After a four-year hiatus, LVMH-owned hospitality group Belmond relaunched the Eastern and Oriental Express in early 2024. The luxury train, which first hit the rails in 1991 and stopped running as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, now takes passengers on a three-day trip through Singapore and Malaysia. Belmond took advantage of the break in service to refresh the train’s appearance.

The route begins at Singapore’s Woodlands Station, crossing into Malaysia and taking in the country’s jungles and cities, before looping back to the starting point. There are two seasonal routes. Between November and February, the Essence of Malaysia trip takes passengers to Langkawi, where they briefly board a boat for a cruise and some snorkelling. The Wild Malaysia trip, which runs from March to October, carries travellers deep into Taman Negara National Park to view its caves, birds and elusive Malayan tiger. Both journeys include a stop on Penang Island for a tour of George Town, a Unesco World Heritage site.

Belmond’s remodelling of the train has retained the original dark-green carriages and open-air observation car but added sumptuous new interiors that take cues from Southeast Asian textiles, while boasting plush carpeted floors and hand-painted lacquer panels. There are also eight sleeping cars, two restaurants, a piano bar and a spa. The latter, which opened in July, is operated by Dior; Taiwanese chef André Chiang curated the food and drink. Chiang’s spins on Malaysian and Peranakan cuisine include a cacao ganache with regional spices and a laksa bouillabaisse, a Malaysian twist on the French seafood soup. “Malaysia is definitely the capital of spices,” says Chiang. “The menus that we have crafted tell the story of the country’s rich heritage and culture.”

Gary Franklin, Belmond’s vice-president of trains and cruises, recalls his inaugural journey on the relaunched service. “It was my first time back on it since before the pandemic, making it an incredibly emotional experience to see this beautiful train rolling again,” Franklin tells monocle. “I will never tire of the quiet moments when I can enjoy a coffee on the observation deck. It’s magical.”
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