The world's most celebrated train, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express carries passengers across Europe in the style of a bygone era.The glamorous carriages, sumptuous cuisine and personal service, which is beyond comparison, make a journey on the VSOE the perfect place for a celebration or special holiday. Bombed, shot at and marooned in snow drifts, the history of the Orient-Express is both legendary and colourful.

On 4 October 1883 the first Orient-Express train service was inaugurated. The initial route ran from Paris to Giurgi (on the Danube in Romania), via Strasbourg, Vienna, Budapest and Bucharest.

By the turn of the century, the great age of rail travel was in full swing. The Simplon Tunnel - at 12½ miles, the world's longest - was built in 1906, cutting the trip from Paris to Venice significantly, and by 1921 the Orient-Express was running an extended Simplon-Orient-Express route to Istanbul.

The 1920s and 1930s were the heyday of the legendary train. Elaborate meals, decadent company and fine wines characterised this era of rail travel. Royalty, celebrities, courtesans and spies intermingled as they travelled in opulence throughout Europe. Small wonder that this provided the perfect setting for Agatha Christie's most famous work, Murder on the Orient-Express.The Second World War put paid to all of this. Ferry services were cancelled and cross-frontier travel became impossible. The Orient-Express continued to operate until May 1977, when economical contraints made train travel an unfinancial venture.

The fabled train was however saved by entrepreneur and rail enthusiast, James B. Sherwood. In 1977 he bought two of the trains carriages at a Sotheby's auction in Monte Carlo. The next few years and US$16 million were spent locating, purchasing and restoring some 35 vintage sleepers, Pullmans and restaurant cars. On 25 May 1982 the legend was reborn when the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express made its maiden run from London to Venice.

Today, the gleaming carriages of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express continue to transport passengers across Europe in exquisite surroundings on one of the most romantic journeys in the world.