Cruise Express, train cruising

You can choose to travel through space or time. Or both together. Experience the charm of travel in a bygone era. The era of the great cruise ships that ferried their passengers from one fascinating destination to another whilst they enjoyed all the comforts of home. Trains, like liners, have all the necessary characteristics to transform a straightforward trip from one point on the earth’s surface to another into a journey back into time and history. Rail tracks and ship routes have both long provided food for the imagination.

The real challenge transferring all the charm of a cruise at sea to the landlocked version. A challenge that a train design like the CruisExpress, which guarantees its passengers a hotel-standard experience as they travel through new, unexplored territories and to new destinations. It is a cruise train which will take passengers on a unique voyage of discovery without them ever having to change accommodation or transfer luggage. They simply board the train in their own city and, once they’ve settled into their cabins, begin a timelessly charming Orient Express-style journey. The European rail network, built in the 19th century now forms an absolutely organic part of the landscape, following its undulations and and running deep into endless cities and towns, often whisking passengers well-off the beaten track and revealing glimpses of rarely seen gems. The CruisExpress normally travels overnight so that guests arrive at their destination rested and refreshed. They then spend the entire day touring the sights or simply relaxing before setting off for a new destination that evening. A train journey makes for a superbly relaxing way to holiday on the move. Trains are safe, punctual and environmentally friendly (it takes just 18 hp per ton to power one for a 200 kilometres compared to more than 100 hp for a car).

Trains are modular too so carriages can be added or subtracted to suit the number of passengers, type of “cruise” and destination. These days, carriages tend to be either one or two storey. The two-storey are Pullman-style with seats arranged in lines in a single space. The others are often divided into compartments seating 6-8 passengers each and are linked by a corridor running along the side. The idea started with a two-storey carriage but then veered away from it. The result is that the elongated rectangular shapes of the carriages have been broken up more in relation to their function. Only the sleeper carriages have two continual floors, the idea being to diversify the space and break-up the longitudinal nature of the train. The result is a whole new concept. No longer are similar spaces simply arranged one after another. Instead we took an overall view of what a train as a whole should be.

The carriages are divided up both internally and externally to communicate the idea of that they are both multifunctional. However, they are also strongly linked to give a sense of oneness. The sleeping compartments include both passenger and crew cabins and the day ones the restaurant, bar and various saloons.

Trains have quite a rigid composition but this can still be modified, actually because the wagons have a fixed position relating to their use. The train is designed to accommodate 94 passengers and 26 crew whilst offering the same high standards of comfort and service as would be delivered at sea. The restaurant is capable of accommodating all of the passengers in a single sitting and there are many more seats than required in the day areas to avoid any unpleasant feeling of crowding. The entrance compartment is the central element.

Passengers must come aboard through the main entrance. This is where they will go through the formalities and be assigned their cabins. To the right and left of the hall will be the public areas, the restaurant, piano bar, shopping centre, conversation and reading lounges, etc. Next come the passenger cabins, the crew quarters and two technical carriages.

The train is also designed for use by people with limited mobility (handicapped individuals, the elderly, children). There is no locomotive as this will be hooked up to the train only to pull it as the CruisExpress does not need any external power.

The train’s outer styling reflects its inner layout. The modules which make it up are quite clearly visible as they are each in different colours and each have different windows. The entrance carriage, for example, has a wide opening and skylight so it cannot be confused with any other part of the train.

Mario Ivan Zignego