The Orient Express makes a return, this time with an Italian heart

It pays homage to the concept of 'la dolce vita' and will feature several itineraries starting in 2023

The legendry Orient Express train is about to make a triumphant return, however, this time its main hub will be Rome’s Termini Station. The rehashed service will be called Orient Express La Dolce Vita as a homage to the glamour era of the 1960s and 1970s Italy. The luxury service is scheduled to start operating in 2023 and will feature 6 trains with as many itineraries, 3 of which will be international ones connecting the Italian capital to Paris, Split and Istanbul.

There will also be an Orient Express Hotel in Rome

Spearheaded by Arsenale, in association with Orient Express of Accor Group and in partnership with Trenitalia and Fondazione FS Italiane, the service will comprise six trains traversing more than 10,000 miles of railway lines across 14 regions of Italy. The intended purpose here is slow travel with an emphasis on beautiful scenery, exploration of off-the-beaten-track corners and supreme service, which will feature Italian-style fine dining.

The accommodation onboard will include 12 deluxe cabins, 18 suites and one Honor Suite, plus a restaurant with design elements from the 1960s and 1970s. The latter will update the idea of the Orient Express from its 19-century brand image to something more contemporary, but still retro.

Inside Italy, there will be three itineraries: North, Central and South. The revived train service will also make a nod to other contemporary concerns, such as sustainability.

“Train travel represents the greener choice of transportation, enhancing trips to great cities as well as small-medium sized locations with appealing cultural sites and scenery. La Dolce Vita train will accelerate luxury rail tourism and will appeal to many passengers as a safe and eco-sustainable way of moving that protects the environment and allows them to rediscover the most fascinating places in our regions,” declared Luigi Corradi, CEO and General Manager of Trenitalia, which is one of the partners of the initiative.

What’s more, the first hotel bearing the brand of Orient Express – Minerva, will open its doors in 2024 in Rome. It will be housed in a 17-century Baroque palace at Piazza di Minerva, in the heart of the Italian capital. Additionally, Rome’s Termini Station will have its dedicated Orient Express lounge.