| Originally, the Orient Express was an ordinary | | | | VSOE is more like taking a luxury cruise than |
| international train, providing service from Paris to | | | | taking a simple trip by train; the point of the trip is |
| Istanbul. It first ran in October of 1883, under the | | | | the journey, not the destination. Tickets can cost |
| Compagnie International des Wagons-Lits, a | | | | £1,200 or more per person. |
| French railway company. Its route changed many | | | | Another, similar privately run operation, the |
| times over the years, and it eventually became | | | | Nostalgic Orient Express, also capitalizes on the |
| associated with mystery, intrigue, and luxurious | | | | Orient Express name. Like the VSOE, it uses |
| travel. | | | | LX-class cars and costs a similar amount. It runs |
| It's possible that the reputation for intrigue arose | | | | an irregular schedule from Zurich to Istanbul and |
| because of the train's route. It cut across France, | | | | Athens. |
| Germany, and many Eastern countries that often | | | | Many privately-run companies under the Orient |
| had tense relationships with each other. The | | | | Express name use beautifully restored luxury |
| service was discontinued during World Wars I and | | | | railcars dating from the 1920's to the 1950's. While |
| II due to international tension, and resistance | | | | many of these cars were once owned by |
| groups from conflicting countries would | | | | Wagons-Lits and may have run the |
| sometimes sabotage the tracks even in | | | | Orient-Express route at some point, the actual |
| peacetime. | | | | trains used by these companies are not exactly |
| Because the Orient Express was for many years | | | | like those used on the original Orient Express. |
| the fastest route across Europe, important heads | | | | Privately-run companies often string together a |
| of state, business leaders, and even royalty rode | | | | series of elegant LX-class cars, the most luxurious |
| the train alongside the bourgeoisie. During the | | | | class of cars ever used by Wagons-Lits, and call |
| 1930's, the parent company installed gourmet | | | | them "the original Orient Express train." But the |
| restaurants and elegant sleeping cars to | | | | original Orient Express used mostly S-Class and |
| accommodate its important and wealthy clientele, | | | | Z-Class sleeping cars, which were more utilitarian. |
| and soon the train became associated with luxury | | | | A small section of the Orient Express route did |
| travel. | | | | use LX-class cars during the 1930's, but the entire |
| The original French parent company sold its cars | | | | Orient Express train was not composed of these |
| to other railways in 1971, but continued to staff | | | | beautiful sleepers. |
| the cars until 1976. The last direct Orient Express | | | | In general, many of these companies infer that |
| route from Paris to Istanbul ran in 1977. That | | | | their train is the actual, original locomotive used on |
| doesn't mean you can't ride on the Orient Express | | | | the Orient Express. While some have managed to |
| today, however. There are several ways to do it. | | | | buy and restore Wagons-Lits cars, some of which |
| Perhaps the easiest and least expensive is to ride | | | | may have run that route at some point, the idea |
| on the "real" Orient Express--the direct | | | | that an "original Orient Express" exists is a fallacy. |
| descendant of the famous Wagons-Lits route. It's | | | | The Orient Express was a route, not a specific |
| still the main overnight train connecting Paris and | | | | train--similar to the Boston-to-London flight |
| Vienna, and it's run by the German, Austrian, and | | | | offered by American Airlines. Just as the plane |
| French national railways under the name "Orient | | | | used for that route changes from day to day, |
| Express." You can ride it using InterRail and Eurail | | | | the train cars used for the Orient Express route |
| passes, just like you can with any national or | | | | rotated daily and weekly. It would be impossible |
| international European train. | | | | to buy an "original Boston-to-London plane" from |
| So the authentic Orient Express still runs, but | | | | American airlines; hundreds of planes have flown |
| don't expect it to take you to the Orient | | | | that route. It's also impossible to find an "original |
| nowadays. And after June 9, 2007, you won't be | | | | Orient Express train." |
| able to catch it in Paris, either. It will be partially | | | | You can ride on a nationally owned Orient Express |
| replaced on that date by the LVG Est, a | | | | route with a timetable history stretching all the |
| high-speed train connecting Paris to Strasbourg, | | | | way back to the original Orient Express. Or you |
| but it will continue to run from Strasbourg to | | | | can ride in a restored car dating from the heyday |
| Vienna. | | | | of the Orient Express, owned by a privately run |
| Several privately owned companies run trains | | | | company unconnected to the original route. Which |
| under the name "Orient Express." Perhaps one of | | | | is more authentic? |
| the best known is the Venice-Simplon Orient | | | | It depends on what you consider authentic. The |
| Express. James Sherwood, an American-born | | | | national Orient Express route uses modern trains, |
| British businessman, started this company in 1982. | | | | but it's the direct descendant of that old, |
| In 1977, following the "end" of the Orient Express, | | | | much-loved route. Private companies can't offer |
| he bought two railcars at auction that had once | | | | the same pedigree, but they can offer an |
| been used on the route. | | | | atmosphere closer to what we associate with the |
| Today, the Venice-Simplon Orient Express (VSOE) | | | | Orient Express. Either way, when you ride the |
| runs from London to many different destinations, | | | | Orient Express, you're still riding a piece of history. |
| including Rome, Krakow, and Istanbul. Riding the | | | | |