Description of the Two separate trains used

BRITISH PULLMAN (arrived in London to Victoria Station)

Configuration: 11 Parlour

Cars 2 Baggage Cars Each car has a unique name, decor and history for example Minerva has Edwardian-type marquetry, Zena was used in the film ‘Agatha’ about Agatha Christie (1976).

Statistics: Length: 240m (+locomotive 25m)

Weight: 456 tonnes (+locomotive 70 tonnes)

Capacity: 226 passengers Seating: Carriages seat 20, 24 or 26 people in either ‘coupés’ (small compartments seating up to four people) or in open areas, mostly at tables for two.

The seats are located by carriage name and seat number for example, Cygnus 20. [photo filippo baglini italoeuropeo]

VENICE SIMPLON-ORIENT-EXPRESS

Configuration: 17 carriages 3 Restaurant Cars: Côte D’Azur – seats 36, ‘Etoile du Nord’ – seats 34 and ‘Chinoise’ – seats 36

1 Bar Car 9 Sleeping Cars of 9 double compartments 2 Sleeping Cars of 7 singles and 3 doubles

The public cars are situated in the centre of the train with sleeping cars either side. A letter and a number for example B5 or C9 identifies a cabins location. Statistics:

Length: 401m (+2 locomotives each 50m) = 0.5km (0.25mile)

Weight: 944 tonnes (+ locomotives 360 tonnes)

Compartments: Single compartments: daytime seating converts to one single bed.

Double compartments: daytime seating converts to upper and lower beds. Compartment Suite: two interconnecting double compartments WC’s are located at either or both ends of each sleeping car Each compartment has a wash basin within an enclosed cabinet, hot and cold water, towels and a dual voltage plug for electric razors. Some cabins have a safe.

Bottled water, VSOE toiletries, VSOE robe and slippers, and VSOE writing paper are all provided with compliments. Dining: The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express has been an Honorary Member of the Relais & Chateaux since 1986. Table d’hôte meals are included in the fare. Afternoon tea and breakfast are served in the compartments. Coffee is served in the Bar Car.

Beverages, light snacks and à la carte items are available at an additional cost. Staff: There are 40 on board members of staff: French chefs, Italian waiters, English, French and Italian compartment stewards.

Dress: Smart elegant attire is the custom. Evening wear for gentlemen tends to be a lounge suit or black tie, with formal dinner dresses for women. Passengers are requested not to wear jeans, T-shirts or trainers.

Smoking: Smoking is not permitted in the Restaurant Cars, Bar Car, Public Corridors or in cabins.

British Pullman Carriage Plans
Blue = 5 x first class kitchen cars, Audrey, Gwen, Ibis, Ione, 20 seats each. Green = 2 x first class parlour cars, Lucille, Zena,  24 seats each.  Red = 4 x first class parlour cars, Cygnus, Perseus, Minerva, Phoenix, 26 seats each.

PASSENGERS

Passengers travel for a variety of reasons – to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, honeymoons, to experience the fine dinning onboard, to witness the ever-changing landscapes of Europe and not forgetting those who make that special proposal onboard! On average the VSOE carries around 15,000 guests from all nationalities each year.

1. Since the re-introduction of the service in 1982, the VSOE has welcomed over 365,000 travellers.

2. During its service it has covered more than 4,000,000 kilometres.

3. Approximately 150,000km are travelled each season

4. Over 1,100,000 meals have been served which equates to more than 3,750,000 courses.

5. The length of the train is ¼ of a mile plus an extra 20 metres for the engine. The train weight at its maximum rake (17 cars) weighs 950 tonnes.

6. The total amount of coal used in one season is approx 39.500 kilogram’s and the total amount of wood used in one season is approx 3500 Kilogram’s.

7. The total kilometres walked by the train manager during a Venice-Calais-Venice trip is approx 18 kilometres.

8. In an average season the stewards spend more than 4080 hours converting the cabins to from day to night & night to day which equates to 170 days.

9. The number of kilometres walked by a steward in his car during the annual Paris to Istanbul trip is approximately 55.

10. The number of linen items cleaned in one season is approximately 225,000.

11. The number of Croissants served for breakfast in an average season is 12,845.

12. Approximately 1,700 bottles of champagne are served in a season

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