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The Eastern and Oriental Express combines old world luxury with old-fashioned discovery of far away places, in this instance, the mythical lands of South East Asia. This gracious train has only recently started its journey into the history books, but it still manages to charm you back to a time when decadence and exotic travel went hand in hand.
Before 1993, passengers travelling from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok had to change rail networks at the border of Malaysia and Thailand. There was no single train that completed the whole journey.
This was set to change when in 1991 a historical agreement was made. The luxury British travel company, Orient Express Trains & Cruises signed a haulage contract with the rail networks of the two neighbouring nations, allowing a single luxury train to travel the entire length of the passage, across the 1,262 miles.
Orient Express is the proud owner of the legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express that carries passengers on a voyage across Europe, in romantic, old-fashioned style and has been doing so since 1982. This train is one of the most famous luxury trains in the world, and Orient Express were hoping to offer a service just as special to travellers keen to discover South East Asia.
In 1990, the company had purchased New Zealand’s famed Silver Star; a luxury passenger train built in Japan in 1972, which had been unused for over 10 years and gathering dust in Auckland. The train was brought to Malaysia, where an extensive internal rebuild and refurbish and re-gauging was carried out. The man responsible for the train’s facelift was Gerard Gallet, who was also the designer behind the elegant beautification of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.
The train’s remodelling and new décor was inspired by Eastern designs, with Malaysian motifs and Thai engravings adorning the walls, and cherry wood and elm panelling throughout, all polished with Chinese and Thai lacquer. An exterior paint job transformed the mechanical stainless steel facade with vintage shades of dark green and cream, along with the intricate golden symbol that was to become the train’s famous logo. An observation deck to provide panoramic views was created and furnished as well.
It took 3 years to have the train ready and in 1993, the Eastern & Oriental Express set out on its maiden voyage from Singapore to Bangkok. It didn’t take long for this luxurious journey to gain a reputation as one of the most romantic and adventurous rail journeys in the world. Travellers looking for luxury Asia holidays now had the equivalent to the famous European train journey, harking back to the glory days of rail travel, with the added spice and magic of the East.
A trip aboard this romantic train takes you back to a bygone era where dinner requires proper dress, morning tea and early afternoon cocktails are all part of the daily ritual and the magic of Asia is still undiscovered and waiting to be explored.
Isla Campbell writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
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Eastern Express, Eastern and Oriental Express, Venice Simplon Orient Express, The Orient Express, Train travel through Asia, South East Asia holiday, ,
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