Russian President Vladimir Putin’s distinctive means of transportation gains attention. Known as the “ghost train,” this 22-car armored convoy has luxury, advanced amenities, and extreme security.

New and revived rail routes will see global train travel evolve in the year ahead, from practical cross-border links to high-end luxury journeys designed to lure travelers off planes.

There was a time when getting from one place to another meant enduring the journey, not savoring it. Then came the luxury train—an idea that transformed rail travel from practical necessity into an ...