Trans-Benacian Railway

The Orient Express near Austrasian Mountains

The Orient Express is a luxurious long-distance train service founded in 1672 AN by the Company de Orient Express. Although the desired connection between 's Koningenwaarde and Shirekeep was successfully provided for some time, nowadays only the connection between' s Koningenwaarde and Brandenburg is in use.

History

The dream for a long-distance train came when Frederic Blijmackers traveled as a journalist on the royal train from ‘s Koningenwaarde to Brandenburg. Bent over a map of the entire continent of Benacia, Bijmackers drew different routes for long-distance trains. The focus shifted to the direct connection between 's Koningenwaarde and Shirekeep.

Since 13 XI.1674 AN, all train services to and from Severnaya Gubernya have been canceled. The result is that there is no train service to Shirekeep. Since the outbreak of the Second Amokolian War, the timetable to train service has been canceled.

Routes

The current route is between 's Koningenwaarde and Brandenburg:

Flag	State	Station	km
	Kingdom of Batavia	Hoofdstation Noord ‘s Koningenwaarde	0
	Kingdom of Batavia	Batavorum	TBD
	Kingdom of Batavia	Pentapolis	TBD
	Kingdom of Batavia	Benacium	TBD
	Kingdom of Batavia	Koningensbergen	TBD
	Frankish Empire	Tel-Amok	TBD
	Frankish Empire	Brandenburg	TBD

Former routes

Route of the Orient Express

Flag	State	Station	km		Flag	State	Station	km
	Kingdom of Batavia	Hoofdstation Noord ‘s Koningenwaarde	0			Kingdom of Batavia	Hoofdstation Noord ‘s Koningenwaarde	0
	Kingdom of Batavia	Batavorum	TBD			Kingdom of Batavia	Batavorum	TBD
	Kingdom of Batavia	Pentapolis	TBD			Kingdom of Batavia	Pentapolis	TBD
	Kingdom of Batavia	Benacium	TBD			Kingdom of Batavia	Benacium	TBD
	Kingdom of Batavia	Koningensbergen	TBD			Kingdom of Batavia	Koningensbergen	TBD
	Kingdom of Amokolia	Tel-Amok	TBD			Kingdom of Amokolia	Tel-Amok	TBD
	Kingdom of Amokolia	Brandenburg	TBD			Kingdom of Amokolia	Brandenburg	TBD
	Kingdom of Amokolia	Mittlere Stadt	TBD			Kingdom of Amokolia	Mittlere Stadt	TBD
	Elwynnese Republic	Concord	TBD			Elwynnese Republic	Malexander	TBD
	Unified Governorates of Benacia	Mishagrad	TBD			Elwynnese Republic	Petersburg	TBD
	Alalehzamini Autonomous Republic	Ardashirshahr	TBD			Elwynnese Republic	Araxion	TBD
	Alalehzamini Autonomous Republic	Azeroth	TBD			Elwynnese Republic	Smjörkyr	TBD
	Imperial Republic of Shireroth	Shirekeep	TBD			Elwynnese Republic	Eliria	TBD

Express experience

A description of the journey with the Orient Express, from the starting point in 's Koningenwaarde to Shirekeep.

's Koningenwaarde

The facade of the Hoofdstation Noord in 's Koningenwaarde

The Hoofdstation Noord in 's Koningenwaarde is the starting point for the Orient Express. The shielded platform is specially equipped to receive the often richer travelers, such as taxis and private drivers can drop their passengers directly on the platform and a red carpet to the entrances to the train. Travelers are personally welcomed by the staff, including the chief conductor and the chef. A ticket does not contain a number, but is in the name of the traveler.

The Orient Express is not a train service, like a commuter train. But is a train service in which travel, leisure and experience come together. Hence the term: "Orient Experience". In the days before the departure of the train, travelers arrive in 's Koningenwaarde. Often travelers stay in one of the hotels in the city. Some hotels are specially rented by the Company the Orient Express for travelers. But both in 's Koningenwaarde and in other cities, the Company has its own Orient Express hotels, often with the name: Oriental Hotel.

The train consists of at least 15 carriages, such as a saloon carriage, dinner carriage, luggage carriages and sleeping carriages. During the trip to Shirekeep, the locomotives will be changed every time the train crosses a national border.

When the train departs from 's Koningenwaarde, all passengers are invited in the salon carriage for coffee and chocolates. The train passes the buildings of 's Koningenwaarde faster and faster, while the other traffic moves slowly under and above the train tracks. The centre of the city is surrounded by a green belt and the A14 highway. This is followed by the northern suburb and the Paleys Raiselle can be seen for a short moment. Subsequently, meadows can be seen on the left and on the right there is a view of the river Zwette.

This canalized river connects the Rhijne with the Linge, which for centuries has provided a thriving economy in the region with in particular the city 's Koningenwaarde. The meadows are interrupted by parts of the Waarder Woud. Today, the Waarder Woud is only a fraction of its original size, but in the spring the forest turns purple and that compels writers to tales. Tales from the Waarder Woud

Soon afterwards the meadows start again and one of the side branches of the Zwette is crossed. The places Berg and Kolmar come into view, respectively left and right of the railway line and river. The places are connected by a bridge over the railway and river, while the wheels rattle over the railroad switches. Both places have a common train station, with a main rail available for continuous trains, such as the Orient Express. The train whips past the station, after which the passengers get a view of the Abbey of Kolmar. This is located on the hills north of the place of the same name. The abbey remains visible for some time, as the railway line and the river circle around the hill of the abbey. While the adjacent road bends north to Justusbergh. Along the track is a stone boundary post, which marks the border of the Archduchy 's Koningenwaarde, formerly the Capital Region 's Koningenwaarde.

On the other side of the river you can see the western foothills of the Hoog Falwawoud as the train approaches Zwettewaerde. That place was created around an important lock in the Zwette, to make the difference in height in the river accessible for shipping. Because in the past the King of 's Koningenwaarde was the main financier of the lock, this place became "Zwettewaerde", which is the combination of "Zwette", the name of the river, and "waarde" (value). Later a new lock was built east of the original lock, for which a new channel was dug.

The railway line makes a turn to the north, following a shorter route. This means that the train has to go through a tunnel under the hill on which the Zwetterbosch is located. After the tunnel, the road, the river and the railway line come together again. The road winds north to Dasburgh, while the railway follows a more direct line to the same place.

The town of Dasburgh has traditionally been an important fortress on the route from Batavorum to 's Koningenwaarde. Many wars between different gentlemen have been fought for control over this place. The counts of Vinandy have had control of the site most of the times and for the longest time. Nowadays the king of Batavia, besides prince of Vinandy, is also count of Dasburgh. Dasburgh Castle is nowadays only a ruin, but still owned by the House of Vinandy. In the past, tolls were levied both on the road and on the river, but the town is also known for its Dasburger brewery. Completely separate from the railway line over which the Oriënt Express train runs, there is a railway line to Vinandy. This railway is nowadays largely a museum railroad, on which nostalgic steam trains transport tourists to and from Dasburgh.

The railway to Batavorum cuts off a few bends of the river before arriving in Batavorum. Here the train of the Orient Express makes its first stopover.