New luxury train travels from Moscow to French Riviera

ABOARD THE MOSCOW-NICE TRAIN (AFP) – "I'm on holiday! I can allow myself to waste 53 hours, and there will be some lovely countryside," said one passenger aboard a new luxury train on its maiden voyage from Moscow to the French Riviera.

Embarking Thursday on the two day journey to Nice, Rafael Kazansky joked: "I'll spend 40 hours out of 53 sleeping. The other 13, I'll spend talking to you, then going to the restaurant and having some coffees."

The 48-year-old businessman, equipped with an iPad, said he was more used to air travel than the slower pace of the train, which pulled in to Nice on Saturday evening.

The red-and-grey striped train owned by Russian Railways (RzhD) is largely aimed at passengers with a taste for luxury. Only one of the 12 carriages is second class, while six are reserved for first class and three are defined as "luxury class." The train also boasts two dining cars.

They are furnished with plush carpets and reproductions of paintings by the French master Matisse. Individual compartments have private showers, toilets and televisions, to ensure passenger comfort over the 3,300-kilometre (2,050-mile) journey.

The train stops at 22 stations, cutting across Europe via Minsk, Warsaw, the Czech Republic, Vienna and Milan, before reaching its final destination in France's Cote D'Azur, a sunny clime that has drawn wealthy Russians tourists for centuries.

The rail route ran from the late 19th century until the outbreak of World War II, often catering to members of the Russian imperial family during the Tsarist era.

A Russian Orthodox cathedral that stands proudly in the centre of Nice, built in the early 20th century, is the largest outside Russia.

"Everything is good, everything is comfortable," Yelena Romeika, an elderly woman travelling in the train's luxury class, told AFP. "Everything has been done for the passengers' well-being."

Making no secret of the train's target clientele, a representative of the French railway company SNCF hailed the route as a return to the splendour of an earlier century.

"We need to start thinking again about the luxury trains of bygone days, like the Orient Express," Frederic Parde said.

"We expect that the Russians will be quite a rich clientele," he said, adding that the price range on tickets was fairly wide and that prices on cheaper seats would be be comparable to air ticket costs.

Fares start at 306 euros for second class travel and range to 1,200 euros for travel in the most luxurious compartments.

The rail voyage is aimed at people who enjoy the experience of travelling rather than hurrying to their destination, Parde explained.

"It's not a clientele who is short of time, who needs to get there quickly," he said. The journey from Moscow southwest takes 53 hours, while the route back from Nice takes 50 hours.

"This isn't mass transport. It's a voyage!" Parde said.

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All about the Super Luxurious BLUE TRAIN of SOUTH AFRICA

The Blue Train is one of the world’s most unique and luxurious experiences, a beautiful combination of classic elegance, old world charm, and contemporary service and cuisine.  The train is so much more than a journey, it truly is a once in a lifetime experience that is absolutely ideal for adventurous clientele that seek true luxury in an extremely exotic and intriguing destination.  The overnight journeys are roughly 27-hours in length, and include beautifully appointed cabin accommodations with en-suite bath or shower, private butler/valet service, exquisite gourmet meals, unlimited premium wines and liquors, cigars, use of lounge and club car, as well as a side excursion during a brief stop along the way.

The Blue Train travels an approximately 1,600 kilometer (1,000 mile) journey in South Africa between Pretoria and Cape Town. It is one of the most luxurious train journeys in the world. It boasts butler service, two lounge cars (smoking and non-smoking), an observation car, and carriages with gold-tinted picture windows, in soundproofed, fully carpeted compartments, each featuring its own en-suite (many of which are equipped with a full-sized bathtub). The service is promoted as a “magnificent moving five-star hotel” by its operators, who note that kings and presidents have travelled on it.

Facts about Blue Train South Africa

History of Blue Train
The Blue Train’s origins date back to the Union Limited and Union Express trains which began in 1923, taking passengers from Johannesburg to the ships departing from Cape Town to England. The Union Express introduced luxury features such as a dining saloon in 1933 and air-conditioned carriages in 1939. After a break in service in World War II the service returned in 1946. With the reintroduction of the train, the colloquial “Blue train” moniker, a reference to the blue-painted steel carriages introduced in 1937, was formally adopted as the new name. In 1997 it was refurbished and re-launched.

Operations of Blue Train
The Blue Train is operated by Luxrail, a division of Transnet Freight Rail, South Africa’s national railway operator; plans are underway to privatize it.

Operations currently require two Blue Trains in operation. One is Northbound and the other in opposite direction, Southbound – allowing for daily departures from both ends of the route. The first train accommodates 74 guests in 37 suites. The second accommodates 58 guests in 29 suites and features a conference or observation car at the back of the train. The trains travel at a speed of 90 kilometres per hour (58,2 mph).

Blue Trains Luxury Experience

Lounges
The elegant lounge car with its large windows allows for panoramic views of the passing countryside. The interior, resplendent with original works of South African art adorning the walls, plush and comfortable couches and bouquets of flame lilies complementing the plush décor, makes the lounge car the ideal setting for sharing an apéritif with fellow guests, an interlude between meals, or after-dinner conversation over coffee.

The club car has the relaxed atmosphere of a gentlemen’s club, with card tables, a small library and a fully-equipped bar. Guests can watch a short film about the train’s route or enjoy a Cuban cigar and cognac before retiring for the night.

Suites
The Blue Train is the ultimate definition of luxury in motion. You’ll note it from the moment you step into your suite, which is transformed from an elegant, spacious lounge by day into a sanctuary of comfort at night.

The Luxury suites are more spacious, offering a choice between twin or double beds with bath facilities. The luxury suite also boasts a selection of compact discs and movies on DVD. They are equipped with 100% percale cotton linen, goose down duvets and pillows and private bathrooms with marble vanity basins, marble wall and floor tiles, gold fittings, and a choice of shower or bath.

Each suite is a world on its own, with individually controlled air-conditioning and an entertainment centre with a choice of movie and radio channels. The suites also have under-floor heating in the rooms and bathrooms.

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