured are South Africa's Blue Train, from Cape Town to Pretoria; India's Palace on Wheels from Delhi to Jodhpur; Singapore's magnificent Eastern and Oriental Express to Bankok via Malaysia and Thailand; Canada's Canadian linking Toronto and Vancouver; and, of course, the legendary Venice-Simplon Orient Express traveling from London, across the channel by ferry, and on to Venice and other exotic destinations.

[Thanks to Luxist.com for this lead]