The Iconic 1883 Orient Express Is Coming Back In 2025
The Orient Express was the world’s most luxurious train when it hit the rails in October 1883 on a journey from Paris to Istanbul. However, it turns out that by 2015, the famed carriages had been lying unused for almost a decade. However, by chance, a historian discovered the carriages on YouTube and they were acquired by the Accor Hotel group’s Orient Express brand in 2018. Since that time, the carriages are undergoing a full revamp but the train will once again leave Paris in 2025. Recently, the first images of the Orient Express interiors were revealed giving the world an idea of what to expect when traveling on the legendary train in 2025. Readers will find the images throughout this page.
The Orient Express returns
After a major revamp, the Orient Express is preparing to take its guests, departing from Paris in 2025 and taking them across Europe in luxury. So far, no routes have been confirmed, but it is expected that the revamped train will follow a similar route as before, running between Paris and Istanbul.
Belgian engineer Georges Nagelmackers developed the first Orient Express after he was inspired to create a network of luxury trains after crossing America by rail. It seems his experiences with the earliest sleeper cars left plenty to be desired. Due to this, when he returned home he started planning a new luxurious and glamorous service in Europe.
Initially, Nagelmackers designed a number of upscale European trains before finally launching the Orient Express. After its launch, the train carried 40 passengers from Paris to what was then Constantinople on its inaugural 13-day journey. From that time, the service continued until 1977, when which time inexpensive air travel had kicked in, pushing away the demand for grand rail journeys.
Mystery of the missing carriages
Subsequently, the Orient Express was disbanded and the carriages were auctioned off. However, in the 1980s, a couple of entrepreneurs revived the luxury brand. One was James Sherwood, the American owner of the Cipriani Hotel, who ran routes between London and Venice.
The other entrepreneur was Swiss tour operator, Albert Glatt, who launched the Nostalgie-Istanbul-Orient-Express, running between Zurich and Istanbul. However, sadly, by 2009 the train again ceased operation. Some of the original carriages disappeared until a researcher in industrial history spotted them.
It was in 2015 when Arthur Mettetal, an industrial history researcher, spotted a parked train in the corner of a YouTube video while running an inventory for the French state rail company, SNCF.
Mettetal immediately recognized the distinctive midnight blue of the Orient Express carriages. He also spotted the name of a Polish railway station, Malaszewicze in the background. Using Google Maps 3D view, the researcher went on to pinpoint the exact location of the carriages. They were located on the border between Belarus and Poland. Some months later, Mettetal and his team of researchers discovered the carriages, in surprisingly good condition.
Following this, it took two years of negotiations until in 2018, the owner of Nostalgie-Istanbul-Orient-Express sold the 13-carriage train along with four additional carriages recovered from Switzerland and Germany to Accor’s Orient Express group.
Bringing back the luxury of the Orient Express
In recent years, the emphasis has been on reducing our carbon footprint and fighting climate change. This has led to a number of luxurious rail services coming into being, taking travelers from place to place in true comfort. In fact, this couldn’t be a more ideal time to relaunch the luxurious Orient Express in all its glory.
Currently, the original carriages are under renovation by Parisian architect Maxime d’Angeac, working with a team of French artisans. The architect began his career designing theatrical scenery for fashion house Hermes and crystal manufacturer Daum, before opening his own agency.
Since then, he has been working on castles, private villas, apartments, and the Maison Guerlain, the perfumer’s flagship boutique on the Champs-Élysées. Of interest to note, D’Angeac is also a collector of old books, including several Agatha Christie novels, the author of the famous book, Murder on the Orient Express.
Now, the architect is busy reimagining the Orient Express by adding a modern touch to the romance and elegance of the 1920s and 1930s design. Meanwhile, the 17 carriages date from this era and still maintain beautiful Lalique glass panels. Each is engraved with motifs of grapes and blackbirds. Moreover, each is surrounded by marquetry by Morrison and Nelson in the art deco style.
In the images revealed this week, and included throughout this article, clearly, D’Angeac has kept his promise. The architect is keeping the carriages faithful to the memory of the original Orient Express. However, he has also included more modern touches of comfort.
Conde Naste Traveller quotes D’Angeac, speaking of his reinterpretation of the Orient Express, saying:
This is the reinterpretation of a legendary train, conceived as a new embassy of French luxury, sublimated by the know-how and talents of the best French craftsmen.
What travelers can expect from the revamped Orient Express
The newly revamped luxury train will offer 14 sleeping carriages, a restaurant and a bar. It will also feature what is described as an “experiential salon.” This is anticipated to host a variety of events and performances. Moreover, the salon’s décor is markedly different from the rest of the train and has been inspired by winter gardens.
In the sleeping carriages, three types of suites will be available, including a presidential suite that encompasses an entire carriage. Each suite will be luxuriously appointed and will have its own private bathroom.
As for the restaurant, a chef has yet to be announced. However, inspiration is already being drawn from old Orient Express menus.
Readers can see more images and videos of the carriages on the architect’s Instagram account here.
As the service only launches in 2025, pricing, routes and booking information is not yet available. However, this will be released at a later date, when this article will be updated.