Passenger Accommodation de Luxe.

In French railway working, and in passenger movement throughout Europe generally, a big part is played by an independent organisation known as the International Sleeping Car Company, which has its head-quarters in Brussels, and is the European counterpart of the American Pullman Company. Founded in 1876, the International Sleeping Car Company to-day operates some 2,100 sleeping cars and 292,600 drawing-room and restaurant cars. It has the exclusive right to run trains-de-luxe and carriages de-luxe in many countries, and also operates a chain of hotels at various tourist haunts.

One of the most important international trains operated by the International Sleeping Car Company is the Simplon-Orient Express. This train leaves Paris (P.L.M.) daily in three parts, running as follows:—(1) Between Calais and Constantinople; (2) between Calais and Bucharest; (3) between Calais and Athens. Other noteworthy trains formed of the luxurious cars page 22 of the undertaking are the Trans-Siberian Express, from Moscow to Vladivostok the Arlberg-Vienna Express, between Paris and Vienna; the Orient Express, Calais to Constantinople; the Nord Express, between Paris and Berlin; the Sud Express, Paris to Madrid; and the Rome Express, operating between the French capital and Rome. Many of the de-luxe trains of the International Sleeping Car Company include both first and second-class sleeping and restaurant cars, while in certain instances, this goahead concern also provides third-class accommodation on fast trains. It is a recognised fact that the International Sleeping Car Company has taken a main lead in the improvement of passenger accommodation generally throughout Europe.