The company behind the Orient Express train service has scrapped the UK leg of the journey because of Channel crossing delays caused by Brexit. The company that runs the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE), Belmond, has dropped the London-to-Folkestone leg of the route because it has become too difficult to cross the Channel, reports The Guardian.
The journey had seen passengers travel in Art Deco carriages from London Victoria to the Channel, boarding coaches to cross to France then joining Belmond trains in Calais to continue the journey across Europe.
This Easter saw coaches delayed at Dover for up to 14 hours thanks to new post-Brexit security checks, and there are fears those delays will get worse.
A Belmond spokesperson said: “We want to avoid any risk of travel disruption for our guests – delays and missing train connections – and provide the highest level of service, as seamless and relaxed as possible.”
New rules mean everyone has to get off a coach and have their passport checked before crossing the Channel. Further rules will mean everyone having to have their fingerprints and faces biometrically checked.
Holidaymakers wanting to visit Europe from the UK will also soon need to submit pre-travel authorisation forms.
The Orient Express is a historic luxury train that was originally established in 1883 as a long-distance passenger service connecting various European cities. It is famous for its elegant and luxurious accommodations, fine dining, and iconic reputation as a symbol of luxury travel.
The original route of the Orient Express ran from Paris to Istanbul, passing through cities such as Vienna, Budapest, and Bucharest, and crossing several countries including France, Germany, Austria-Hungary (now Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia), and the Ottoman Empire (now Turkey). Over the years, the route and the operators of the Orient Express have changed, and today there are multiple variations of the Orient Express that operate on different routes and with different itineraries.
The Orient Express has been associated with mystery, adventure, and romance, and has been featured in numerous books, movies, and other works of popular culture. It is often considered a legendary and iconic mode of travel, evoking a sense of nostalgia for a bygone era of glamorous train travel.
Brexit has ended other train journeys. Eurostar’s service from St Pancras to Disneyland Paris will end this summer.
