Orient Express

Orient Express is the name of a long-distance passenger train originally operated by the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits. Its route has changed many times.

The original route, which first ran on 1883-10-04, was from Paris to Giurgiu via Vienna. Later the same year, the train's eastern terminus became Varna in Bulgaria, where passengers could take a ship to Istanbul. In 1889 the train began running non-stop all the way to Istanbul, which remained its easternmost stop until 1977-05-19.

The most famous route was that of the "Simplon Orient Express," from Paris to Istanbul by way of Switzerland, Milan, and Zagreb. It began running in 1906 after the 19.8 km Simplon tunnel between Switzerland and Italy was completed. Other routes also touched Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, and Serbia.

Before World War II, the Orient Express was a symbol of comfort and luxury. It had sleeping-cars with permanent service and restaurant cars known for the quality of their cuisine. Royalty, nobles, diplomats, businesspeople and the bourgeoisie in general patronized it.

The last "real" Orient Express with special coaches went on its way in 1977. Later there was an ordinary train with this name from Paris to Budapest. It still runs from Paris to Vienna although Austria is hardly "the orient".

The action of Agatha Christie's novel Murder on the Orient Express is set on the Simplon Orient Express. There is also a 2000 movie, Death, Deceit and Destiny Aboard the Orient Express, also in the 2004 version of Around the World in 80 Days, Mr. Fogg rides aboard the train to Istanbul. Additionally, James Bond's troubled escape in "From Russia with Love" is set aboard the train.

See also