Photographs: Radu Sigheti/Reuters.
One of the world's most magnificent trains, the Venice Simplon-Orient Express train recreates the original Orient-Express route from Paris to Istanbul once a year with restored cars and luxury suites from the 1920s.
Photographs courtesy: Orient-Express Hotels (UK) Ltd.
Click NEXT to see stunning images of the Venice Simplon-Orient Express...
Onboard the royal Venice Simplon-Orient Express
Photographs: Radu Sigheti/Reuters.
Launched in October 1883, the train traveled through the Alps, Budapest and Bucharest to Constantinople.
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Onboard the royal Venice Simplon-Orient Express
Photographs: Ron Bambridge.
This legendary train continued to carry royal families and celebrities between European cities till the 1920s.
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Onboard the royal Venice Simplon-Orient Express
Photographs: Ron Bambridge.
Many of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express's current carriages date from this era.
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Onboard the royal Venice Simplon-Orient Express
Photographs: Matt Hind.
After World War II, it had to shut shop. Its last service as a regular passenger train was in May 1977.
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Onboard the royal Venice Simplon-Orient Express
Photographs: Matt Hind.
However, this luxury train was rescued by entrepreneur and rail enthusiast, James B. Sherwood.
Onboard the royal Venice Simplon-Orient Express
Photographs: Matt Hind.
In 1977, James B. Sherwood bought two of the train's carriages at a Sotheby's auction in Monte Carlo.
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Onboard the royal Venice Simplon-Orient Express
Photographs: Matt Hind.
During the next few years, about $16 million were spent locating, purchasing and restoring some 35 vintage carriages.
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Onboard the royal Venice Simplon-Orient Express
Photographs: Matt Hind.
In May 1982, the legend was reborn when the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express made its maiden run from London to Venice.
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Onboard the royal Venice Simplon-Orient Express
The legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train offers a gracious journey criss-crossing Europe, passing through some of the world most scenic locales and cities.
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Onboard the royal Venice Simplon-Orient Express
Vintage cabins, excellent cuisine and lively on-board entertainment make a journey aboard this iconic train one of the world's finest travel experiences.
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Onboard the royal Venice Simplon-Orient Express
Photographs: Ron Bambridge.
The carriages of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express are individually designed and each has played a significant role in the golden age of luxury train travel during the 1920s to 30s.
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Onboard the royal Venice Simplon-Orient Express
Photographs: Matt Hind.
Each of the carriages has its own personal story.
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Onboard the royal Venice Simplon-Orient Express
Photographs: Matt Hind.
It has transported European royalty across the continent.
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Onboard the royal Venice Simplon-Orient Express
It has also been shot at during World War II, to being caught in a snow drift for 10 days.
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Onboard the royal Venice Simplon-Orient Express
The legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is set to embark on a series of new rail voyages to Scandinavia in April 2013.
Onboard the royal Venice Simplon-Orient Express
Photographs: Matt Hind.
A scenic two-night journey will take it from Venice to Stockholm, via an overnight stop in Copenhagen.
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Onboard the royal Venice Simplon-Orient Express
Its return journey, four days later, will depart Stockholm, via Copenhagen, for Venice.
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Onboard the royal Venice Simplon-Orient Express
Passengers can expect an extraordinary experience - a journey packed with adventure, fine dining and pure romance.
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Onboard the royal Venice Simplon-Orient Express
The Paris-Budapest-Bucharest-Istanbul journey (5 nights) on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express will cost two adults 22000 pounds (Price is based on a Suite cabin).
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