April 2026 – Aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, storytelling takes on a new form with the launch of Writers On The Rails, an exclusive literary collection of short stories, available for guests travelling on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express since the 15th of April 2026.
Building on more than a century of cultural and storytelling heritage, the Venice Simplon- Orient-Express invited six internationally recognised authors to embark on a journey aboard its legendary train. Among them is English novelist and Sunday Times #1 bestselling author Elizabeth Day; New York Times bestselling author Ottessa Moshfegh; George the Poet, a London-born spoken word artist and award-winning podcaster of Ugandan heritage; British author, Bernardine Evaristo, Booker Prize winner 2019, #1 Sunday Times and global bestseller; award-winning Chinese American writer Rebecca F. Kuang, and British writer David Nicholls, author of the multi-million copy bestseller One Day. Each author has been commissioned to create an original short fiction story inspired by their journey and prompted by a simple idea: what story the experience might awaken. The resulting anthology offers guests a literary perspective on the experience of travel, capturing the sights, rhythms, and intimate moments of life aboard the train in prose unique to each writer’s vision.
As part of the curated onboard experience, guests are invited to discover Writers On The Rails as a literary companion that is revealed to guests in a moment of calm. Designed to inspire imagination and quiet moments of reflection, the book is also available in the train’s communal areas. It complements the slower rhythm of travel as Europe’s landscapes unfold beyond the windows. More than a book, it is a keepsake – one that celebrates the train’s enduring legacy as a space for creativity and cultural exchange.
Slow travel through Europe
At its heart, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express remains a celebration of slow travel, connecting some of Europe’s most storied destinations, including Paris and Venice, with extended routes to Vienna, Prague, and Istanbul. New for 2026, the train has introduced its Villeggiatura by Train series, inspired by the Italian tradition of seasonal summer living, with a brand-new itinerary from Paris to the Amalfi Coast via Pompeii.
Accommodation onboard includes Historic Cabins, Suites, Grand Suites, and the extraordinary L’Observatoire, a private carriage designed in collaboration with world- acclaimed artist JR. Each category has been restored or designed to reflect the heritage of the train, with Grand Suites offering additional space, private bathrooms and 24-hour dedicated butler service.
The Writers On The Rails book is available exclusively to guests travelling aboard the train and forms part of Belmond’s ongoing continued focus on creating experiences that are as meaningful as they are memorable.
About Venice Simplon-orient-express, a Belmond train
The original icon of the rails, Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train, Europe has been at the forefront of luxury railway travel for nearly half a century, since its first journey in May 1982. The history of this legendary train began in 1977, when Belmond’s founder, James B. Sherwood, bought two original Art Deco sleeping cars at a Sotheby’s auction in Monte Carlo with the ambition to bring back to life the ‘golden age of travel’ with the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train. An enduring symbol of luxury, today the train operates between March and December. It features 16 painstakingly restored 1920s and 1930s carriages, inviting guests to surrender to the journey as it criss-crosses Europe’s most dramatic landscapes and uncovers some of the world’s most fabled cities, such as Vienna, Rome, Florence, Paris, Venice and Istanbul. On board, guests can choose between three different accommodation categories – characterful Historic Cabins; lavish newly launched Suites; and opulent Grand Suites; indulge in refined dining by Michelin-starred French Chef Jean Imbert in the colourful restaurant carriages and enjoy an evening of late-night revelry with live performances and handcrafted cocktails in the famous Bar Car ‘3674’.
About Belmond
Belmond was born from a passion for connecting discerning travellers with the world’s most remarkable properties, locations and journeys.
From hotels and trains to river cruises and safaris, Belmond curates incomparable experiences and crafts unforgettable stories. With a legacy spanning over 45 years, since the acquisition of Hotel Cipriani in Venice in 1976, Belmond has grown into a global collection of 47 properties spread across 28 countries and territories. Exceptional destinations connected by legendary journeys are the very soul of Belmond, where the path that brings you to a place is as important as the destination itself. As a pioneer of slow travel, Belmond has been operating the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express since 1982. The group later expanded to include pristine beach resorts, such as Maroma on the Riviera Maya, historic hideaways such
as Villa San Michele in the Florentine foothills, urbane icons, such as Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro, and gateways to UNESCO world heritage sites, such as Hotel das Cataratas in Brazil’s Iguassu National Park. As proud custodians of storied properties, Belmond is committed to building on the past to create a new legacy: the heritage of the future. Working with communities and local talents, together with the world’s most respected chefs, designers and artists, Belmond continues its purpose of perpetuating the legendary art of travel. Since 2019, Belmond has been part of the world’s leading luxury group, LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton).
