THEN AND NOW: Photos that show how glamorous train travel used to be

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THEN AND NOW: Photos that show how glamorous train travel used to be
  • Back in the day, travelling by train promised luxury experience filled with champagne flutes and full-size sofas to relax on.
  • Nowadays, traveling by train is much more modest and everything is generally self-serviced.
  • Here is a look at how train travel has changed over the years.
  • Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Planes may be the quickest mode of transportation, but there's something to be said about taking the scenic route aboard a train.

While you might have romantic notions about riding the rails, train travel isn't what it used to be. Gone are the days when people packed their belongings in posh trunks and drank champagne in luxurious dining cars.

To illustrate how glamorous train travel once was, we rounded up photos from the 1910s to the 1950s and compared them to images from the present day.

Read on to see what train travel was like in its heyday.

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Train travelers dress pretty casually these days, and are usually only dressed nicely if they are headed somewhere immediately upon arrival.

Train travelers dress pretty casually these days, and are usually only dressed nicely if they are headed somewhere immediately upon arrival.
This photo was taken in 2015. Mark Makela/Getty Images

Travelers wait at 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 2015.

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People used to get so dolled up for train travel.

People used to get so dolled up for train travel.
This photo was taken in 1930. Hulton Archive via Getty Images

Women aboard a London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) train listen to a gramophone.

Customer service is much harder to come by today.

Customer service is much harder to come by today.
This photo was taken in 2014. Joerg Koch/Getty Images

Travelers at Nuremberg Hauptbahnhof (Nuremberg Central Station) in Germany wait in line at an information desk during a train strike in 2014.

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If travelers ever needed assistance, they could direct their questions to a "Train Enquiries" booth.

If travelers ever needed assistance, they could direct their questions to a "Train Enquiries" booth.
This photo was taken in 1934. Hulton Archive via Getty Images

Passengers step up to an inquiry booth at Victoria Station in London, England, in 1934.

Some railways don't even offer first-class — so business class is the next best thing.

Some railways don't even offer first-class — so business class is the next best thing.
This photo was taken in 2013. m01229/Flickr

A typical business class seat on an Amtrak train at Union Station. Amtrak only offers first-class service on its Acela trains.

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Today's first-class cars are spacious, but the seats are pretty standard.

Today's first-class cars are spacious, but the seats are pretty standard.
This picture was taken in 2016. Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters

The first-class section of a Deutsche Bahn ICE 4 high-speed train typifies what "luxury" train travel looks like today.

With couches for seats, first-class cars were truly classy back in the day.

With couches for seats, first-class cars were truly classy back in the day.
This photo was taken in 1930. Fox Photos/Getty Images

First-class passengers on a Canadian Pacific Railway train read and listen to the wireless in 1930.

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Today, most train stations have self-service kiosks, or you can purchase your ticket online before heading to the station.

Today, most train stations have self-service kiosks, or you can purchase your ticket online before heading to the station.
This photo was taken in 2014. Rob Stothard/Getty Images

Travelers headed to the Royal Ascot buy tickets from a self-service kiosk at Waterloo Station in London, England, in 2014.

Back in the day, you had to buy tickets from a booking office.

Back in the day, you had to buy tickets from a booking office.
This photo was taken in 1935. Martin/Getty Images

People buy tickets from the booking office at York Station in York, England, in 1935.

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People today use train time to get work done on their laptops. Most trains now boast WiFi.

People today use train time to get work done on their laptops. Most trains now boast WiFi.
This picture was taken in 2013. Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images

Spanish commuters on a train from Madrid to Alcázar de San Juan use their computers, phones, and other electronic devices in 2013.

Before phones and computers, people entertained themselves with a good book.

Before phones and computers, people entertained themselves with a good book.
This photo was taken in 1935. Hulton Archive via Getty Images

Passengers read during a trip on the Brighton Electric Railway.

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And if you're not in a sleeper car, you have to make do with an eye mask.

And if you're not in a sleeper car, you have to make do with an eye mask.
This photo was taken in 2015. Mark Makela/Getty Images

A passenger sleeps on an Amtrak train departing from 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 2015.

Today's sleeper cars are comfy, but not as opulent.

Today's sleeper cars are comfy, but not as opulent.
This photo was taken in 2017. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

A couple relaxes in a sleeper car aboard the California Zephyr in 2017.

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Sleeper cars were more like hotel rooms.

Sleeper cars were more like hotel rooms.
This photo was taken in 1945. Fox Photos/Getty Images

An attendant on the London, Midland, and Scottish Railway (LMS) wakes a passenger by bringing her a cup of tea in 1945.

Travelers today take their coffee or tea on the road.

Travelers today take their coffee or tea on the road.
This photo was taken in 2015. Mark Makela/Getty Images

A woman purchases coffee from an Amtrak train's cafe car in 2015.

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Taking the train didn't mean you had to skip teatime.

Taking the train didn't mean you had to skip teatime.
This photo was taken in 1951. Ron Case/Getty Images

People enjoy tea in a new passenger coach at Marylebone Station in London, England, in 1951.

On many trains today, drinks are simply served in the regular car or cafe car.

On many trains today, drinks are simply served in the regular car or cafe car.
This photo was taken in 2005. TeaMeister/Flickr

A passenger on an Amtrak train buys drinks and a snack from the cafe car in 2005.

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Back in the day, if you felt like having a drink, you could visit the "tavern car."

Back in the day, if you felt like having a drink, you could visit the "tavern car."
This photo was taken in 1949. Harry Todd/Getty Images

Passengers have drinks in the Jolly Tar, one of the so-called "tavern cars" that the British Rail introduced in the 1940s.

For shorter journeys, many travelers today will just grab something from a chain restaurant or fast food joint before hopping aboard.

For shorter journeys, many travelers today will just grab something from a chain restaurant or fast food joint before hopping aboard.
This photo was taken in 2014. Alex Wong/Getty Images

A passenger at Union Station in Washington, District of Columbia, holds a pizza box from Sbarro in 2014.

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Heartier fare used to be more common.

Heartier fare used to be more common.
This photo was taken in 1935. Victor T. Fintak/Getty Images

Passengers on the Green Diamond, an Illinois Central streamline diesel train, enjoy a hot meal in 1935.

Train provisions are generally unpretentious.

Train provisions are generally unpretentious.
This picture was taken in 2017. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

While train meals aren't maligned like their airplane counterparts, they're typically not that fancy.

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Today's dining cars are more modest.

Today's dining cars are more modest.
This picture was taken in 2017. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

A table on Amtrak's California Zephyr, which travels between Chicago, Illinois, and San Francisco, California, is set for dinner service.

Dining cars used to be the height of luxury.

Dining cars used to be the height of luxury.
This photo was taken in 1935. Hulton Archive via Getty Images

The Flying Scotsman — which ferried passengers between London, England, and Edinburgh, Scotland — featured a luxurious, all-electric restaurant car.

Although the iconic steam train was retired in 1963, you can still hop aboard during special events held throughout the UK.

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Today, most train stations use electronic displays.

Today, most train stations use electronic displays.
This photo was taken in 2019 at Penn Station in New York City. Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Until January 2017, when it was replaced with smaller, LCD displays, New York City's Penn Station utilized a combination digital/analog board.

Back then, there were paper timetables.

Back then, there were paper timetables.
This photo was taken in 1958. Hulton Archive via Getty Images

A woman at Charing Cross Station in London, England, examines a timetable in 1958.

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Now, travelers generally have to carry their own luggage.

Now, travelers generally have to carry their own luggage.
This photo was taken in 2015. Scott Olson/Getty Images

Passengers wait at Amtrak's Union Station in Chicago, Illinois, in 2015.

While Amtrak does offer a free porter service called the "Red Cap Baggage Handling Service," it's only available at 12 of the American passenger rail corporation's busiest stations.

...which could be an intimidating task given the bulk of it.

...which could be an intimidating task given the bulk of it.
This picture was taken in 1939. John F. Stephenson/Getty Images

Men load luggage at Waterloo Station in London, England, in 1939.

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Back in the day, there were porters to lug around that heavy luggage...

Back in the day, there were porters to lug around that heavy luggage...
This photo was taken in 1935. Hulton Archive via Getty Images

Railway porters in Calais, France, carry luggage in 1935.

Today, people mainly travel with one suitcase and a smaller bag such as a backpack or tote.

Today, people mainly travel with one suitcase and a smaller bag such as a backpack or tote.
This photo was taken in 2018. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Travelers make their way to board a train at the 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 2018.

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Even the youngest travelers had fancy luggage.

Even the youngest travelers had fancy luggage.
This photo was taken in 1935. Fred Morley/Getty Images

Two girls and their dog sit atop their luggage and read newspapers at Euston Station in London, England, in 1935.

People used to pack up their lives in stylish trunks.

People used to pack up their lives in stylish trunks.
This photo was taken in 1929. Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Two women at Paddington Station in London, England push their luggage on a cart.

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Modern travelers are more impatient and don't always respect personal space.

Modern travelers are more impatient and don't always respect personal space.
This photo was taken in 2017. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Travelers wait in line to board an Amtrak train at Penn Station in New York City, New York, in 2017.

There have always been crowds, but they seemed more civilized.

There have always been crowds, but they seemed more civilized.
This photo was taken in 1913. Topical Press Agency/Getty Images

Crowds at Waterloo Station in London, England, in 1913.

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