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Eastern and Oriental Express

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Eastern and Oriental Express
Overview
Service typeExcursion train
StatusOperational
LocaleMainland Southeast Asia
Current operator(s)Belmond Limited
WebsiteOfficial website
Route
TerminiWoodlands Train Checkpoint
Technical
Rolling stock31 rail carriages
Track gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge
Operating speed100 km/h (62 mph)
Track owner(s)

The Eastern & Oriental Express is a luxury cruise train that carries passengers between Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.

The train is operated by Belmond Limited. As of 2024, only two seasonal routes are operated between Singapore and Malaysia.

Fares on the Singapore to Malaysia train in 2024 (four days, three nights) start at US$3,140. All meals were included in the travelling fare but alcoholic drinks cost extra.

History

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Eastern and Oriental Express hauled by KTM Class 25 locomotive, stopping at Kuala Lumpur station for crew change.

An agreement were made and signed in 1991 between Orient-Express Hotels and the Malaysian railway authority, Keretapi Tanah Melayu and Thailand railway authority, State Railway of Thailand to operate Eastern and Oriental Express on their tracks.[1] On 19 September 1993, the Eastern and Oriental Express made its inaugural journey between Tanjong Pagar Railway Station and Bangkok, stopping at Kuala Lumpur, Butterworth, and Kanchanaburi, taking 4 days (3 nights).[2] During the introduction, it runs approximately 32 trips that either embark upon or disembark from Bangkok or Woodlands yearly between September and April.[3]

Starting 23 February 2010, the train has also travelled between Bangkok and Vientiane, the capital city of Laos. Under the name 'Voyage to Vientiane', the train made its four days and three nights journey that crosses through northeast of Thailand borders, passing through Khao Yai valley and Mekong River, followed by a full day tour at Vientiane, Laos and returned to Bangkok across Friendship Bridge.[4]

On 2020, the train service were suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the total lockdown on all international travels.[5]

In July 2023, Belmond announced that Eastern and Oriental Express will be relaunched in 2024, with two routes operating on season around Malaysia.[6] Booking opened in September 2023, with inaugural relaunch commenced on 12 February 2024.

Rolling stock

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A Bangkok-bound Eastern & Oriental Express train at the old Kuala Lumpur railway station, Malaysia.

The train was built by Hitachi and Nippon Sharyo in Japan in 1972 and operated as the Silver Star in New Zealand. All 31 carriages were later brought by visionary businessman James B. Sherwood, the founder of Orient-Express Hotels, which in 2014 changed its name to Belmond Limited. Twenty-four carriages were regauged from New Zealand's 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge to 1,000 mm gauge for Thai and Malaysian railway lines by A & G Price of Thames, New Zealand. An extensive internal rebuild and fit-out plus exterior painting and badging was undertaken by the new owners at their (then) newly constructed maintenance depot on KTMB land in Singapore's Keppel Road rail yards (later at Plentong railway station in Johor, Malaysia). The design of the remodelling was by Gérard Gallet, the man behind much of the design and refurbishment of other Belmond products such as the Belmond British Pullman and the Venice-Simplon Orient Express.

Eastern & Oriental Express train arriving at Woodlands Train Checkpoint, Singapore.

The train consists following carriages, from which only a maximum of 21 are operated at once:

  • six Pullman sleeping cars (SD 313, SD 318, SD 322, SD 323, SD 328, SD 388), which have six cabins with bunk-bed or single occupation - this comfort category is not offered on the six-night program
  • seven State sleeping cars (ST 312, ST 332, ST 333, ST 362, ST 363, ST 366, ST 368), which have four twin-bed compartments
  • a Presidential sleeping car (SP 369) with two twin-bed cabins - more spacious bedrooms and bathrooms than State cabins
  • three dining cars (RS 381, RS 392, RS 399) with kitchen and tables that seat two or four - however only one or two carriages running in a train
  • one bar car (BR 389) with piano and another one (OB 398) with a large open-air observation deck
  • a saloon car (PN 393) with library room, gift shop and additional dinner seating facilities
  • two staff sleeping cars (SE 338, SE 339)
  • a power car (GR 336)

The train is fully air-conditioned, and each compartment has an en-suite bathroom with shower and toilets.[3] Haulage is provided by KTM diesel engines.

The layout of many carriages and the comfort classes were also used for the designing of the Great South Pacific Express (now to be used as Belmond Andean Explorer).

Train schedule

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Signage for Wild Malaysia route on Eastern and Oriental Express train.

As of 2024, the Eastern and Oriental Express operates two seasonal routes in 4 days 3 nights cruise tour. Both routes starts and ends from Woodlands, with several stops for guided tour around Malaysia.

Essence of Malaysia

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This route operates between November and February. Guests will bring on a tour to Pulau Payar in Langkawi and Penang on 4 days and 3 nights of tour.[7]

Day Location Arrive Depart
1 Singapore Woodlands Train Checkpoint - 15:20
2 Alor Setar (guided tour to Pulau Payar, Langkawi) 12:49 19:00
3 Butterworth (guided tour to George Town, Penang) 22:15 (day 2) 13:30
4 Singapore Woodlands Train Checkpoint 10:20 -

Wild Malaysia

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This route operates between March and October, and guest will bring on a tour to Taman Negara in Pahang and Penang on 4 days and 3 nights of tour.[8]

Day Location Arrive Depart
1 Singapore Woodlands Train Checkpoint - Gemas - 15:20
2 Merapoh (guided tour to Taman Negara, Pahang) TBA TBA
3 Butterworth (guided tour to George Town, Penang) TBA TBA
4 Singapore Woodlands Train Checkpoint 10:20 -

References

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  1. ^ "YTL Community – On track for a luxurious ride". YTL Community – On track for a luxurious ride. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  2. ^ Ramackers, Helene (22 September 2019). "The Most Extraordinary Train Journeys Around the World". Upscale Living Mag. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  3. ^ a b Sriangura, Vanniya (23 February 2018). "Low-speed luxury". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  4. ^ Elliott, Mark (27 October 2011). "Eastern & Oriental Express to cross into Laos". Brand TD. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  5. ^ "Malaysia to impose lockdown, close border to foreigners until March 31". Business Traveller. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  6. ^ "The Eastern & Oriental Express Will Return to Malaysia in 2024". InsideHook. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  7. ^ "Essence Of Malaysia | Luxury Overnight Train, Eastern & Oriental Express". www.belmond.com. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  8. ^ "Wild Malaysia | Luxury Overnight Train, Eastern & Oriental Express". www.belmond.com. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
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