On this week’s episode of Karryon’s luxury podcast, Luxury Unpacked, host Fiona Dalton chats to Journey Beyond Executive General Manager Alicia Triggs about the trends shaping the future of luxury rail, how it’s elevating the experience and its ‘Journey Lightly’ strategy.
“Understanding that luxury means different things to different people is really critical, and that’s not just for trains, but that’s going to be critical for our industry going forward for the next few years,” says Journey Beyond Executive General Manager Alicia Triggs on Karry’s latest episode of Luxury Unpacked.
She says that means we need to look at “how we make that stripped back so it’s [about how] it makes people feel.”
Meeting expectations
Triggs says the “fanfare” around trains means there are high expectations from guests.
“Trains globally give a nod to nostalgia and have romanticism behind them, and have such a following and demand is huge, and with that demand the pressure to deliver exceptional guest experiences is also huge.”
Triggs says one way they are doing that is with their new Australis and Aurora Suites – the latter which will be the most luxurious suite in Australian train travel.
The suites will be available on all three of its trains – The Ghan, Indian Pacific and Great Southern from April 2026.
“Woods Bagot, our designers, have worked well to make sure to have elements of the night sky of the aurora australis and also nod to pastoral history in wool and leather and different woods, and it will be really special.”
Trends in luxury rail
“Cruising is going crazy, and rail and cruise is an area to continue to watch as an emerging trend,” says Triggs.
“We have a group now on a Ponant cruise in the Kimberley, and then they join the Ghan in Darwin, and so that’s definitely an emerging trend.”
She says there’s also a focus on the quality and locality of the food and wine on board.
“What’s wonderful about this whole resurgence of rail is that there’s this beautiful global competition to continue to enhance the guest experience.”
She says that means regardless of what luxury train you are on, “the food is exceptional, and you know that’s going to be the case”.
Sights on sustainability
Trigg says through Journey Beyond’s ‘Journey Lightly’ strategy, the company has an emphasis on tracking lightly.
“It’s making sure we leave the smallest footprint we possibly can and that we look after the communities we travel through… everyone has an obligation to do this, but in Australia in particular with the regions we pass through it’s so important for us to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land.
“So when we can, we do employ Indigenous guides, but a lot of what we do isn’t seen, it’s through the products we buy and the people we work with, and it’s something we really believe in.”
To listen to the full episode, search Karryon Luxury Unpacked wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.
For more information, partnership opportunities, or to be a guest on the show, contact Karryon’s Partnership Manager, Carolyn Nightingale, at carolyn@karryon.com.au.
