“The magic is in the details,” says model Gabriella Brooks as she recalls her time on board the Eastern & Oriental Express, A Belmond Train, Southeast Asia. The 16 plush Art Deco-inspired carriages returned to the rails this year after a four-year hiatus, with seasonal journeys beginning in Singapore and winding through the palm-studded, verdant jungles of West Malaysia. For Brooks, whose mother and grandmother are Singaporean and who was travelling with her younger sister, the three-day sojourn was a special one – perhaps made all the more so by the glamorous atmosphere on board the train, which truly transports its guests to a bygone era of unparalleled opulence.
“Our evenings were spent in the enchanting piano bar – my favourite part of the train – where we mingled with fellow guests and marvelled at the magician’s impossible card tricks,” Brooks recalls. “The bar’s velvet chairs and soft music created a sense of old-world charm.
“The pianist’s soothing melodies filled the air as the jungle landscape drifted by outside the window, while the dining car – with its fine china and crystal glasses – made every meal an exquisite experience,” she continues. “Later, we would retreat to our cabin and were lulled to sleep by the gentle sway of the train as it glided along the tracks.”
The romance of old-world train travel is nothing new. But after two centuries in operation, and despite the unstoppable force of innovation – aeroplanes, electric vehicles, self-driving cars – it’s the nostalgia for a past time, and some incredible carriage redesigns, that has seen vintage slow trains endure as the most elegant and sort-after way to travel abroad.
The Eastern & Oriental Express is the sister of the celebrated Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE), A Belmond Train, which has a storied history hosting famed parties and intriguing guests including spies, authors, ambassadors and royalty.
“There are few travel experiences steeped in as much legend as the VSOE, immortalised on the page and the silver screen,” Gary Franklin, Vice President of Trains & Cruises at Belmond, tells GRAZIA. “It was an entirely glamorous affair, that pioneered the way for international travellers to cross borders in style and luxury. Each of the carriages has a unique and eventful history – they carried the rich and the famous, the aristocratic and the powerful throughout Europe and towards the East on these legendary trains. Everywhere guests looked, from the dining-car tablescapes to the bar-car piano area, there was, and now is, a story to tell, of past and present.”
While nostalgia plays a role in the allure of such train journeys, so too does the pace of the locomotive itself. Averaging a speed of just 90 kilometres per hour, in a fast-paced world, it’s slow.
“Rather than treating the act of travel as a task to be endured, it becomes an experience to fully embrace. You want to be present for every second of it,” Brooks says. “We whiled away the hours blissfully, immersed in the lush jungle scenery, deep in conversation, and cherished precious time with each other. I believe that’s where the essence of true luxury lies – the privilege of being able to savour each moment.”
WHAT IS ‘SLOW LUXURY’?
To promote anything in today’s world as ‘slow’ is somewhat revolutionary. And when we speak about slow travel, it’s hard to pinpoint its exact beginnings. Remarkably, it would seem the slow food movement may predate the conscious move towards more mindful, more environmentally responsible modes of moving around. In 1986, Italy’s first McDonald’s was set to open at the foot of the Spanish Steps in Rome. A journalist named Carlo Petrini handed out bowls of penne pasta to passers-by and demonstrators who were against the fast food chain opening. It was Petrini’s protest which marked the beginning of a cohort of people who encouraged using natural ingredients when cooking and savouring delicious meals.
Franklin refers to this notion as ‘slow luxury’. In 1977 Belmond founder James Sherwood acquired two sleeping cars at a Sotheby’s auction in Monte Carlo. In the years that followed, other carriages were collected around Europe from private owners, museums and even abandoned gardens. Today, they are all part of the VSOE, the train most often associated with the golden age of luxury rail travel. Like Petrini, Belmond’s mission was to tamp-down guests’ conditioned obsession with time and build an experience which focused on their journey, rather than the destination.
“Luxury is not only about purchasing tangible objects; we believe one of the great luxuries is now time,” says Franklin. “Travelling on the VSOE allows our guests to slow down and absorb their surroundings. The vastly diverse European landscapes and the beautifully restored interiors both provide a sense of awe and discovery that we believe will allow our guests to fully unwind.
Slow luxury is the celebration of craftsmanship and experiential travel, a concept perfectly embraced by our train’s portfolio.”
FULL STEAM AHEAD
When looking to restore carriages these days, the LVMH-owned Belmond VSOE continues its pioneering spirit by collaborating with creatives. Its latest is JR, one of the most influential artists of the modern day. Tasked with transforming a carriage, and inspired by astronomical observatories and Renaissance Europe’s cabinets of curiosity, he sought to create a Parisian art studio on wheels. A creative cocoon filled with micro-environments: a lounge, library, bathroom and hidden tearoom. Gracing the rails in March 2025, L’Observatoire took three years to design and build, with stays starting at £80,000 (AU$155,000) per night.
“The new sleeper carriage features an incredible level of detail that’s never been seen before on a train,” says Franklin. “L’Observatoire is a testament to Belmond’s prominent role in reinventing the railway experience as we perpetuate the art of slow luxury across our growing portfolio. Intended as an ‘artwork in motion’, L’Observatoire will offer the experience to a guest seeking an unparalleled blend of art, luxury, and immersive storytelling. JR’s thoughtful integration of exceptional craftsmanship is evident throughout, resulting in a truly unique and transformative travel experience.
“In this extraordinary space, guests can rediscover a sense of curiosity, adventure, and introspection.”
GLAMOROUS TRAIN JOURNEYS ON OFFER
Belmond offers train journeys to a wide range of destinations around the globe; you can travel through Malaysia via the Eastern & Oriental Express, the Andes via the Andean Explorer, the European plains via the VSOE, or the Scottish lochs via the Royal Scotsman. New routes include Paris to Portofino on board the VSOE and the relaunch of the Eastern & Oriental, on which Brooks travelled. A few notes: Porters dressed in gold-trimmed blue suits and white gloves will meet you on your departure platform and usher you to your historic cabin, suite, or grand suite, each lovingly restored to full 1920s grandeur. The dress code for evenings in the bar car and dining carriage is ‘jacket and tie’ – code for glamorous. In fact, passengers inappropriately dressed will be asked to take their drinks and meals into their cabin! After midnight, lobster rolls and truffle club sandwiches are on offer for the last passengers requesting songs from the pianist. Explore more at belmond.com/trains.
Tales from The Original Orient Express
*The first carriage that James Sherwood bought at the 1977 auction was built in 1926. On one of its voyages, it became marooned in a snowstorm for 10 days 97 kilometres outside of Istanbul. The incident inspired Agatha Christie’s novel Murder On The Orient Express.
*In 1920, French President Paul Deschanel was preparing for bed in his elegant sleeping car when he reportedly fell out the window! Hours later, he was found wandering the countryside in his pyjamas, dazed and confused. The incident provided rich material for media representatives, satirical writers, and political cartoonists of the time.
*American singer Joséphine Baker was a frequent traveller on the Orient Express. In 1931, a bomb exploded as the train passed over the Biatorbágy Viaduct in Hungary. Baker survived and, according to reports, was one of the most active in giving aid to the wounded.
GoldenPass Belle Epoque
SWITZERLAND: If you’re headed to Switzerland, step back in time on board the GoldenPass Belle Epoque train. Exuding the elegance of the 1930s, these ornate carriages ensure a luxurious journey between Montreux and Zweisimmen. Early in the year, the views from the train over Montreux and Lake Geneva, as well as the high Alpine peaks around Château-d’Oex and Gstaad, are incredible. While these are not overnight cabins, their modern comforts are definitely worth the extra fee. journey.mob.ch/en/stories/belle-epoque
Rovos Rail
AFRICA: Established in 1989, Rovos Rail offers bespoke train safaris through the heart of Africa and combines magnificent scenery with the glamour and excitement of the golden age of travel. With 36 superbly appointed suites, journeys on board the restored, wood-panelled trains last anywhere between two and 15 days. Routes include a three-night journey from Cape Town to Pretoria, a two-nighter from Pretoria to Durban or a multi-night meander from Pretoria to Victoria Falls. The standout? The Trail Of Two Oceans route, which sets off from the Tanzanian capital, Dar es Salaam, and finishes in Lobito in Angola on the other side of the country 15 days later. Like the VSOE, a collar and tie is mandatory for men come dinner time, while women are encouraged to wear evening dresses or suits. rovos.com
Seven Stars Kyushu
JAPAN: Since its inception in 2013, the Kyushu Seven Stars, Japan’s very first luxury train, has been selling space based on a lottery system, to deal with overwhelming demand. The elegant, seven-car train travels through Japan’s island of Kyushu, running east from Fukuoka to Oita Prefecture, south to Kagoshima Prefecture and then back up through Oita. With 10 suites outfitted with Japanese furniture and massive picture windows, and a traditional ryurei-style tea room, it’s the train’s saloon car which resembles the VSOE. “Sip drinks at the bar and mingle with fellow passengers in the modern Japanese atmosphere as the pleasant sound of the live piano performance tinkles in the background,” the company’s site reads. Apply early. cruisetrain-sevenstars.jp/english
La Dolce Vita Orient Express
ITALY: Not to be confused with the Belmond’s Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, Accor’s La Dolce Vita Orient Express is the relaunch of the 150-year-old rail marque. With eight itineraries to choose from – all in Italy – its routes are breathtaking. You could travel from Rome to Sicily, or take a two-day round trip from Rome to explore Venice and Siena, or Venice and Portofino, or Matera – the third-oldest city in the world – and Pescocostanzo, the list goes on. There’s even a round-trip around the shores of Sicily, taking in Catania, Palermo and Taormina. While the cabins take a more unostentatious and contemporary approach to design, luxury is not compromised. A one-night itinerary starts at AU$5,688 per person in a deluxe cabin. orient-express.com/la-dolce-vita
Maharajas’ Express
INDIA: India’s maharajas lived a life most people can only dream of. And the setting on board India’s most luxurious trains, the Maharajas’ Express, captures this era of royal opulence to a tee. Running from October through to April, the company offers four routes: Mumbai to Agra and Delhi, Delhi to Mumbai, and two round-trips to Delhi. Passengers can choose from four categories of rooms, the largest being the presidential suite, which boasts two bedrooms, a living room and a bathroom with a bathtub. With stops along the way highlighting Indian culture and history, most guests like to retreat to one of the two fine-dining restaurants on board, complete with hand-painted fresco ceilings. Fares start at AU$5,788 per person. the-maharajas.com
British Pullman
GREAT BRITAIN: While the British Pullman is another Belmond train, it’s impossible not to spotlight. It’s not so much the antique-style marquetry, vintage lighting and heritage upholstery that anchor the design of these carriages so much as it is the stories of those on board. For example, the Audrey carriage conveyed Queen Elizabeth II on her visit to Sussex in 1964. With routes travelling to Kent, Oxfordshire, Hampshire and Surrey (to name a few), you can enjoy a four-course lunch or a quintessentially English afternoon tea during your day trip. Worthy of note: film director Wes Anderson famously designed one of the 11 carriages. belmond.com/trains/europe/uk/belmond-british-pullman
This story first appeared on GRAZIA International.
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