ECT Travel’s Autumn Train Journey Through the Canadian Rockies to Vancouver is a 12-day journey of discovery created for those who love to explore the world’s wilder places without compromising on comfort or accessibility. Meticulously planned and accompanied by one of our experienced Tour Managers, it is proving particularly popular with the over 50s and solo female travellers, demographics which are leading the booming demand for soft adventures.

New research reveals that almost one in four (23%) avoid reading their spicy novels in the open over fears of judgemental glances from strangers, with almost half (48%) admitting they feel stigma over it. Despite the nation’s obsession with romantasy novels being hotter than ever, with the category dominating the inaugural #BookTok Bestseller List, 59% of Brits feel people can be dismissive about romantasy as ‘serious’ reading. As a result, the nation’s favourite genre is still being kept under wraps, with 27% of readers skipping or skimming a romance scene and 3 in 10 (29%) even admitting to abandoning a book over fear of judgement.

Discover the thrill of train travel with 200 amazing rail routes from Lonely Planet’s latest release Epic Train Trips of the World. Continuing the collectible Epic series, this new addition will take readers on an incredible journey around the globe to explore the greatest railway experiences. This beautifully designed coffee-table book has a train trip for everyone, as each rail route is broken down by category, allowing readers to choose from luxury, every day and epic. Featuring 50 fascinating first-person stories of world-famous and lesser-known railway routes, readers will hear from seasoned train travellers including Oliver Smith, Monisha Rajesh, and Shafik Meghji.

Coastal Mississippi Tourism, the Destination Marketing Organization for Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson Counties on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, is officially welcoming travelers aboard the new Amtrak Mardi Gras Service. The first trains departed New Orleans and Mobile this morning bound for stops in Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula, with twice-daily round-trip service.

Africa is on the brink of a transportation revolution as it embarks on an ambitious plan to overhaul its rail infrastructure, with a high-speed rail network that could reshape the continent’s connectivity. The African Integrated High-Speed Railway Network (AIHSRN) is one of the largest infrastructural projects in Africa’s history, designed to connect the capitals of African states and major commercial hubs. This network promises to boost continental trade, enhance tourism, and position Africa as a key player in global transportation networks.

With over 34 million TikTok posts, #BookTok has swept the world by storm, captivating people seeking their next literary adventure. As Americans flock to Europe in record numbers this summer, leaving their boring beach reads on the book shelf, Trainline – Europe’s no.1 train ticket booking app – is transporting them to worlds unknown via its new summer book club, The Reading Route. Curated by Emma Roberts, co-founder of the viral online book club BELLETRIST, each of the 10 train reads selected by Roberts have roots in some of Trainline’s most booked European destinations, from London and Paris to Rome and Barcelona.