THE VENICE SIMPLON-ORIENT-EXPRESS, A BELMOND TRAIN, EUROPE PRESENTS WRITERS ON THE RAILS, AN EXCLUSIVE LITERARY COLLECTION CRAFTED ABOARD THE TRAIN BY SIX OF TODAY’S MOST EXCITING STORYTELLERS
Aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, storytelling takes on a new form with the launch of Writers On The Rails, an exclusive literary collection of short stories, available for guests travelling on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express since the 15th of April 2026.
Building on more than a century of cultural and storytelling heritage, the Venice Simplon- Orient-Express invited six internationally recognised authors to embark on a journey aboard its legendary train. Among them is English novelist and Sunday Times #1 bestselling author Elizabeth Day; New York Times bestselling author Ottessa Moshfegh; George the Poet, a London-born spoken word artist and award-winning podcaster of Ugandan heritage; British author, Bernardine Evaristo, Booker Prize winner 2019, #1 Sunday Times and global bestseller; award-winning Chinese American writer Rebecca F. Kuang, and British writer David Nicholls, author of the multi-million copy bestseller One Day. Each author has been commissioned to create an original short fiction story inspired by their journey and prompted by a simple idea: what story the experience might awaken. The resulting anthology offers guests a literary perspective on the experience of travel, capturing the sights, rhythms, and intimate moments of life aboard the train in prose unique to each writer’s vision.
As part of the curated onboard experience, guests are invited to discover Writers On The Rails as a literary companion that is revealed to guests in a moment of calm. Designed to inspire imagination and quiet moments of reflection, the book is also available in the train’s communal areas. It complements the slower rhythm of travel as Europe’s landscapes unfold beyond the windows. More than a book, it is a keepsake – one that celebrates the train’s enduring legacy as a space for creativity and cultural exchange.
SLOW TRAVEL THROUGH EUROPE
At its heart, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express remains a celebration of slow travel, connecting some of Europe’s most storied destinations, including Paris and Venice, with extended routes to Vienna, Prague, and Istanbul. New for 2026, the train has introduced its Villeggiatura by Train series, inspired by the Italian tradition of seasonal summer living, with a brand-new itinerary from Paris to the Amalfi Coast via Pompeii.
Accommodation onboard includes Historic Cabins, Suites, Grand Suites, and the extraordinary L’Observatoire, a private carriage designed in collaboration with world- acclaimed artist JR. Each category has been restored or designed to reflect the heritage of the train, with Grand Suites offering additional space, private bathrooms, and 24-hour dedicated butler service.
The Writers On The Rails book is available exclusively to guests travelling aboard the train and forms part of Belmond’s ongoing focus on creating experiences that are as meaningful as they are memorable.
For more information or to book the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, please click the link here.
