The Golden Age of Rail Returns: La Dolce Vita Orient Express and the Britannic Explorer

Private jets save time; luxury trains spend it beautifully. After decades in which the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express stood almost alone in Europe, 2025 brought two ambitious new sleeper trains to the rails — one celebrating Italian glamour, the other the British countryside. Both sell an experience that is the opposite of a rushed itinerary: a few nights, a handful of exceptional stops, and nothing to organise.

La Dolce Vita Orient Express, Italy

Launched in spring 2025, La Dolce Vita Orient Express is billed as Italy’s first luxury train. It is a collaboration between Arsenale, Accor’s Orient Express brand and the Italian state railway group FS, and most journeys start from Rome’s Ostiense station, where guests wait in a dedicated lounge.

• The train: 12 carriages carrying a maximum of 62 guests, in 12 deluxe cabins, 18 suites and a single La Dolce Vita Suite.
• The look: interiors by the Milan studio Dimorestudio, inspired by Italian design of the 1960s and 1970s.
• The food: menus overseen by three-Michelin-starred chef Heinz Beck, built around the regions the train passes through.
• The routes: one- and two-night journeys to destinations such as Venice, Portofino, Tuscany, Matera and Sicily. On the Sicilian itinerary the train is split and loaded onto a ferry across the Strait of Messina before continuing on the island.
• The price: at launch, one-night journeys started from €3,500 per person in a deluxe cabin and €4,700 per person in a suite.

The Britannic Explorer, England and Wales

Belmond — owner of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and Asia’s Eastern & Oriental Express — launched the Britannic Explorer in July 2025 as the first luxury sleeper train to tour England and Wales.

• The train: 18 cabins — 15 suites and 3 Grand Suites — plus restaurant, bar and wellness cars. The bar car takes its cue from a Victorian apothecary.
• The look: interiors by the London studio Albion Nord, inspired by British country houses and landscapes.
• The food: dining designed by Simon Rogan, a leading figure in Britain’s farm-to-table movement.
• The routes: three-night journeys from London to Cornwall, the Lake District or Wales, with guided excursions such as gallery visits, hikes and wild swimming. The English routes run over weekends and the Welsh route midweek, so two journeys can be combined.
• The price: from £11,000 for a double cabin on a three-night itinerary, including excursions, meals, wine and drinks on board.

Booking tips

• Book early. With 62 and roughly 36 guests respectively, capacity is tiny and popular dates sell out months ahead.
• Choose the cabin carefully. On both trains the step up to a suite brings significantly more space, which matters on multi-night journeys.
• Check what is included. Both trains include meals and most drinks, but excursions, transfers and premium wines can vary by itinerary.
• Use a specialist. A luxury travel advisor can often combine rail journeys with hotel stays and secure better cabin allocation.

Prices are the operators’ published launch fares and may have changed; always confirm current rates and inclusions when booking. This article is for information only.

Sources

• Travel Market Report: Orient Express bringing luxury train travel to Italy
• Executive Traveller: Inside the new La Dolce Vita Orient Express
• Robb Report HK: Orient Express La Dolce Vita launch
• Italia Absolutely: La Dolce Vita Orient Express debut
• Luxury Travel Advisor: Belmond unveils the Britannic Explorer
• CNN: Britannic Explorer, Belmond’s new luxury train
• NBC: A new luxury sleeper train is launching in England and Wales