The world’s most famous luxury train is coming back. The Orient Express, once the benchmark of glamour and old-world travel, is being rebuilt and brought to life again—this time with its full 1920s Art Deco style restored down to the tiniest detail. It’s the centrepiece of a Paris exhibition marking 100 years of Art Deco, and the mock-ups show exactly how the revived service plans to put elegance back on the rails.
The history behind it is long and rich. The train first ran in 1883 from Paris to Vienna, then later stretched to Istanbul, becoming a symbol of mystery and high society. Agatha Christie made it a global cultural icon in 1934 with the book “Murder on the Orient Express”. But eventually, the classic route faded as faster trains and cheap flights took over. Now designers are rebuilding everything—the bar car, the dining car, the private suites—with extreme care. Even simple things, like how glass reacts to vibration or how heavy a chair should be, require special solutions so nothing feels out of place once the train begins moving. The goal is to recreate the charm of the original experience without the chaos of old-school rail travel. The full service was originally scheduled to launch in 2027, aimed at travellers who want nostalgia delivered with precision.
But luxury rail fans don’t have to wait. Italy already has its own version: the La Dolce Vita Orient Express. The train’s name sounds like the old Istanbul route, but it stays in Italy, rolling through Tuscany, Sicily, and other scenic regions.
Inside, passengers get the same luxury coach feel—polished interiors and menus crafted by three-Michelin-star German chef Heinz Beck. Only, the entire experience costs around $4,000, which puts it out of reach for many travellers, most of whom would rather roam the streets and experience the local culture in Italy. Still, those willing to spend can claim an unforgettable trip.
If the view of Italy via train doesn’t interest you, you can try another continent entirely; one of Africa’s most famous luxury trains is located further south.
South Africa’s Rovos Rail has become a benchmark for vintage-meets-modern rail travel, with restored wood-panelled coaches, gourmet dining and routes that stretch from short 2-night escapes to long journeys reaching Tanzania. It’s slow, detailed travel built for people who want to sit back and watch the landscape roll by. And in Zambia, the Royal Livingstone Express offers its own taste of old-school glamour with routes that pass near Victoria Falls—a shorter but equally memorable way to experience Africa’s scenery in style.
Together, the revived Orient Express and Italy’s La Dolce Vita version show how luxury rail is finding its way back—slow, detailed, and designed for people who want travel to feel like an experience again, not just a journey.
