Belmond brought one of the Legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Carriages to La Croisette

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express’ historic sleeping car 3309 made its red carpet debut

Belmond brought the famed Venice Simplon-Orient-Express to the world’s premier luxury travel event for the first time in ILTM Cannes history. The most iconic carriage of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, show-stopping sleeping car 3309, built in 1926, was on exhibit and available to the trade show’s worldwide visitors and press from December 6 to December 8 at La Croisette.

Early in this carriage’s nearly 100-year history, it spent more than ten years operating on the “Orient Express,” including one fateful day in February 1929 when it was stranded for ten days in a snowdrift sixty miles from Istanbul, an experience that has since served as an inspiration for authors and filmmakers.

Sleeping car 3309 underwent significant and meticulous restoration after being purchased by James B. Sherwood in the late 1970s. It entered service in 1982 as a member of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train.

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Three of the six opulent Grand Suites—Vienna, Prague, and Budapest—are now housed in this carriage, which has been preserved with the finest respect for the craftsmanship of the 1920s and has been in service for nearly 100 years.

The romance, excitement, and flair of each magnificent European city that the train visits serve as inspiration for the three award-winning Grand Suites. Each Grand Suite is the height of luxury and was built with meticulous craftsmanship that honors the train’s famous past and art-deco legacy.

The suites provide an unmatched experience with perfectly placed mosaics, silk patterns, en-suite bathrooms, double beds, and a private living area with underfloor heating to enjoy the pleasures of private dining, 24-hour cabin service, and unlimited champagne. The suites also feature intricately carved marquetry and hand-embroidered cushions. 

For more than 40 years, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express has led the way in opulent travel. 17 refurbished carriages from various luxury train services, including carriages from the 1920s and 1930s travel heyday, make up the famed train. Since it began operating in 1982, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express has been preserving the famous art of travel. Michelin-starred chef Jean Imbert’s innovative culinary offerings balance the past of the train’s lovingly preserved carriages with the spirit of the present.

The train now visits 15 locations in Europe, such as its yearly trips between Paris and Istanbul, its historic routes to and from Venice, or other alluring places like Florence, Rome, and Cannes. In response to the rising demand for luxurious rail travel reminiscent of the bygone era, the train will include eight new suites in the summer of 2023, giving travelers a choice between three different lodging options: historic cabins, suites, and grand suites. Belmond has expanded its slow travel assets as a result of the knowledge gained from the arduous restoration and daily operation of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.