On Thursday, 30 October 2025, the legendary train “Orient Express” Paris–Venice is announced as a “Special Train”, arriving at Lyon Part-Dieu station at 21:32. Curiously, however, no departure time is indicated.

Many curious onlookers and rail enthusiasts, eager to see this famous train with their own eyes, have been waiting on platform K for many minutes. They are able to get a close view of the train and its passengers. However, those arriving just a few minutes before the scheduled arrival time are politely turned away at the bottom of the escalators by security staff and directed to the opposite platform, J.

Information about this exceptional event does not appear to have been widely circulated. A few announcements here and there were posted online.

Arrival of the Orient Express at Lyon Part-Dieu station

In any case, between the insiders who were already informed and the non-informed passengers patiently waiting for their TGV to Marseille on the opposite platform, admiration is widely shared as the Orient Express arrives, having departed from Paris Austerlitz station earlier in the afternoon.

Suddenly, its headlights appear in the distance, and, hauled by an old SNCF BB 22200 locomotive, its 16 gleaming midnight-blue carriages majestically runs along the platforms of Lyon’s main station.

The Orient Express stops in Lyon Part-Dieu

Each coach proudly displays, in gold lettering, the inscription: “COMPAGNIE INTERNATIONALE DES WAGONS-LITS ET DES GRANDS EXPRESS EUROPÉENS”, recalling a time when French was the main language used in Europe and even worldwide. The twin-lion monogram, symbol of the CIWL, is also present on each carriage in gold.

The ten-minute stop allowed a few privileged passengers to board, while the quiet and respectful crowd (including ourselves) admires this treasure from another era and took photographs. Inside, we can see several passengers seated at tables, taking photos of themselves, or even waving friendly greetings to the curious observers trying to guess what they were doing.

Suddenly, the Orient Express set off again, still hauled by the BB 22200 (for a train driver, an “Orient Express” duty must certainly be a very special experience) and, just as majestically as before, rolls along platform K before disappearing into the Lyon night, heading towards Venice, where it is due to arrive the following evening.

The Orient Express en route to Venice

Whether one is a train enthusiast or not, these few minutes offered a brief step back in time, and even a chance to dream of experiencing such a unique journey.