The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Posted by Jeff Paulett

April 16, 2009

by Jeff Paulett

The Venice Simplon-Orient Express (or as it is usually called, just the Orient Express) is something familiar to many of us through popular culture. We know this train from books, movies and other sources and we generally associate it with both luxury and mystery. It is a train which has a place in the popular imagination, and this is still definitely a luxurious way to travel through Europe.

The tradition of luxury train travel goes back to the mid-1800s, with George Mortimer Pullman creating a train that was the first of its kind in providing riders with every convenience and luxury of the nineteenth century. Ten years later, the first train cars with sleeping space and parlour space were available. It was around this time that Georges Nagelmackers started to create luxury trains that were intended for continental travel.

The Orient Express originally ran from Paris, France to Giurgiu, Romania on a route, which took the train through Strasbourg, Vienna, Budapest and Bucharest. Almost immediately this train became known as the most comfortable way for Western Europeans to travel to Hungary and Romania and with the opening of the Simplon Tunnel, the Orient Express extended its route to Istanbul via Northern Italy, Albania and Bulgaria with stops in Venice and Sofia along the way.

The early decades of the 20th Century were good ones for this luxury train; but the beginning of WWII shut down the Orient Express for a time. Following the war, the Orient Express resumed operation but with air travel becoming increasingly common, its days were numbered and the Orient Express made its final Paris to Istanbul run in 1977.

The train received a new lease on life when two of the carriages were bought at a Sotheby’s auction, and over the next few years, 16 million US dollars were spent restoring and purchasing the 35 cars that made up this legendary train.

A trip on the Orient Express is an unforgettable experience; you can travel to all of the European cities, which were part of the route from Strasbourg to Vienna, it?s a one of a kind way to see Europe. While the cities have changed since the old days of this historic route, the train itself provides an experience, which is like stepping back in time.

You?ll meet your personal steward as you board the train and be taken to your compartment. The meals on board are extraordinary; they are made by some of the finest chefs of France using fresh local ingredients purchased at each stop along the way and you won?t lack for ambiance thanks to the three well-appointed dining cars.

Choose from a single compartment or a double compartment, or combine two cabins into a private lounge with a banquette sofa and a sleeping compartment.

Why simply dream about the romantic luxury of the Orient Express when you could be living it and experiencing it yourself?

About the Author:

Jeff Paulett is a partner of luxury train travel.co.uk. Visit their site for further information on the Orient Express or luxury train travel in general.

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