One day with Orient Express The World’s Most Romantic Train

 I was in Victoria station (London) ready to get the train to Brighton. I was waiting because it was early to depart , so I went around the station and I saw the most romantic and beautiful train of the world. I have never seen it before in my life. I was always intentioned to write an article about it and to find the train in front of me was an amazing surprise. Its beauty has abducted me. I decided to understand its history , write about kings’ and Queens ‘ story, illustrious international characters that travelled above the train, so doing I decided to tell the history of the most famous train of the world: the Orient Express.

---

On June 5, 1883 the first ‘Express d’Orient’ left Paris for Vienna. Vienna remained the terminus until October 4, 1883. The train was officially renamed Orient Express in 1891. Two separate trains are used: the traditional 1920’s and 30’s British Pullman carriages in the UK between London and Folkestone and a magnificent rake of original Wagons-Lits carriages in continental Europe aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. The Channel crossing is made by luxury motor coach through Eurotunnel. Guests travel in authentic vintage carriages, evoking the glamorous era of European rail travel in the 1920’s and 30s.

The atmosphere onboard is one of pure refinement where guests can socialise in the bar car listening to the gentle sound of the pianist playing the baby grand piano, enjoy the gourmet dishes prepared onboard or simply relax in their private cabins while enjoying the passing scenery from their own supremely privileged “window on the world”.

The art decoration are the best The traditional craftsmanship, modern techniques and exotic materials used by Rene Prou suited the French scene of the 1920’s. He exhibited in the Paris exhibition of 1925, which launched the Art Deco movement and by the 1930’s had an international reputation. Prou was responsible for the design of six VSOE sleeping cars between 1926 – 1929. The breathtaking scenery are very romantic, Europe is a continent of immense variety, offering an infinite range of contrasting experiences. Vibrant modern cities sit alongside ancient towns with glorious pasts and tiny villages untouched by time. Breathtaking mountains, great rivers and forest-lined lakes encircle dynamic urban landscapes.World-renowned examples of history, culture and cutting-edge technology are often located close by wild, open countryside where little has changed for centuries.

Cities to Visit on the VSOE are, London,Venice,Vienna,Rome,Prague,Paris,Krakow,Istanbul,Budapest. The inaugural run made headlines all over the civilised world due to the writings of senior journalist Henri Stefan Opper de Blowitz, Paris Correspondent of the London Times, who sent frequent despatches as the great train journeyed eastwards. He spiced his writings with interviews conducted at the very highest level – with King Charles of Romania (who hosted all the “Orient-Express” travellers while the train waited) and with Sultan Abdul Hamid II, “Shadow of God on Earth”, ruler of Turkey, whom he talked to in Constantinople, the ultimate destination of the passengers. In those days the train could proceed no further than Giurgiu, about 45 miles beyond Bucharest, where the rails reached the Danube.

Passengers had to cross the river by ferry, then board an inferior train for the run to Varna on the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria, where they joined a ship for an uncomfortable overnight voyage to Constantinople.

A few years later railway lines were built incorporating the Romanian Black Sea coast which featured some spectacular bridges. This new line, although slightly lengthening the sea journey, avoided a change of train. By the turn of the century, rails had reached Constantinople by way of Budapest, Belgrade, Nisch, over the scenic Dragoman Pass and through Sofia in Bulgaria. The 1,800 mile journey now took three nights. The rich and famous, the aristocratic and powerful, rode the “Orient-Express” to cities such as Vienna, Budapest, Bucharest and sometimes all the way to Constantinople. It was in the 1890’s that the expression “The Train of Kings, the King of Trains” was coined. [photo filippo baglini italoeuropeo]

But the legends of spying, mystery, murder and intrigue did not begin to grow until the 1920s. Immediately after the First World War there was a massive revival of travel within Europe and also to the Middle East. It was decided to avoid Germany and Austria with the premier train running to Greece and Turkey, resulting in the construction of a magnificent new express which was to take the Simplon Tunnel route as the “Simplon-Orient-Express“.

The route was Paris (Lyon) to Vallorbe, Lausanne, Brigue, the Simplon Tunnel, Milan, Venice, Trieste, Belgrade, Nisch and Crveni Krst (for division), then one section to Sofia and Istanbul (as Constantinople had become), and the other to Thessaloniki and Athens

[photo filippo baglini italoeuropeo]

Starting on 15 April 1919 it only ran as a through train as far as Sofia at first, but in 1921 began operating right through to Istanbul as a genuine express. Taking only 56 hours from Paris (but still with the traditional three nights aboard the train) it was the fastest timing on the route and has never been surpassed.

The “Simplon-Orient-Express” enjoyed 19 years of excellence, its equipment being steadily upgraded until its prestige was paramount. Some of the sleeping cars from the late 1920’s and early 1930’s, which are now refurbished and included in today’s great train, represent the peak of the railway craftsman’s art.

[photo filippo baglini italoeuropeo]

read more about ORIENT EXPRESS  The World’s Most Romantic Train