Danube Express

The Danube Express is a private train operating in central and eastern Europe. It was begun in September 2008, and operates excursions on various itineraries and routes from its home base in Budapest, Hungary. Excursions take the train through Hungary, Romania (including Transylvania), Bulgaria, Turkey, Serbia, Slovakia, Poland, the Czech Republic and Germany. Its operating season is generally from April to October.

The train is a hotel-on-wheels sleeping car train, usually composed of about eight cars (consisting of four deluxe sleeping cars with en suite facilities, one "classic" sleeping car and restaurant, lounge and staff cars. Some of the cars previously operated on the Royal Hungarian Express by MAV Nosztalgia Kft (who also operate the Danube Express).

The inaugural run in September 2008 was from Berlin to Budapest[1] with stops at Košice, Kraków, Wieliczka, Malbork and Gdańsk. The next excursion was back to Berlin, with stops at Prague and Dresden. The Express now operates more frequently from Budapest to Istanbul (via Transylvania with stops at Sighişoara, Braşov (for Bran Castle), Veliko Turnovo and Kazanlak.[2][3][4]

Rolling stock

Carriage's name Carriage type Carriage number Year of construction Built by Original owner and purpose Year of refitment Capacity / layout
Bohemia Superior DeLuxe sleeping car WLmee 51 55 89-89 010-9 1985-1986 DWA Bautzen DR/DB/BTE couchette car 2017 4 compartments with double bed and en-suite bathroom, a steward's cabin and a common bathroom
Dalmatia Superior DeLuxe sleeping car WLmee 51 55 89-89 011-7 1985-1986 DWA Bautzen DR/DB/BTE couchette car 2018 4 compartments with double bed and en-suite bathroom, a steward's cabin and a common bathroom
Saxonia DeLuxe sleeping car WLm 56 55 89-90 001-3 1990 Ganz-Hunslet mail van of the Hungarian Post 2006 5 compartments with twin beds and en-suite bathroom and a steward's cabin
Cracovia DeLuxe sleeping car WLm 56 55 89-90 002-1 1990 Ganz-Hunslet mail van of the Hungarian Post 2006 5 compartments with twin beds and en-suite bathroom and a steward's cabin
Vindobona DeLuxe sleeping car WLm 56 55 89-90 003-9 1990 Ganz Hunslet mail van of the Hungarian Post 2006 5 compartments with twin beds and en-suite bathroom and a steward's cabin
Hungaria DeLuxe sleeping car WLm 56 55 89-90 004-7 1990 Ganz-Hunslet mail van of the Hungarian Post 2006 5 compartments with twin beds and en-suite bathroom and a steward's cabin
Heritage class state car WLS 56 55 89-69 051-2 1958 MÁV Dunakeszi Workshops used in Hungarian governmental train 4 compartments with bunk beds and washbasin, a DeLuxe comparment with double bed and en-suite bathroom, a kitchenette, and a common bathroom
Heritage class state car WLS 56 55 89-69 055-3 1952 MÁV Dunakeszi Workshops used in Hungarian governmental train 4 compartments with bunk beds and washbasin, a DeLuxe comparment with double bed and en-suite bathroom, a kitchenette, and a common bathroom
Heritage class sleeping car WL 56 55 70-29 361-5 1956 MÁV Dunakeszi Workshops used in Hungarian governmental train 9 compartments with bunk beds and washbasin, a kitchenette, and a common bathroom
Heritage class sleeping car WL 56 55 70-29 362-3 1956 MÁV Dunakeszi Workshops used in Hungarian governmental train 9 compartments with bunk beds and washbasin, a kitchenette, and a common bathroom
Pannonia Dining car WRm 51 55 88-81 029-3 1981 DWA Bautzen used in Hungarian governmental train 2000 42 seats for two and four
Albert Flórián Dining car WRm 51 55 88-81 012-4 1981 DWA Bautzen MÁV dining car 2014 42 seats for two and four
Budapest Lounge car WRm 51 55 88-81 004-1 1981 DWA Bautzen MÁV dining car 2003 variable layout as dining, bar, or lecture car with a maximum seat capacity of 42
Balaton Bar car WRSmee 51 55 87-71 001-0 1981 DWA Bautzen MÁV dining car 2015 sofas, seats at tables and at the bar, piano
Salon Istropolitan Staff state car BcR 56 55 85-40 041-1 1968 DWA Görlitz CSD/ZSSK sleeping car 2001 6 three-bed sleeper compartments, a dining saloon and a kitchenette
Generator and staff car WLDsm 51 55 89-71 001-8 1990 Ganz-Hunslet mail van of the Hungarian Post 2014 storage facilities, sleeping compartments and a room for conductors

One more Superor Deluxe sleeping car with the name Bavaria is currently in reconstrucion.

Train composition may vary upon demand between 7 and 13 carriages. There are no specific engines for the haulage, but in Hungary - at least at the departures and arrivals from/to Budapest - it's done particularly by heritage (even steam) locomotives.

Routes

For 2017 following trips are scheduled:

  • Balkan Odyssey: Budapest - Sighisoara - Brasov - Veliko Tarnovo - Plovdiv - Belgrade - Mostar - Sarajevo - Ljubljana - Trieste - Venice (also available in opposite direction)
  • Hellenic Treasures: Budapest - Keszthely - Ljubljana - Sarajevo - Mostar - Belgrade - Sofia - Plovdiv - Thessaloniki - Athens (also available in opposite direction)
  • Treasures Of Eastern Europe: Venice - Prague - Zittau - Berlin - Gdansk - Malbork - Zakopane - Krakow - Vienna - Keszthely - Budapest
  • Sicilian Odyssey (southbound): Venice - Cremona - Verona - Bologna - Bari - Pompeii - Villa San Giovanni - Palermo - Agrigento - Ragusa - Syracuse - Caltagirone - Catania - Taormina
  • Sicilian Odyssey (northbound): Taormina - Catania - Caltagirone - Syracuse - Raguse - Agrigenti - Palermo - Salerno - Amalfi Coast - Rome - San Gimignano - Florence - Venice
  • New Year in Vienna: Budapest - Keszthely - Graz - Vienna - Cesky Krumlov - Prague - Kosice - Budapest

In the years before journeys were frequently made from Budapest to Istanbul and return, which were extended between 2014 and 2016 even to Iran. Istanbul was also the beginning and the ending of the trips through the Balkan states, but now all the tours to and via Turkey are cancelled due to safety reasons.

See also

References

  1. ↑ d'Arcy, Susan (September 28, 2008). "Europe's new luxury rail route". The Sunday Times. London: timesonline.co.uk. Retrieved 27 January 2011. External link in |publisher= (help)
  2. ↑ Bridge, Adrian (2008-09-26). "Railway journeys: The Danube Express". London: Telegraph. Retrieved 2011-08-12.
  3. ↑ "Danube Express: Awaken, not stirred - Europe, Travel". London: The Independent. 2008-09-27. Retrieved 2011-08-12.
  4. ↑ "Discover Europe in style on the Danube Express | Mail Online". London: Dailymail.co.uk. 2010-06-16. Retrieved 2011-08-12.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.