Travel in Wes Anderson’s World When You Board This Train Carriage
Oscar-nominated Wes Anderson’s aesthetic sense is unmistakable: charming, quirky, symmetrical, dreamlike, deliberate colour palettes, distinct typography and Art Nouveau-inspired. If you are an Anderson fan, you’d wish you could live in his make-believe worlds. If you are an Anderson fan and a railway buff, you’d particularly want to ride the train in The Darjeeling Limited. Well, now you can, sort of.
Anderson has worked together with luxury train operator, Belmond, to redesign one of the 11 carriages of a British Pullman train for a uniquely Anderson Experience.
“I have often had the chance to invent train compartments and carriages in my movies,” Anderson said in an article published by Belmond “So I was very eager to make something new while also participating in the process of preservation…”
“They are keeping something special alive; igniting this endangered species of travel into a new golden era,” he added.
The carriage in question is itself imbued with rich history, having hosted royalty, statesmen, survived WWII and been featured on film since being built in the fifties. As perhaps only Wes Anderson can, the carriage’s history was blended seamlessly with his own daring vision.
The original swan theme of the carriage named Cygnus —Latin for, well, swan, and a constellation in the northern sky— has been maintained; references to the theme can be found in the most breathtaking marquetry that decorates the walls. The same dark wood frames the green-patterned upholstery and contrasts the pop of pink on the ceiling.
Luxury train travel has seen a spike in interest since the pandemic struck, with travellers opting for spacious seating and avoiding crowded airports and cramped airplane cabins. Belmond is finding rides selling out and is already expecting a busy 2022.
Living your Wes Anderson fantasy of course doesn’t come cheap. The British Pullman leaves from London for a journey through the English countryside, with tickets starting from £400 per person in the Pullman Dining area and £1800 for a private coupé that comes with champagne and cocktails in matching tableware for up to four passengers; or you could book the entire carriage for a private experience for a group of up to 26 people.
