Inside the 2025 Orient Express Launch Presidential Suite – Robb Report

Last month, Accor announced plans for a luxurious new Orient Express. Now he’s giving the world a look at the formthe crown jewel.

The French hotel group has just unveiled the interiors of the locomotive’s prized Presidential Suite ahead of an immersive experience at Design Miami this week. It is also an accommodation steeped in history.

For the uninitiated, Accor has decided to reuse 17 historic carriages from the first Orient Express trains launched by Georges Nagelmackers in the late 1800s for the new locomotive. Set to debut in 2025, the Orient Express 2.0 has been completely redesigned by French architect Maxime d’Angeac, while retaining the glitz and glamor of its old-world predecessors. The recently revealed accommodation is further proof of this.

“The Orient Express Presidential Suite captures the essence of the future train,” said Maxime d’Angeac in a statement. “It is a work carved out of excess, inspired by the geniuses and pioneers of Art Deco, Jacques-Émile Ruhlmann and Armand-Albert Rateau, and by the importance of refinement and the absolute finesse of detail.”

Indeed, the first-tier suite occupies an entire carriage of the former Nostalgia-Istanbul Orient Express. Measuring 69 feet long by nine feet wide, it offers nearly 600 square feet of living space. The carriage is anchored by four dramatic columns that feature a fireplace on one side and beautiful Lalique panels on the other. The spacious bedroom is filled with rich velvets and ornate bespoke furniture, while the elegant bathroom pays homage to Rateau with Art Deco style.

“It is a suite where travelers can experience history, extreme luxury and ultimate comfort at the same time”, adds the architect.

If that’s not enough, the Presidential Suite opens onto a luxurious 1929 “LX” secondary cabin. It is adorned with solid mahogany and marquetry found on board the original train and meticulously restored. It also comes with two soft beds for your companions. To top it off, the cabin opens up to a secret room, known as the “Cabinet of the Egoist”, dedicated to “good vibes and epicurean festivities”.

Elsewhere on the train, the Bar Car nods to the 1920s with large Second Empire-inspired light domes and a glass counter that pays homage to French jeweler René Lalique. Each table also sports a special call button just for champagne. Not to be outdone, the dining car features a striking mirrored ceiling and partitions featuring a reinterpretation of a “rail” pattern designed by Suzanne Lalique-Haviland in the 1930s.

If you can’t wait to “walk” the new train, stop by the Orient Express installation at the Design Miami show. The VR experience, which will run from November 30 to December 4, showcases the restored locomotive in all its glory.