Danube Express


The Danube Express is a private train operating in central and eastern Europe. It provides a hotel-on-wheels service with sleeping cars of three comfort categories, completed by restaurant, lounge and staff cars. Its operating season is generally from April to October.
The operation of the train has begun in September 2008. Most of the journeys were organized from Budapest to Istanbul via Romania and Bulgaria, and return via Serbia, but there were also frequent tours to Austria, Slovakia, Poland, the Czech Republic and Germany.
Since 2014 the train belongs to Golden Eagle Luxury Trains, who has extended the range of tours significantly. Journeys have taken part until 2016 even to and inside Iran, and from Istanbul to Venice through the Balkan states, but then all the tours to and via Turkey are cancelled due to safety reasons. New tours were made in the recent years through Italy - down to Sicily and via Switzerland.

Rolling stock

Carriage's nameCarriage typeCarriage numberYear of constructionBuilt byOriginYear of refitmentCapacity / layout
BohemiaSuperior DeLuxe sleeping carWLmee 51 55 89-89 010-91985DWA BautzenDR/DB/BTE couchette car20174 compartments with double bed and en-suite bathroom, a steward's cabin and a common bathroom
DalmatiaSuperior DeLuxe sleeping carWLmee 51 55 89-89 011-71985DWA BautzenDR/DB/BTE couchette car20184 compartments with double bed and en-suite bathroom, a steward's cabin and a common bathroom
BavariaSuperior DeLuxe sleeping carWLmee 51 55 89-89 012-51985DWA BautzenDR/DB/BTE couchette car20184 compartments with double bed and en-suite bathroom, a steward's cabin and a common bathroom
SaxoniaDeLuxe sleeping carWLm 56 55 89-90 001-31990Ganz-Hunsletmail van of the Hungarian Post20075 compartments with twin beds and en-suite bathroom and a steward's cabin
CracoviaDeLuxe sleeping carWLm 56 55 89-90 002-11990Ganz-Hunsletmail van of the Hungarian Post20075 compartments with twin beds and en-suite bathroom and a steward's cabin
VindobonaDeLuxe sleeping carWLm 56 55 89-90 003-91990Ganz Hunsletmail van of the Hungarian Post20075 compartments with twin beds and en-suite bathroom and a steward's cabin
HungariaDeLuxe sleeping carWLm 56 55 89-90 004-71990Ganz-Hunsletmail van of the Hungarian Post20075 compartments with twin beds and en-suite bathroom and a steward's cabin
Heritage class state carWLS 56 55 89-69 051-21958MÁV Dunakeszi Workshopsused in Hungarian governmental train4 compartments with bunk beds and washbasin, a DeLuxe comparment with double bed and en-suite bathroom, a kitchenette, and a common bathroom
Heritage class state carWLS 56 55 89-69 055-31952MÁV Dunakeszi Workshopsused in Hungarian governmental train4 compartments with bunk beds and washbasin, a DeLuxe comparment with double bed and en-suite bathroom, a kitchenette, and a common bathroom
Heritage class sleeping carWL 56 55 70-29 361-51956MÁV Dunakeszi Workshopsused in Hungarian governmental train9 compartments with bunk beds and washbasin, a kitchenette, and a common bathroom
Heritage class sleeping carWL 56 55 70-29 362-31956MÁV Dunakeszi Workshopsused in Hungarian governmental train9 compartments with bunk beds and washbasin, a kitchenette, and a common bathroom
PannoniaDining carWRm 51 55 88-81 029-31981DWA Bautzenused in Hungarian governmental train200042 seats for two and four
Albert FlóriánDining carWRm 51 55 88-81 012-41981DWA BautzenMÁV dining car201442 seats for two and four
BudapestLounge carWRm 51 55 88-81 004-11981DWA BautzenMÁV dining car2003variable layout as dining, bar, or lecture car with a maximum seat capacity of 42
BalatonBar carWRSmee 51 55 87-71 001-01981DWA BautzenMÁV dining car2015sofas, seats at tables and at the bar, piano
Salon IstropolitanStaff state carBcR 56 55 85-40 041-11968DWA GörlitzCSD/ZSSK sleeping car20016 three-bed sleeper compartments, a dining saloon and a kitchenette
Generator and staff carWLDsm 51 55 89-71 001-81990Ganz-Hunsletmail van of the Hungarian Post2014storage facilities, sleeping compartments and a room for conductors

Some of the cars were also previously operated on its predecessor train Royal Hungarian Express.
The carriages are based in Budapest, Hungary, and operated by MÁV Nosztalgia Ltd..
Train composition may vary upon demand between 7 and 13 carriages. There are no specific engines for the haulage, but in Hungary - at least at the departures and arrivals from/to Budapest - it's done particularly by heritage locomotives.

Tours