There has never been a method of transit so historic or glamorized as the Orient Express. This train route started out as a simple international passenger service with well accommodating means. In the end, the Orient Express would have a long and varied history while, in its various forms, visiting many major European cities. It has been written about, used in books and movies as a setting, and had its share of misconceptions during its lifetime.
The Orient Express is name given to a long-distance train service traveling across Europe. The original international passenger service has seen different routes, destinations and owners over more than a century of service. The Orient Express is also the name of a short-lived luxury service in the U.S., as well as a hotel group and tourist agency operating throughout Asia.
The original passenger service which eventually would be called The Orient Express was first operated by a French company, Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits with service starting in 1883 and the name officially becoming The Orient Express in 1891.
The original Orient Express ran from Paris France to Istanbul Turkey. This train ran through Munich and Vienna, as well as Belgrade. Istanbul remained the easternmost stop until 1977, while Paris remained the westernmost stop until 30 years later in 2007.
The Orient Express had its greatest success during the 1930's when there were three routes running at the same time. Besides the original Orient Express, there were also the Simplon and Arlberg versions of this service. It was at this time when the passenger service acquired the reputation for luxury and for being patronized by royalty, diplomats and business people.
Train service was disrupted twice, once during World War I and again during World War II. Otherwise there has been continuous service under the Orient Express name since its inception.
In order of appearance the Orient Express was first in 1891, followed by the Simplon Orient Express in 1919, and the Arlberg Orient Express came afterwards. By 1930, the service of the three was completely interconnected, and passengers could reach nearly any point in Europe via the Orient Express trains.
The Orient Express in its various forms covered most of the European continent during the passing of time. The three routes covered many major cities along their way.
The original Orient Express had Paris and Istanbul as its endpoints with cities such as Vienna and Munich, as well as Giurgiu, Romania, and Rousse and Varna, Bulgaria. In modern times it runs from Strasbourg, Germany, where it meets with high speed trains and routes itself to Vienna through Amsterdam.
The Simplon Orient Express ran from Calais and Paris to Milan, Venice and Trieste, and then onward to Belgrade and Sofia on the way to Istanbul, passing through Athens.
The Arlberg Orient Express ran from Zurich and Innsbruck to Budapest, then onward to Bucharest and Athens.
The Orient Express lends itself to many works in literature and film during the 20th Century.
In written work it sets the scene for parts of the following work:
• "Dracula" by Bram Stoker
• "Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Cristie
• "Stambaul Train" by Graham Greene
• "Flashman and the Tiger" by George MacDonald Fraser
• "From Russia With Love" by Ian Fleming
In films the service is also noted.
• "The Orient Express," both the 1934 and 1944 versions were adaptations of Graham Greene's book
• "Murder on the Orient Express," both the 1974 and 2001 versions were adaptations of Agatha Christie's book
• "Around the World in 80 Days" (2004)
• "102 Dalmatians" (2000)
A few things which most people do not know about the Orient Express:
• The Agatha Christie novel "Murder on the Orient Express" does not happen on the original Orient Express; the setting is written for the Simplon Orient Express, which had different cars.
• Another book, "Stamboul Train" by Graham Greene, happens on the Orient Express, but is not the original Orient Express, rather the Oostende-Vienna Express, which was a modern offshoot of the old service.
• The Simplon Orient Express (the southern route) was replaced by the Direct Orient Express in 1962.
• The Direct Orient Express stopped operations in 1977, and this event was incorrectly reported as the end of the original Orient Express, which is still in operation today.
• There is a tourist train known as the Venice Simplon Orient Express run by VSOE Ltd which uses restored sleeping cars from the Wagon-Lits era. This is often confused with the original Orient Express.
