For decades, the Orient Express was the king of trains. It survived World War I, but politics and borders started acting up. After the war, the route got a major facelift. Instead of going through Germany, it took a detour via Switzerland and Italy. Picture a diva who suddenly changes her entire wardrobe.
By the 1930s, the train split into multiple branches. You had the Simplon Orient Express (through the Simplon Tunnel in the Alps) and the Arlberg Orient Express (through the Austrian Alps). It was like a choose-your-own-adventure book, but with more linen napkins.
World War II hit, and the train service stopped completely. The fancy cars were either hidden away or used for less glamorous errands. Imagine a Rolls Royce being forced to haul potatoes. That’s the wartime vibe.
When peace returned, the Orient Express revived, but the world had changed. Air travel became the new hotness. People wanted speed, not scenic five-day journeys. The classic route to Istanbul ended in 1977. The last run was a quiet, sad affair. No confetti. Just a train that had seen too many goodbyes.
Wait, So the Train Just Vanished?
Not exactly! It went into hiding like a celebrity who fakes their own death. The original cars were scattered—some turned into museum pieces, others into scrap. But nostalgia is a powerful drug.
Trip on the orient express through europe 60 photos - Mariaserkin.com
In 1982, a brilliant American businessman named James Sherwood went dumpster diving—okay, fine, he went to auctions. He bought up the original vintage carriages and restored them to their former glory. The result? The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE).
Today, this beauty runs a different route: London to Venice (with a jaunt through Paris and the Alps). It’s not the original Constantinople path, but it’s close enough to make your inner romantic swoon. They even have a version that goes to Istanbul once a year. That’s right—the legend lives on, just for special occasions.
And there’s a twist: other luxury train operators have jumped on the bandwagon. You can ride Belmond’s Orient Express journeys through Europe, Italy, and even Scotland. Each trip is like a time machine, but you’re allowed to bring your phone.
