“The landscape is part of the journey”

The idea of ​​a European luxury train was born at the end of the 19th century in the mind of a Belgian engineer, Georges Nagelmackers who, during a trip to the United States, discovered what were called ” sleeping cars”, sleeping cars, designed by Georg Pullman…

His project will be to offer the rich clientele of the old continent, comfort and luxury worthy of transatlantic boats. After many adventures, Georges Nagelmackers will thus found in 1876 the Crime of the Orient-Express. On October 10, 1882, she launched an exceptional round trip Paris-Vienna, in a luxury train called “Train Éclair”. It connects the two capitals in 27h 53m.

The Paris-Vienna being very successful, very quickly the idea will be born to extend it towards Constantinople, which one does not call Istanbul yet. On June 5, 1883, at 7:30 p.m.takes place from the Strasbourg station (current Gare de l’Est in Paris) the first departure of “L’Express d’Orient”, already also called ‘Orient-Express’…

The interwar period was to mark the golden age for this train. After 1918, the geopolitical situation does not allow the Orient-Express to be re-established on its initial route through Germany. In April 1919, a second route was set up thanks to the new Simplon tunnel, drilled under the Alps between Switzerland and Italy. The train is renamed: “Simplon-Orient-Express”.

In order to improve comfort, all teak cars are replaced by metal cars. The Art Deco interior decoration was entrusted to Albert Dunn, René Prou ​​and René Lalique. Finally Agatha Christie will finish bringing this train into the legend, by situating the plot of one of these most famous novels. The crime of the Orient Expresspublished on January 1, 1934 featuring Hercule Poirot.

After the Second World War, the train will be gradually supplanted by the automobile, and especially by the plane. In the 1970s, the Compagnie des Wagons-Lits decides to no longer ensure the maintenance of its equipment and to rent it or sell it to the national railway companies. The wagons are scattered all over Europe.

The story of this legendary train would have ended there had it not been for the slightly crazy dream of a British man, James Sherwood. This man who made his fortune in the 1970s with the Cipriani hotel in Venice, got it into his head to reconstruct the famous train. He first buys a few cars during a sale in Monaco, and will hire engineers by entrusting them with the mission of finding the other cars.

after almost five years of effort, restoration, administrative and diplomatic problems, on May 25, 1982, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express left again between London, Paris and Venice.

“Passengers have the pleasure of traveling in restored wagons dating from 1929 to 1936, says Pascal Deyrolle. It is a 17-car train, which is 500 meters long and we carry only 124 passengers. Three restaurant cars, where the great starred chef Jean Imbert directs the kitchen, and a bar car where there is a baby grand piano!

“You’re not here to go fast, you’re here to have an experience.

Pascal Deyrolle

at franceinfo