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The French Orient Express is Back in Style

Published May 17th, 2019 - 08:27 GMT

French rail operator SNCF has spent more than $15 million painstakingly restoring an iconic train of the Orient Express, as it considers fully relaunching the fabled service to the East. 

The last true Orient Express travelled from Paris to Istanbul in 1977, drawing the curtain on almost a century of taking travellers on the fabled route from western Europe to the shores of the Bosphorus in Turkey.

The train also entered popular culture, playing a central role in celebrated books and movies, not least of which is the Agatha Christie 1930s novel 'Murder on the Orient Express' which has inspired several films.

SNCF have spent seven years to restore the train with precision, scrutinising the original plans and using the best replicas of every fibre of the old carriages, to put on their exhibition in Paris.

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This picture taken on May 13, 2019 shows the carriage number of a restored Orient Express train displayed at the Gare de l'Est train station in Paris. Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP

This picture taken on May 13, 2019 shows the carriage number of a restored Orient Express train displayed at the Gare de l'Est train station in Paris. Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP

This picture taken on May 13, 2019 shows table lamps and flowers adorning the dining car of a restored carriage of an Orient Express train displayed at the Gare de l'Est train station in Paris. Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP

This picture taken on May 13, 2019 shows table lamps and flowers adorning the dining car of a restored carriage of an Orient Express train displayed at the Gare de l'Est train station in Paris. Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP

This picture taken on May 13, 2019 shows the interior of a carriage in a restored carriage of an Orient Express train displayed at the Gare de l'Est train station in Paris. Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP

This picture taken on May 13, 2019 shows the interior of a carriage in a restored carriage of an Orient Express train displayed at the Gare de l'Est train station in Paris. Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP

This picture taken on May 13, 2019 shows a bartender lining up glasses in the dining car of a restored carriage of an Orient Express train displayed at the Gare de l'Est train station in Paris. Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP

This picture taken on May 13, 2019 shows a bartender lining up glasses in the dining car of a restored carriage of an Orient Express train displayed at the Gare de l'Est train station in Paris. Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP

This picture taken on May 13, 2019 shows the interior of a restored carriage of an Orient Express train displayed at the Gare de l'Est train station in Paris. Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP

This picture taken on May 13, 2019 shows the interior of a restored carriage of an Orient Express train displayed at the Gare de l'Est train station in Paris. Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP

This picture taken on May 13, 2019 shows a restored Orient Express train displayed at the Gare de l'Est train station in Paris. Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP

This picture taken on May 13, 2019 shows a restored Orient Express train displayed at the Gare de l'Est train station in Paris. Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP

This picture taken on May 13, 2019 shows the carriage number of a restored Orient Express train displayed at the Gare de l'Est train station in Paris. Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP
This picture taken on May 13, 2019 shows table lamps and flowers adorning the dining car of a restored carriage of an Orient Express train displayed at the Gare de l'Est train station in Paris. Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP
This picture taken on May 13, 2019 shows the interior of a carriage in a restored carriage of an Orient Express train displayed at the Gare de l'Est train station in Paris. Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP
This picture taken on May 13, 2019 shows a bartender lining up glasses in the dining car of a restored carriage of an Orient Express train displayed at the Gare de l'Est train station in Paris. Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP
This picture taken on May 13, 2019 shows the interior of a restored carriage of an Orient Express train displayed at the Gare de l'Est train station in Paris. Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP
This picture taken on May 13, 2019 shows a restored Orient Express train displayed at the Gare de l'Est train station in Paris. Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP
This picture taken on May 13, 2019 shows the carriage number of a restored Orient Express train displayed at the Gare de l'Est train station in Paris. Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP
This picture taken on May 13, 2019 shows the carriage number of a restored Orient Express train displayed at the Gare de l'Est train station in Paris. Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP
This picture taken on May 13, 2019 shows table lamps and flowers adorning the dining car of a restored carriage of an Orient Express train displayed at the Gare de l'Est train station in Paris. Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP
This picture taken on May 13, 2019 shows table lamps and flowers adorning the dining car of a restored carriage of an Orient Express train displayed at the Gare de l'Est train station in Paris. Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP
This picture taken on May 13, 2019 shows the interior of a carriage in a restored carriage of an Orient Express train displayed at the Gare de l'Est train station in Paris. Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP
This picture taken on May 13, 2019 shows the interior of a carriage in a restored carriage of an Orient Express train displayed at the Gare de l'Est train station in Paris. Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP
This picture taken on May 13, 2019 shows a bartender lining up glasses in the dining car of a restored carriage of an Orient Express train displayed at the Gare de l'Est train station in Paris. Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP
This picture taken on May 13, 2019 shows a bartender lining up glasses in the dining car of a restored carriage of an Orient Express train displayed at the Gare de l'Est train station in Paris. Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP
This picture taken on May 13, 2019 shows the interior of a restored carriage of an Orient Express train displayed at the Gare de l'Est train station in Paris. Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP
This picture taken on May 13, 2019 shows the interior of a restored carriage of an Orient Express train displayed at the Gare de l'Est train station in Paris. Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP
This picture taken on May 13, 2019 shows a restored Orient Express train displayed at the Gare de l'Est train station in Paris. Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP
This picture taken on May 13, 2019 shows a restored Orient Express train displayed at the Gare de l'Est train station in Paris. Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP

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