Venice Simplon Orient-Express

the long version

For a century the Orient-Express has been the symbol of luxury travel in Europe, evocative of excitement, romance and intrigue. Its last run, in May 1977, aroused the interest of James Sherwood, President of the Sea Containers Group, who tracked down over thirty old 1920s carriages from all over Europe and had them lovingly restored by expert craftsmen, often from a state of almost hopeless dilapidation. Today the gleaming coaches of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express transport passengers between London and Venice in exquisite surrounds originally conceived by the master designers of the Art Deco period. This beautifully illustrated book traces the history of luxury train travel in Europe, including famous services such as the old Orient-Expresses, the Golden Arrow and the Train Bleu. The author details the story of each car in the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, revealing its links with politics, royalty and international intrigue. With the help of fascinating 'before and after' pictures the book describes the painstaking process of restoring marquetry and panelling ruined by years of wear and neglect, of bringing the vintage carriages up to modern safety standards and of re-creating classic items like the Art Nouveau 'tulip' lights originally designed by Lalique. We share in the excitement leading up to the relaunching of the train in 1982 and the book ends with an account of the romantic trip across Europe which, as James Sherwood hoped, has restored the art of travel.