EWS 67019 at London Victoria

Seen awaiting departure from London Victoria with a Sunday service to Folkestone West is the Venice-Simplon Orient Express, hauled by EWS liveried Class 67, 67019.

The Venice-Simplon Orient Express and Pullman services such as this have always been associated with London Victoria, be they hauled by the magnificent Merchant Navy or West Country Pacifics, or latter day Electro-Diesels such as the Class 71 and 73, the sensational style of this train of trains has always been a magnificent sight at this otherwise bustling commuter station.

In days past the Orient Express would run to Folkestone Harbour, where passengers would alight for a ferry across the Calais, where they'd rejoin the SNCF counterpart for the continuing journey across Europe. Although the last Orient Express left London in 1962, the service was reborn in 1982 as a rail-cruise for the discerning passenger who wishes to experience the true golden age of railways.

Today's stock is mostly made up of trailer carriages from the 5BEL 'Brighton Belle' units that were withdrawn by British Rail in 1972. A plan is currently in place to return a 5BEL unit to the mainline by 2015.