The operator of the Orient Express has unveiled plans for a three-day "luxurious" train trip from London to Wales, with prices reaching up to £16,000 for well-heeled travellers.
Belmond, the luxury travel company owned by LVMH, will launch its new train, the Britannic Explorer, on 21 July with a journey from London to mid-Wales and Snowdonia.
The ten-carriage train will accommodate just 36 guests, with twin cabins priced at £11,000 and suites with double beds rising to £16,000, according to The Telegraph.
The Britannic Explorer will also offer itineraries to the West Country, the Cumbrian coast, and the Lake District. Demand is already said to be strong. Belmond cited one female guest who has booked all three journeys back-to-back, with cabins now 70 per cent booked for the remainder of the year.
A post-Covid boom in demand for luxury rail travel has already led to record bookings for Belmond’s existing services, including the classic Orient Express and Royal Scotsman. The company now sees strong potential for high-end, curated experiences within the UK.
Gary Franklin, head of Belmond’s train division, said: “We’re always looking for new itineraries and we thought, why don’t we look on our own doorstep? Perhaps we’re underestimating the pull of these amazing places.
“Cornwall, Wales and the Lake District really lend themselves to these journeys — going somewhere beautiful by train that can otherwise be quite hard to get to and quite time inefficient, but in a luxurious way.
“This is a long-term investment, not a project just for a few years. We hope that we will have a lot of UK clients and the itineraries have been worked out to appeal to them.”
Belmond expects about 50 per cent of passengers to be British, with others travelling from the US, northern Europe, and Asia. Mr Franklin said the company was unphased by the state of the British economy.
The new carriages will feature interiors by award-winning British designers, intended to evoke a sense of “contemporary nostalgia.” Unlike the steam-powered Orient Express, the Britannic Explorer will run on diesel locomotives.
The experience will emphasise “slow travel,” with a top speed of just 75mph to allow guests to enjoy scenic views, fine dining, and off-train excursions.
The Welsh journey includes a stop at Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons near Oxford, which is owned by Belmond’s hotels division. The Cornish itinerary features visits to St Ives and Fowey, while the Lake District route includes a behind-the-scenes tour of three-Michelin star restaurant L’Enclume, complete with farm and gardens.
Weekend tours will depart from London Victoria on Friday afternoons and return on Monday mornings, while some midweek departures are also planned.
The train has already been showcased at London Euston, drawing attention for its elegant design, which includes two restaurant cars, an observation car with bar, and a wellness suite offering spa treatments and massages. Local musicians and storytellers will provide evening entertainment.
The cost of the Britannic Explorer trips far exceeds the price of Belmond’s iconic Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, which starts at £3,885 per person for a two-day journey from Paris. The £16,000 price tag also matches that of a 75-day cruise for two around South America and the Caribbean.
