A luxurious vestige of Europe's railway past, the Orient Express is in the process of inventing a new future for itself. This revival has been in the making since Accor took over this legendary brand in 2017, with the hotel group planning to extend it through the development of prestige hotels and the operation of a new generation of luxury trains. The first carriages are due to be unveiled at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and will enter service in 2025, the set for the future Orient Express was recently revealed in Paris, to coincide with Contemporary Art Week, before these sketches go on tour to Miami at the end of November, to coincide with the Design Miami/ event.
Known for his work with Daum, Guerlain and Hermès, architect Maxime d'Angeac has been given the challenging task of reviving the history of this legendary train with a contemporary design inspired by the 1920s. " By putting myself in the shoes of its creators, from René Prou to Suzanne Lalique, I have tried to reinterpret the history of this legendary trainwithout any nostalgia, but with the desire to extend its history, to transport us elsewhere." explained Maxime d'Angeac. A design which, according to Sébastien Bazin, CEO of Accor, " reawakens the myth with the revelation of its showcase of luxury, modernity and French elegance" .
This recomposed past revolves around the French luxury expertiseThe bar's interiors, evoking the atmosphere of the late 19th century, have been designed with the utmost attention to detail, whether in terms of tableware and furniture or the work of artisans with rare skills such as wood embroidery or exceptional mirror work. Palisander wood, marble, bronze and marquetry: the bar's interiors, evoking the atmosphere of the late 19th century, are a delight to the eye.e of the first trains, like those in the Art Deco-style restaurant, are made up ofultra chic elements. At each table, there are a few details that reflect the luxury of times gone by, such as a clock at each table that chimes the cocktail and dinner times and two call buttons, one for the champagne service, the other for the staff.
For their part, the 'standard' cabins - but can we call them that? - offer all the comfort expected at this level of excellence in a limited space. Measuring 1.96 metres wide by 5 metres long, these cabins are fitted with a full bathroom with toilet and showerThe bedroom has a double bed (2 x 1.4 metres) and a dressing area. During the day, the space is transformed into an elegant living room, with the bed transformed into a comfortable chaise longue from which to enjoy the scenery behind the large windows.
On the walls, leather reinterpreting Suzanne Lalique's 'rail' motif; on the floor, a carpet evoking comet trails; partitions covered in precious wood and 'flower' lamps signed by Lalique: here too, luxury is the order of the day. This exceptional décor is also and above all.., original parts recovered from the Nostalgie-Istanbul-Orient-ExpressThese include Lalique panels and Morrison and Nelson marquetry.
Finding the Orient Express: a Herculean task
The legend of the Orient Express does not rise from the ashes. And its resurrection is based on a quasi-police investigation, in the tone that made the train so popular in Agatha Christie's famous novel.
Looking backThe Orient Express is the story behind this eventful history. Launched in 1883 by Georges Nagelmackers, founder of the Compagnie des Wagons-Lits, the Orient Express saw its commercial operation come to an end in 1977. Like the transatlantic liners, competition from air travel was too strong at a time when slow travel was not yet fashionable.
Some of his cars were then bought at auctionJames Sherwood, founder of the luxury hotel and train group, which will hold the Orient Express brand licence until 2014, when it will adopt a new name, Belmond. A group which, acquired by LVMH in 2018, still operates these carriages on its Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train.
Among the other original cars for sale, those of the Nostalgia-Istanbul-Orient-Express were acquired by Swiss businessman Albert Glatt and returned to service in the 80s and 90s. Among its many feats, it transported Michael Jackson on his European tour. Dangerous in 1992, or the longest journey ever made by a train, between Paris and Tokyo. And then, curtain.
That was until researcher Arthur Mettetal carried out a worldwide inventory of Orient Express carriages on behalf of SNCF in 2015. A providential video posted on YouTube will lead him on the trail of the Nostalgie-Istanbul-Orient-Express. A hunch confirmed by Google Maps and aerial views of the car roofs: the train is indeed at the border. between Belarus and Poland. After two years of negotiations, its owner signed the sale of the Nostalgie-Istanbul-Orient-Express in July 2018, with a convoy of lorries then taking the 17 cars back to France.
The story of the Orient Express will thus be able to continue from 2025, initially on the Paris-Istanbul route. Accor, which recently set up a team specialising in rail distribution within Orient Express, will begin marketing the service in June 2023. Comprising 9 cars and 32 suitesincluding two superior suites and a presidential suite, this luxury train will primarily target leisure customers. " Unlike in the past, when this train was frequented by many businessmen and celebrities, particularly politicians" says Guillaume de Saint-Lager, Vice-Chairman of Orient Express. However, privatisations by companies can also be considered.
This is not the only luxury train that the hotel group will be bringing to the rails. In Italy, the Dolce Vita train is set to make its debut in 2024, with the first tickets going on sale next month. The result of an equally luxurious transformation of a train from the 1970s, rather than the Belle Epoque, the train will cover some of the country's most beautiful destinations, departing from Rome in an atmosphere reminiscent of the golden age of Italian cinema. Flagship routes of the Dolce Vita train, comprising 11 carriages and 33 cabins, including 18 suites and a presidential suite: Rome-Venice-Portofino-Rome, a route punctuated by two Orient Express hotels being prepared in Rome. Rome and Venice, or Paris-Rome.
Italian joie de vivre
" Initially, companies will be offered privatisations on pre-programmed routes.explains Yann Guezennec, Vice President Sales and Marketing at Orient Express. But then, if a company asks us for a specific itinerary, Brindisi-Rome-Venice for example, we can do it. It's all a question of transport plan and budget." . A detail that is not insignificant, since the night per person will vary between 2,000 for the standard cabin and 3,500 euros for suites.
For this price, these rail cruises will allow around sixty privileged guests to discover Italy in unique conditions on the Dolce Vita, and Europe on the Orient Express. All this while taking the time to stop and show them some exceptional placesSome of them are far from the big cities. " Cruise ships travel from port to port, but some of Europe's most beautiful cities, such as Vienna, Budapest and Prague, are right in the heart of the continent. And for that, there's nothing better than the train" says Guillaume de Saint-Lager.
Other major hotel groups are also offering luxury packages for travelling the world, as illustrated by Marriott's launch of the Ritz-Carlton Yacht CollectionFour Seasons, which offers round-the-world trips by private jet. Accor, for its part, is banking on a gentle mode of transport, in line with a current trend, the development of night trains. " The Group is convinced that luxury trains have a bright futureGuillaume de Saint-Lager. It's the way of the future for discovering new countries while controlling your carbon footprint." .
Several luxury trains could also be added to this offer in the future. " All the luxury trains operated throughout the world are destined to join our brand.provided you adhere to its standards" says Yann Guezennec. Unlike the Orient Express, Accor only manages the Dolce Vita train on behalf of its owner, Arsenale, which also owns the Grand Hotel de Minerve in Rome and the Palazzo Donà Giovannelli in Venice, the luxury brand's first two hotels. This model, which is identical to hotel management contracts, could be reproduced in the future. " We are regularly contacted by owners of luxury trains or investors looking to invest in this type of asset. "And when you can offer them the most famous brand of trains in the world...
