Summary
- Restoration Discovery – In 2015, 17 original Nostalgie-Istanbul-Orient-Express carriages were found in Poland and are now being restored in France.
- Arrival in France – The carriages will return to the tracks in time for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
- Modern Interpretation – The restoration blends historical authenticity with contemporary design.
Seventeen of the original Nostalgie-Istanbul-Orient-Express carriages were discovered in Poland in 2015. They’re now being restored in France and will hit the railways in time for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
When, in 2015, French historian Arthur Mettetal was tasked with documenting the remaining original cars of the legendary Orient Express for France’s national train service, SNCF, he came across an anonymous video of a train on YouTube. After some research and analysis, Mettetal discovered that 17 original Nostalgie-Istanbul-Orient-Express carriages were lined up at a remote train station between the border of Belarus and Poland. It took a few more years for the then-owner to agree to sell them to the Orient Express brand, which is currently co-owned by Accor, but, finally, in 2018, the train cars returned to France. Consequently, the company announced that the cars are set to welcome back travelers in 2024 after a meticulous renovation.
The original carriages, including 12 sleeping cars, a restaurant car, three lounge cars, and a van, were in surprisingly good shape and still retained their Morrison and Nelson marquetry, Lalique glass panels, and art deco motifs. This was confirmed by Guillaume de Saint Lager, vice president of Orient Express, who spoke exclusively to iBestTravel. The renovation, which started a year ago, enlisted French architect Maxime d’Angeac to restore the legendary train to its former glory by interpreting Gilded Age décor for the modern traveler. The interiors of the first nine cars are set to be unveiled in December, featuring six sleeping carriages, a restaurant, a bar, and an “experiential salon.” The remaining eight cars will be unveiled gradually by 2024.
While authenticity is a factor in the project, Saint Lager explained that reinterpreting the décor in a contemporary way is vital.
“The brief to the designer was really to find this perfect balance between past, present, and future,” he said. “Some guests will think that [the train] was built in the 1930s. Others will see that it’s a modern interpretation, but we like to play with the notion of time and to really blur the line between past and future.”
The train will offer three types of suites, including a Presidential suite that will occupy an entire car, each with its own bathroom. While a chef has not been named for the culinary experiences, Saint Lager explained that the team seeks inspiration from old Orient Express menus. The last public car, the salon, will host performances and events, featuring décor inspired by dreamy winter gardens.
“This will be the magical car that will even break—in terms of style—with the other parts of the train. We want it to tell a story in itself,” Saint Lager expressed.
While the itinerary has not been finalized yet, the train is expected to run between Istanbul and Paris.
“The rebirth of the Orient Express presents a technological challenge, harmonizing scientific, artistic, and technical criteria. The entire project has been conceived as a work of art,” said Maxime D’Angeac, an avid collector of authors like Agatha Christie, in a press release.
“From the nuts and bolts stamped with Orient Express’ signature to the innovative concept of the suites, an exact science of detail will allow travelers to rediscover the great splendor of the Orient Express,” D’Angeac noted. “Entrusted to the best artisans and decorators specializing in their unique fields, this embassy of French luxury will unveil a setting of absolute refinement, true to the art of tailoring. It will offer an incomparable train travel experience, imagined through a contemporary vision of comfort and extreme luxury.”
This classic set of cars made its inaugural trip in the 1980s, operating between Zurich and Istanbul. Before ceasing service several years later, the train also enjoyed journeys from Paris to Tokyo, its longest itinerary. The remodeled cars’ first trip in the 21st century will coincide with the 2024 Paris Olympics and will launch a year after another Orient Express experience (by the same Accor-owned company), Orient Express La Dolce Vita, which celebrates Italian style from the 1960s and 1970s.
