Romance By Rail: Europe Does It Better

The thought of finding romance on a train from Washington D.C. to New York City—a trip I’ve made many times—strikes me as unlikely. Let’s face it: There’s nothing particularly romantic about Amtrak. But a chance meeting on a European train? On atmosphere alone, I’d give it much better odds. Two train-related events in Europe this fall are reviving the romantic image of rail travel, albeit with a 21st century spin. Reuters reports that German rail operator Deutsche Bahn has introduced speed-dating on an intercity line from Nuremberg to Munich, providing an upscale alternative to the usual pub meet-and-greet, complete with champagne and roses.

And in London, the re-opening of Victorian-era St. Pancras Station next month is being hailed as a return to the glory days of British Rail. The renovated station—Eurostar’s new home base for trains to Paris—will hold the world’s longest champagne bar at 300 feet.

Romance was apparently very much on the minds of the St. Pancras architectural team. According to Reuters, “A nine-meter sculpture by artist Paul Day featuring a man and a woman whose heads are touching in an intimate embrace will grace the floor under the clock, forming a natural meeting point for those making a rendezvous at the station.”

The Queen is due to open the station Nov. 14. I can’t help but feel a pang of jealousy; the outlook for U.S. train travel seems positively bleak by comparison.

 

©2026 World Hum, All Rights Reserved