Immortalised by Agatha Christie, the Orient Express embodies legendary glamour and intrigue. With a stunning revival on the horizon, it’s time to set the record straight.
Over its 140-year history, the Orient Express has taken on many forms. Originally, it wasn’t just one train but a scheduled service that began in 1883, connecting Paris and Istanbul, among other routes.
While several operators have used the name for routes across Europe, if riding the Orient Express has always been on your bucket list, you might want to hold off just a bit longer.
The Orient Express brand, now part of the Accor Hospitality group, is preparing for a spectacular reboot in 2026. Seventeen carriages from the 1920s and 1930s—previously known as the ‘Nostalgie-Istanbul-Orient-Express’—are being redesigned by renowned French architect Maxime d’Angeac.
These new designs promise to transport you back to the golden age of rail travel with unparalleled elegance and style.
What will the new Orient Express train look like?
Each carriage features sleek corridors described by the brand as “places of travel, encounters and surprises,” with “a theatrical decor.”
D’Angeac’s interiors are full of surprises and rich in literary influences. His personal library includes the works of Ernest Hemingway, biographies of art collector Peggy Guggenheim, the philosophy of Walter Benjamin, and, crucially, a collection of Agatha Christie novels.
In other words, he’s the right man for the job, as exemplified by the stunning bar car.
The bar car features Second Empire–style glass domes supported by bronze columns and a "rhythmic" carpet. Artfully arranged green scallop chairs and banquettes provide intimate spaces to chat or sip cocktails in style. Large windows allow you to watch Europe’s landscapes pass by.
The dining car boasts just as much glamour, with a classic Art Deco look inspired by the trains themselves. Self-referential touches include a mirrored ceiling crossed by a series of arches and a glass wall through which you can see the “kitchen brigade” at work.
A luxury sleeper train wouldn’t be complete without a sumptuous place to rest your head, and the new Orient Express suites are the stuff of dreams, partitioned with precious wood and leather walls. By day, a sofa and settee invite you to rest, relax, and read. When it’s time for “the great transformation” to night, a 2 x 1.40-metre bed awaits.
Orient Express says: "To counter the strict lines and designs of the train, Maxime d’Angeac introduced the circular shape to add softness and balance." The headboards are covered with wooden embroidery featuring mother-of-pearl and bronze beads, alongside shelves adorned with travel souvenirs and reading material. Marble-clad private bathrooms lie behind sliding doors.
And if you can afford to take luxury up a notch, there’s the Presidential Suite: a 55-square-metre space occupying an entire train car from the former Nostalgie-Istanbul-Orient-Express, complete with its own private entrance.
When the new Orient Express train will be launched?
Originally slated for a 2025 debut, the Orient Express train by Maxime d’Angeac is now expected to launch in late 2026.
Details about the journey—such as the exact routes and pricing—are yet to be announced.
In the meantime, you can book the brand’s Orient Express La Dolce Vita online. Starting in April 2025, these journeys will take travellers to Italy's most iconic destinations.
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