Europe’s iconic Venice Simplon-Orient-Express arrived in Istanbul on Wednesday after a five-day journey from Paris.
The train traveled through Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria before reaching Türkiye.
Operated by U.K.-based Belmond, the train runs between Paris and Istanbul and is making its second Istanbul trip of the year. Departing Paris on Sept. 25, the train arrived in Türkiye with more than 70 passengers after stops in Budapest, Bucharest and Varna.
The train did not stop at Kapıkule station, which is undergoing renovation work, but continued to Edirne station for passport checks for passengers and staff. Passengers’ luggage was also screened by X-ray before being sent to the hotels where they would stay in Istanbul.
The train, which is associated with Agatha Christie’s novel “Murder on the Orient Express,” arrived at Bakırköy station at about 7:05 p.m. on Wednesday.
Passengers were welcomed with a ceremony at Bakırköy station. Staff members who had worked on the train during the five-day journey and the passengers reunited at the station after disembarking and bid farewell to one another.
Staff waiting at the station assisted passengers individually and directed them to shuttle services taking them to their hotels.
After dropping off its passengers, the train departed empty for Halkalı station, where it will remain for two nights. After necessary technical and operational procedures are completed, the train will return to Bakırköy station to pick up new passengers.
The train is expected to depart Bakırköy station at noon on Oct. 2 and leave Türkiye via Kapıkule at 10:05 p.m. the same day.
The Orient Express made its first trip to Türkiye this year on May 30 and departed the country on June 1.
Francesco Bonotto, a train official, told reporters at the station that he was happy to return to Istanbul for the train’s second trip to the city this year.
Describing Istanbul as one of the most important stops on the journey, Bonotto said: “For me and for our passengers, without Istanbul, there is no magic, no wonder to this journey.”
