Fourteen Czech passengers were among the roughly 40 travelers who departed Prague-Holešovice station at 8:20 a.m. today aboard the iconic Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. The luxury train, operated by the Belmond company, is currently en route to Paris via Brno, Břeclav, and Salzburg, completing a journey that spans approximately 24 hours.
The Return of Rail Luxury
The train arrived in Prague on Monday evening, having traveled from Paris through Vienna. According to David Kabele, spokesperson for the Správa železnic (Railway Administration), the luxury set spent two nights at a marshalling yard before departing this morning. The train exited the Czech Republic via the route through Česká Třebová, Brno, and Břeclav.
Kateřina Šrubařová of Top Luxury Travel, the agency responsible for local services during the train’s stay in Prague, confirmed that approximately 40 passengers boarded the train at the Holešovice station. Among them were 14 Czech nationals. The locomotive pulling the set from Prague was a Bombardier Traxx, operated by the carrier CityRail.
Engineering and Layout of the Historic Set
The train consists of 17 restored historical carriages. The configuration places three restaurant cars and one bar car at the center of the formation, flanked on both sides by sleeping carriages. The fleet includes:
- Two carriages featuring six Grand Suites each.
- Two carriages featuring eight Suites each.
- Seven carriages with double cabins.
- Two service carriages.
The Economics of Luxury Rail Travel
Travelers seeking this experience should expect premium pricing that reflects the service’s luxury status. For the 2026 season, tickets for the journey between Prague and Paris begin at 4,670 euros (approximately 113 thousand to 395 thousand CZK) per person for a historic cabin. Higher tiers increase significantly:
| Cabin Type | Starting Price (per person) |
|---|---|
| Historic Cabin | 4,670 EUR |
| Double/Twin Suite | 11,620 EUR |
| Grand Suite | 16,270 EUR |
Longer, multi-day routes—such as the iconic Paris to Istanbul journey—can reach prices in the hundreds of thousands of euros for the most exclusive suites, translating into millions of Czech koruna.
Future Trends in Luxury Rail
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the current Venice Simplon-Orient-Express the original train?
No. While it evokes the legacy of the original 1883 service—popularized by Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express—the current train is a luxury service operated by Belmond using fully restored carriages from the 1920s and 1930s.
What determines the price of a ticket?
Pricing is based on the level of accommodation (Historic Cabin, Suite, or Grand Suite) and the length of the journey. Longer routes, such as those reaching Istanbul, command significantly higher prices than short-haul international trips.
How often does the train visit Prague?
The train operates on select routes across Europe. Its presence in the Czech capital is part of a curated schedule that connects major European hubs including Paris, Vienna, and Budapest.
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