Two original pre-independence steam locomotives have been lovingly restored to power the Revolution Express, a new heritage tourism experience in central Vietnam that will start in late 2024 or early 2025
Indochina Rail Tourist Service joint stock company and Wafaifo Optimisers signed a management agreement for Wafaifo Optimisers to manage the Revolution Express steam train, a remarkable new tourist experience in central Vietnam, which was expected to launch late 2024 or early 2025.
Two original steam locomotives from the 1960s had been lovingly restored to working condition. The locomotives were set to pull two fully appointed retro-styled carriages that could seat up to 57 passengers each, as well as a custom-made kitchen carriage and a baggage carriage.
The locomotives were the last remaining working steam ones in Vietnam, dating from the pre-independence era, both built locally in Vietnam, based on the French Mikado design. They had been painstakingly restored over a number of years, using original parts and utilizing the skills of the last remaining steam engineers working for Vietnam Railways.
The Revolution Express was planned to make a return trip between Danang city and the former royal capital of Hue each day. Each journey would traverse the scenically remarkable Hai Van coastal mountain range and stop at Lang Co, adjacent to beautiful lagoon and beach scenery.
Surrounded by old-world splendour and served by talents in period costume, passengers would be able to enjoy light food and drinks as they viewed one of the most picturesque coastlines and mountain passes in Southeast Asia.
Indochina Rail and Wafaifo Optimisers signed the partnership agreement on 20 May in Danang in central Vietnam. The two parties were represented by Indochina Rail’s Chairman, Mr. Michael Gebbie and Wafaifo Optimisers’ Managing Director, Mr. Pieter van der Hoeven and Commercial Director, Mr. Mikkel Krantz.
Highlights of the tourist experience would include themed dining at the three railway stations on the route: Kim Lien (Danang), Lang Co, and Hue. Each station would have its own menus and entertainment schedules to meet the arrival of the Revolution Express.
Importantly, the train stations with their restaurants and retail offerings were designed to also attract other road and VNR (Vietnam National Rail) passengers traveling between Danang, Lang Co, and Hue on the scenic coastal route.
In Hue, the original train maintenance building was being beautifully refurbished as the Station Restaurant. The venue was being themed in an imperial manner befitting the history of Hue, the last bastion of the dynastic era in Vietnam.
In Lang Co, the restaurant was themed to mark the independence that Vietnam enjoys today. Apart from a full restaurant offering, food carts were to be on the station platform offering homemade ice cream, freshly squeezed fruit juices, Vietnamese coffee and newly pressed sugar cane. Regular VNR-run trains all stopped at Lang Co station for passenger refreshments.
Potentially, the third restaurant at the station on the outskirts of Danang was to be developed. If so, it would be themed in a colonial manner to reflect a different era in Vietnam’s national journey.
The plan was that when the Revolution Express arrived at the stations on the route, a brass band in army regalia would greet disembarking guests.
The Revolution Express was the only private rail operator in Vietnam.
Wafaifo Optimisers was responsible for marketing, booking, and catering for the Revolution Express and its stations. The company was also set to open its own urban resort in the heritage city of Hoi An in the third quarter of this year.
Further announcements on the commencement of the Revolution Express and how to book were to be made in the next few months.
