It’s the Roaring 20s Version 2.0, and the Orient Express is back. Although the grand opening is scheduled for 2025, the train’s owners have pulled back the curtain on the luxury train. As a sign of the times, the preview was held at a virtual reality exhibition at Paris art week called the Orient Express Revelation.
Accor Group, which holds a 50% stake in the Orient Express franchise, has spent the better part of the last five years reviving the train to its former glory, and then some. French architect Maxime d’Angeac headed up the redesign, which now marries art deco and contemporary elements to welcome passengers of today.
D’Angeac turned to two of the former Orient Express designs; one from 1883 and another from 1924 (made famous by the Bond films) as references. The modernized car borrows original motifs like Lalique flower lamps; rosewood panels; and Morrison and Nelson marquetry. The latter of which was unearthed by history researcher Arthur Mettetal from the border between Belarus and Poland in 2015, after it remained hidden for a decade.
Modern artwork lines the cabins, and bold hues of green and purple dot the interior to update the train for the guests of the future.
Domed skylights hover over the Bar Car, which also features an all-glass bar counter as a nod to the classic glasswork done by French jeweler René Lalique in the original train.
The Dining Car is lit by lamp shades drawn from the classic train lights.
Sébastien Bazin, chairman and CEO of Accor, believes it’s crucial for the reborn train to embody both old and new elements. Instead of just faithfully honoring past designs, to only celebrate its legacy, but to also “create something timeless,” quotes Condé Nast Traveler.
After Paris the Orient Express Revelation virtual reality display will stop at Design Miami, where it will stay from November 30 to December 4.
A video tour of the new carriage can be viewed below.
