Etihad Rail Is Bringing Orient Express-Style Luxury Trains To The UAE
All aboard the opulent odyssey of rail-bound indulgence, orchestrated by none other than the maestros of the UAE's National Railway Network, Etihad Rail—a crescendo of luxury unfurling across the arid canvas.
Picture this: The locomotive's heart pulsates with anticipation, traversing Abu Dhabi's Liwa desert with a graceful serenade, and ascending Fujairah's rugged mountains with an unwavering determination. The UAE, ensnared in the spellbinding embrace of progress, gears up for an unparalleled voyage—a voyage akin to the illustrious Orient Express, a tapestry woven with threads of romance and mystique. Agatha Christie's ink-stained prose finds its visual echo within the lavish confines of these imminent railway carriages, an echo so profound it resonates with the very elegance she extolled.
Photo: Orient Express
Etihad Rail, the harbinger of this transformative marvel, has extended an embrace to none other than the doyens of Italian opulence, Arsenale. Their hands, adorned with the touch of luxury, shall craft these moving palaces. The very same Arsenale, architects of the Orient Express' resplendent revival—a symphony of new trains coursing through scenic narratives.
The tides of destiny bore witness to the union of Etihad Rail and Arsenale, their pact sealed amidst the luminous realm of the Middle East Rail Conference in Abu Dhabi, an epochal encounter on May 17. While the proclamation of embarkation remains veiled in the shroud of time, revelations unveil the emergence of 15 coaches, each cocooning lavish sanctuaries mirroring the grandeur of Emirati heritage. Behold the imagery, a melange of opulence and extravagance, the 'Orient Express La Dolce Vita' poised to unfurl its tale in Italy—an overture to the forthcoming UAE locomotives adorned with whimsical eccentricities.
Photo: Orient Express
Envision sumptuous tapestries underfoot, walls adorned in the regal vestiges of wood, and dining cars that mirror the ethos of gastronomic excellence—an orchestra of ambiance and sustenance mirroring the very sanctums of Michelin-starred pantheons. Transport yourself to the realm of high-tech amenities enshrined within the sanctum of carriages, a banquet of splendor akin to a palatial suite set in perpetual motion.
The renaissance of rail traverses beyond temporal boundaries, weaving a narrative that extends its embrace across the globe. Europe, the keeper of nostalgic nostalgia, finds itself in an enduring dalliance with rail travel, a dance suspended in time. Meanwhile, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) unfurls its novel chapter upon the parchment of rail—familiar, yet tantalizingly new. The UAE's dalliance with rail includes the Dubai Metro, trams, monorail services, and the crown jewel—a 1,200km National Railway Network, ceremoniously unveiled in February 2023.
Photo: Orient Express
Behold the crescendo, resounding in the symphony of progress. The future aligns itself with the promise of 2030, a time when passenger trains shall traverse the sinuous lines connecting each of the seven emirates and the adjoining realm of Oman—an overture of unity woven in the fabric of rail. Saudi Arabia, a compatriot in this symphony of splendor, dances to its own cadence—the 'Dream of the Desert' trains, another opulent offspring nurtured by Arsenale's mastery.
Photo: Orient Express
So, as the sun descends, and the urban maze embraces the twilight's murmur, envisage the embrace of plush rail-bound sanctuaries, a reprieve from the mundane. Amidst the humdrum of a rush-hour metro commute, the mind, like a wandering minstrel, shall serenade the notes of these forthcoming palaces on wheels—testaments to the union of luxury and locomotion.
