On October 4, 1883 the Orient Express Train set its wheels in motion and left Paris, bound for Constantinople for the very first time.
With just 40 passengers aboard, the week-long return trip through Strasbourg, Munich, Vienna, Budapest and Bucharest, ushered in a new era of luxury travel.
Dubbed a ‘rolling palace’, it demanded global attention, even becoming the setting for Agatha Christie’s 1934 novel, Murder on the Orient Express. But 43 years on, it made its final trip from Paris to Istanbul on May 20, 1977.
The art deco cars were left to be auctioned off after the company failed to compete with the boom of air travel, and the train’s journey came to an end. But now, in the age of easyJet and P&O cruises, the luxury train is making a comeback.
While the exact date isn’t yet confirmed, you’ll be able to travel on the new L’Orient Express in either mid 2026 or early 2027, when the train makes its inaugural journey.
After 17 original carriages, formerly known as the Nostalgie-Istanbul-Orient-Express, from the 1920s were rediscovered in 2015, they’ve been restored in France, complete with plush green velvet seating, dark mahogany finishes and art deco detailing.
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In fact, 30 master artisans including; embroiderers; glassmakers; cabinetmakers; upholsterers; and manufacturers, have contributed to the rebirth of the L’Orient Express.
This is not to be confused with the Venice Simplon Orient Express train which operated from Paris to Venice, via Simplon Pass in Switzerland, or the Arlberg Orient Express which which headed to Bucharest or Athens.
While the exact route the train will take and the cost of the tickets is yet to be revealed, if it’s anything like the original route, it’s set to be pretty spectacular.
If you can’t wait to catch a glimpse of this revived train, the ‘first elements’ of the newly restored cabins will be displayed in the exhibition ‘1925-2025: A Century of Art Deco’ at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.
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It opens on October 22, and runs until April 26, 2026, with tickets costing just £13. You’ll be able to see a cabin from the former Étoile du Nord train (which linked Paris with Brussels) and three models of the future L’Orient Express, reimagined by architect Maxime d’Angeac.
Take a look inside the Orient Express…
Let’s start at the most important spot – the bar car. If you travel on this luxurious train you can expect rosewood and marble finishings, under a vaulted ceiling.
It features large windows for you to take in the passing landscapes with a tipple.
Once you’ve worked up an appetite, you’ll head through to the dining car which boasts a mirrored ceiling with a series of white cloth tables and deep armchairs.
At the back of the car is a glass wall where the chef will work on unparalleled gastronomy.
When staying onboard, if you’ve got particularly extravagant taste, you can opt for the presidential suite, which occupies an entire train car, and comes with its own private entrance.
The 55sqm space features a living-room or ‘Salon des Quatre Colonnes’, a bedroom with a double bed, a bathroom and a secondary sleeping area.
The walls are adorned with Lalique’s original ‘Blackbirds & grapes’ panels, recovered from the original cars.
So, will you be taking a ride on this iconic train?
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