The “Orient Express of Asia”, the Eastern & Oriental Express, is back on the tracks. The train will start running again in February 2024, according to owner luxury travel company Belmond. Considered one of the most luxurious rail routes in Asia, the passenger train began operating in 1993, connecting Bangkok to Singapore.
It stopped working in 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic
The Eastern & Oriental returns with 15 carriages, including two restaurants, a piano bar and an alfresco. The eight carriages with cabins will have three classes: Pullman, State and Presidential – all with air conditioning and private bathrooms. Bookings for 2024 began today with prices starting at $3,410 per person for a three-day trip, which includes all meals, beverages and scheduled activities.
Two trips
The new service is set to operate two seasonal voyages, both from Singapore to Malaysia.
‘Essence of Malaysia’ will run from November to February. It will pass through Kuala Lumpur, overlooking the Petronas Twin Towers – once the tallest buildings in the world – before departing for the popular islands of Langkawi and Penang along western Malaysia.
Visitors can go scuba diving at the Palau Payar Marine Park, take Peranakan cooking classes and experience “UNESCO World Heritage sites, vibrant street art and an exciting culinary experience in George Town,” according to the release.
From March to October, passengers can take the ‘Wild Malaysia’ route. It stops along the eastern side of Malaysia to explore the rainforests of Taman Negara National Park, before heading to Penang.
Trains with similar names
The Eastern & Oriental Express is colloquially referred to as the ‘Orient Express’ of Southeast Asia, reminiscent of the historic train that connected Paris to Istanbul from the late 19th century. However, other rail services use the nickname, including one run by Belmond.
This train – the “Venice Simplon-Orient-Express” – operates under a one-off licensing agreement and has been running since 1982.
French hospitality company Accor has broader rights to the name through an agreement signed with French rail company SNCF in 2017. The company is set to launch a luxury passenger service in 2025, according to its website.
Accor is also preparing to launch six trains, an “Orient Express La Dolce Vita” in 2024 that will cross Italy, with trips to Paris, Istanbul and Split, Croatia, according to its website.
Pre-booking for this service opened in December 2022, with prices starting at €2,000 per person per night, according to Accor.
