Once Upon a Time

Following its discovery in the depths of Eastern Europe, the legendary Nostalgie-Istanbul Orient-Express will get its fairytale ending, returning to the tracks in spectacular style.

Words: Catherine Martin • Photography: © Maxime d’Angeac and Martin Darzacq

Rail enthusiasts rejoiced in late 2021 when Orient Express announced plans for a modern interpretation of its famous train, so you can imagine their delight at hearing news that lost carriages from the historic Nostalgie-Istanbul OrientExpress had been found and would re-enter service in 2025 for a truly magical ride.

The remarkable discovery came in 2015 when Arthur Mettetal – a researcher specialising in industrial history – happened upon a YouTube video showing the long-forgotten train in motion. The chancesighting led to a months-long search to track it down and, with a little help from Google Maps and Google 3D, the carriages were eventually found on the border between Belarus and Poland, some four hours from Warsaw. Partly preserved, the interiors revealed Morrison and Nelson marquetry as well as Lalique panels emblematic of the Art Deco style, engraved with signature blackbirds and grapes motifs.

It took two years of negotiations to acquire the train and transport it to a workshop in France, but now, Accor and Orient Express have revealed their vision for its future.

The mammoth task of bringing the carriages back to life fell to architect Maxime d’Angeac, a Parisbased designer with a portfolio spanning private residences to castles. Inspired by the 1920s and a love of travel novels, d’Angeac began the design process by sketching in fine detail and making 3D models, with his concept seeking to combine

traditional craftsmanship with contemporary luxury. “The work is meticulous, just like it was in the past,” says d’Angeac. “By slipping into the shoes of its creators, from René Prou to Suzanne Lalique, I tried to reinterpret the history of this legendary train, not only with nostalgia, but with a desire to extend its history, to transport us to another place.”

New renderings of the train reveal an aesthetic that evokes the Golden Age of rail travel, with a rich palette of materials together with exquisite detail from the finest French artisans. In the bar, armchairs and banquettes in emerald hues sit beneath Second Empirestyle domes of light, and rosewood, marble and bronze accompany an all-glass bar counter that pays tribute to Lalique. The dining car revives the marquetry of the original train with panels interspersed by a series of archways, while corridors are equally theatrical, featuring vaulted ceilings punctuated by delicate flower lamps and a bold, patterned carpet.

In the suites, d’Angeac introduced circular forms to add softness and counter the horizontal lines of the train; elliptical shelves are dressed with objets d’art and a magic mirror plays with perspective. Materials here include timber, leather and mother-of-pearl, while nooks are adorned with more of Lalique’s panels recovered from the original carriages.

“Created like a work of art, the future Orient Express train is born from a marvel, the Nostalgie-Istanbul Orient-Express, entirely reinvented and equipped with outstanding facilities,” d’Angeac explains. “The train’s history has been rewritten.”

Expected to take to the tracks in 2025, the new venture will join Orient Express La Dolce Vita, a refurbished fleet that will travel Italy from 2024. Both come courtesy of a strategic partnership between Accor and SNCF, which will also see the launch of Orient Express-branded hotels in Europe and beyond. “We are proud to reveal the first images of the future Orient Express train – a story inspired by a dream, a timeless train, the object of all fantasies and which becomes a reality,” comments Sébastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO of Accor. “Maxime d’Angeac’s design awakens the myth with the revelation of its luxury, modernity and French elegance. Tomorrow, the Orient Express will shine again, proud of its 140 years of history and looking to the future. The legend continues.” The design scheme reveals a rich palette of materials together with exquisite detail from the finest French artisans