The ''Orient Express'' is a private

luxury train A luxury train is a premium Passenger train, passenger rail service. Some luxury trains promote tourism in destinations across a region, while others (such as the ''Maharajas' Express'') take passengers on a ride through a single country. Luxur ...

service and luxury hospitality company operated by

Accor Accor S.A. is a French multinational hospitality company that owns, manages and franchises hotels, resorts and vacation properties. It is the largest hospitality company in Europe, and the sixth largest hospitality company worldwide. Accor ope ...

. It will carry passengers between

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

and

Istanbul Istanbul is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical heart. With Demographics of Istanbul, a population over , it is home to 18% of the Demographics ...

, like the original ''

Orient Express The ''Orient Express'' was a long-distance passenger luxury train service created in 1883 by the Belgian company ''Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits'' (CIWL) that operated until 2009. The train traveled the length of continental Europe, w ...

'', beginning in late 2026. ''Orient Express La Dolce Vita'' began offering journeys around Italy in April 2025.

Trains

''The Orient Express''

In 2017,

purchased a 50% stake in the Orient Express brand from

SNCF The Société nationale des chemins de fer français (, , SNCF ) is France's national State-owned enterprise, state-owned railway company. Founded in 1938, it operates the Rail transport in France, country's national rail traffic along with th ...

for the right to use the name. In 2018, Accor began renovation work on 17 CIWL carriages from the defunct ''Nostalgie Istanbul Orient Express'', which date back to the 1920s and 1930s, to create a modern ''Orient Express''. Two services will be operated, the Central Europe route (France, Germany, Austria, Hungary and Czechia) and the original route (France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey). The first service will begin in late 2026.

''Orient Express La Dolce Vita''

A total of six ''Orient Express La Dolce Vita'' trains, each accommodating 62 guests, were constructed in Brindisi, Italy. The interiors are inspired by 1960s

Italian design Italian design refers to all forms of design in Italy, including interior design, urban design, fashion design, and architectural design. Italy is recognized as a worldwide trendsetter and leader in design. The architect Luigi Caccia Dominioni c ...

. The trains will offer overnight journeys around Italy, with itineraries including

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

Venice Venice ( ; ; , formerly ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 islands that are separated by expanses of open water and by canals; portions of the city are li ...

and

Portofino Portofino (; ) is a ''comune'' located in the Metropolitan City of Genoa on the Italian Riviera. The town is clustered around its small harbour, and is known for the colourfully painted buildings that line the shore. Since the late 19th centur ...

. Its inaugural journey embarked on April 4, 2025. Private journeys for up to 62 people can also be reserved, including for weddings and corporate events, with the option to choose custom decor, menus, and itineraries.

Hotels

Accor purchased a 50 percent stake in the Orient Express brand from SNCF in 2017 to launch a chain of Orient Express hotels. In 2019 it was announced that the first Orient Express hotel would open in

Bangkok, Thailand Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estim ...

at the

King Power Mahanakhon King Power Mahanakhon (), formerly known as MahaNakhon (มหานคร), is a mixed-use skyscraper in the Silom/ Sathon central business district of Bangkok, Thailand. It was opened in December 2016 by MahaNakhon Managing Director Kipsan Be ...

skyscraper. It was planned to open in 2020 and would have had 154 rooms. In 2020 Orient Express and King Power mutually agreed to part ways and the Orient Express Hotel Bangkok was cancelled. In February 2022 Arsenale S.p.A acquired in Rome, Italy. In July, the opening of an Orient Express hotel in the space was announced. Also in 2022 the opening of an Orient Express at the Palazzo Dona Giovannelli in Venice was announced. The hotel opened in April 2025.

Other

Cruises

superyacht A superyacht or megayacht is a large and luxurious pleasure vessel. There are no official or agreed upon definitions for such yachts, but these terms are regularly used to describe professionally crewed motor or sailing yachts, ranging from to ...

cruise line will also be launched under the Orient Express name. The Orient Express Silenseas will be the largest sailing yacht in the world and services will start in 2028. A second yacht has also been commissioned and both will be built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique.

Products

In 2021 a collection of travel objects called "Steam Dream" launched with pop ups at La Samartaine (a Parisian department store) and the IFC mall in

Hong Kong Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...

and online. The collection includes items made by Au Départ, Smythson, Cire Trudon, Bernardaud,

Duvelleroy Duvelleroy is a fan maker and leather goods manufacturer based in Paris, France. The house was founded in 1827 by Jean-Pierre Duvelleroy, and stands today as one of the rare French fan makers still in existence.Lucie Saboudjian, Ph. John Keyser ...

and more. In 2023 in a collaboration with Montblanc they launched a limited edition collection of seven Orient Express themed pens for Montblanc's High Artistry Collection.

Racing Team

CEOs

* Omer Acar (CEO of Orient Express and Raffles - 2023 to 2024) * Gilda Perez-Alvarado (CEO of Orient Express - 2024 to present)

References

{{Reflist Accor Accor hotels Luxury trains Orient Express