The company that operates today’s Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is dropping the London-to-Folkestone leg of the route due to difficulties crossing the border to Calais.
The coach transfer is reported to be creating an unacceptable risk for Belmond, which operates the luxury train route. It says there is no way for their passengers to avoid delays crossing the Channel, and ahead of the additional biometric passport checks, passengers will have to join the train in Paris.
Up to now, passengers could ride in art deco carriages of the British Pullman service from Victoria station in London to Folkestone.
They would be able to board coaches to cross the Channel to meet Belmond’s continental train at Calais, where, they then dress for dinner.
A luxury compartment in one of the vintage 1929 cars costs between £3,530 and £10,100 per person.
Belmond reportedly said the coach transfer creates an unacceptable risk for the company, as there is no way for their passengers to avoid delays crossing the Channel.
Just a couple of weeks ago many travellers, including school coach parties, had to wait up to 14 hours at Dover at the beginning of the Easter holidays to make the short hop across the channel. People also faced queues for Le Shuttle.