New rail voyages by Eastern & Oriental Express
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From the globally acclaimed travel magazine, Condé Nast Traveller.
The chronicles of south-east Asia
Luxury railway the Oriental Express has announced that it is to run a series of new rail voyages through Thailand, Malaysia, Laos and Singapore.
The new Chronicles of South-East Asia tours will be available from November 2010, and will run alongside existing excursions operated by the Eastern & Oriental Express.
Each voyage is limited to just 60 guests, each of whom will stay in the opulent surroundings of a private State of Presidential cabin, while all journeys are complemented by exploring excursions and overnight off-train experiences. Guest lecturers will also be on hand to guide guests through the fascinating history and landscape of the countries they pass through.
One such tour available is the Legends of Peninsula: a six-night adventure by train around south-east Asia. Starting in Bangkok, passengers will journey through the jungle-covered hills of Thailand, stopping at the white-sand beaches of the Anantara Ski Kao resort, before crossing into Malaysia and heading to the vibrant city of Kuala Lumpar. Excursions here include a morning in Penang and a trip to the historic River Kwai Bridge.
Other trips include an epic voyage around Thailand and a Tales of Laos tour, which journeys from the north-east of Thailand, through Laos to the mighty Mekong river and the capital Vientiane.
For more information, and rates, visit: www.easternandorientalexpress.com
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Harper's Bazaar, another leading publication, also has something to say about the new packages by the Eastern & Oriental Express.
Possible extension of the Singapore-Bangkok via Butterworth train?
Chiang Mai or Vientiane maybe? -
This E&OE, is going to Butterworth also.
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Originally posted by Interception_7:
This E&OE, is going to Butterworth also.
You mean?
Terminating in Butterworth? -
how is de moving of tgpagar stn going to affect E&O espress?
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Originally posted by ama-teur:
how is de moving of tgpagar stn going to affect E&O espress?
oh yah, forgot abt that.
How is it going to affect the new packages they just draw up last month? -
Originally posted by Fryderyk HPH:
You mean?
Terminating in Butterworth?It goes from Singapore - Kuala Lumpur - Butteworth - Padang Besar - Bangkok.
When it reaches Butteworth, since it's a terminus station, the loco will have to switch sides. The passengers will be going to Penang island once they reach Butterworth. After that, they will proceed on to Padang Besar, where they will clear immigrations and perform a engine swap.
This means: Singapore to Butterworth via Kuala Lumpur (same engine), Butterworth to Padang Besar (switches sides) and when it reaches Padang Besar, the Thailand (SRT) loco will take over its journey to Bangkok, stopping at Kanchanaburi for a tour at the River Kwai.
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Originally posted by ama-teur:
how is de moving of tgpagar stn going to affect E&O espress?
Currently, I do not have any information, but from some sources, it may start at Johor Bahru instead of Woodlands (after relocation).
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Originally posted by Interception_7:
It goes from Singapore - Kuala Lumpur - Butteworth - Padang Besar - Bangkok.
When it reaches Butteworth, since it's a terminus station, the loco will have to switch sides. The passengers will be going to Penang island once they reach Butterworth. After that, they will proceed on to Padang Besar, where they will clear immigrations and perform a engine swap.
This means: Singapore to Butterworth via Kuala Lumpur (same engine), Butterworth to Padang Besar (switches sides) and when it reaches Padang Besar, the Thailand (SRT) loco will take over its journey to Bangkok, stopping at Kanchanaburi for a tour at the River Kwai.
I supposedly took the E&O Express once. But I was like 3 or 4 yrs old then, and can't remember a slightest bit of the journey. Mid 90's IIRC. Went with my parents and my Korean aunts. Back then, it was the earlier years of operations too.
I was just wondering, why doesn't the E&O Express holding company buy a few diesel locos to run its own operation throughout SEAsia hauling its own carriages and operate as a private company utilising(and thus paying) KTM and SRT royalty fees for track usage? Does renting KTM and SRT locos make more sense cost-wise in the long haul? After all, most, if not all of SEAsia uses metre gauge right? The locos could be based out of Butterworth as you mention that Butterworth terminus is an end-on terminal and trains need to reverse out the other end.
Maybe customs could be carried out on the train as per other countries? It would seem more professional also. I guess it would solve a lot of manpower on the train and on ground actually if the train doesn't need to stop at the border for border checks etc.
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Originally posted by Fryderyk HPH:
I supposedly took the E&O Express once. But I was like 3 or 4 yrs old then, and can't remember a slightest bit of the journey. Mid 90's IIRC. Went with my parents and my Korean aunts. Back then, it was the earlier years of operations too.
I was just wondering, why doesn't the E&O Express holding company buy a few diesel locos to run its own operation throughout SEAsia hauling its own carriages and operate as a private company utilising(and thus paying) KTM and SRT royalty fees for track usage? Does renting KTM and SRT locos make more sense cost-wise in the long haul? After all, most, if not all of SEAsia uses metre gauge right? The locos could be based out of Butterworth as you mention that Butterworth terminus is an end-on terminal and trains need to reverse out the other end.
Maybe customs could be carried out on the train as per other countries? It would seem more professional also. I guess it would solve a lot of manpower on the train and on ground actually if the train doesn't need to stop at the border for border checks etc.
E&OE has its own company. They just rent the right-of-way, locomotives and drivers (inclusive of Train Guard). The coaches do not belong to KTM/SRT.
Why should they waste to get locomotives to run, when KTM has it and can be rented as and when it needs to run. After all, the E&OE doesn't run every week, it runs, like once/twice a month.
From Butterworth, they will then proceed on to Padang Besar. Passports are collected while passengers are on the train. This means, no passengers will be alighting at Padang Besar for customs immigration. When this goes on, KTM locomotives will exchange with the SRT locomotives.
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Originally posted by Interception_7:
E&OE has its own company. They just rent the right-of-way, locomotives and drivers (inclusive of Train Guard). The coaches do not belong to KTM/SRT.
Why should they waste to get locomotives to run, when KTM has it and can be rented as and when it needs to run. After all, the E&OE doesn't run every week, it runs, like once/twice a month.
I agree.
But however, though it seems that the E&O Express runs once or twice a month down to Singapore's Tg Pagar, they also have services up north in Thailand, doing their intra-Thailand's Bangkok-Chiang Mai shuttles in continuation with pax from the Singapore-Bangkok train. In addition, they have other services to Vientiane and another part of Eastern Thailand.Their carriages seem quite utilised in that sense. Singapore-Bangkok via Butterworth seems to be only one of the many segments that E&O Express operates in SEAsia. So that was why I was wondering whether it would make more financial sense on E&O Express' Holding Company to have permanent locomotives that run with their carriages.
Here is the link for the trips they make up north.
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Originally posted by Interception_7:
From Butterworth, they will then proceed on to Padang Besar. Passports are collected while passengers are on the train. This means, no passengers will be alighting at Padang Besar for customs immigration. When this goes on, KTM locomotives will exchange with the SRT locomotives.
Oh! That's great for the pax then.
At least no hassle for border checks and no red tape involved.
