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Orient Express is the name of a long-distance passenger train originally operated by the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits.
Its route has changed many times:
The original route was from Paris to Budapest via Vienna, before the train's eastern terminus became Varna in Bulgaria. Latterly the train ran all the way to Istanbul.
The most famous route was that of "Simplon Orient Express" from Paris to Istanbul by way of Switzerland, Milan, and Zagreb; other routes also touched Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, and Serbia.
Before World War II, the Orient Express was a symbol of comfort and luxury. It had sleeping-cars with permanent service and restaurant cars known for the quality of their cuisine. Royalty, nobles, diplomats, businesspeople and the bourgeoisie in general patronized it.
The last "real" Orient Express with special coaches went on its way in 1977. Later there was an ordinary train with this name from Paris to Budapest. It still runs from Paris to Vienna although Austria is hardly "the orient".
The action of Agatha Christie's novel Murder on the Orient Express is set on the Simplon Orient Express. There is also a 2000 movie, Death, Deceit and Destiny Aboard the Orient Express, also in the 2004 version of Around the World in 80 Days, Mr. Fogg rides aboard the train to Istanbul. Additionally, James Bond's troubled escape in "From Russia with Love" is set aboard the train.
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