Italian ultra-luxury hospitality and rail company Arsenale Group is developing a new global umbrella brand for high-end train travel, set to unite elite rail experiences from multiple countries under a single collective.
Positioned online as “The World’s Finest Rail Journeys,” The Leading Trains is being built as a curated portfolio of luxury rail companies – including several that have not yet begun operations.
Seven foundation rail brands – including new launches still in development
The Leading Trains will initially comprise seven rail companies, with the newest and most high-profile addition being La Dolce Vita Orient Express.
The Italian luxury train officially began operating in April 2025, quickly drawing strong acclaim and attention as one of Europe’s most anticipated new rail experiences.
Among the foundation brands already active is Golden Eagle Luxury Trains, which operates itineraries across Eastern Europe, Central Asia, India, Vietnam, and other regions. Golden Eagle was acquired by Arsenale Group last year, strengthening the company’s footprint in global luxury rail.
Another operating partner is SJourney, a Vietnamese rail company offering an eight-day “land cruise” between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, designed to blend slow travel with curated cultural experiences.
Luxury rail expansion across the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia
The collective also includes multiple Arsenale-backed rail brands that are still in pre-launch development, spanning some of the fastest-growing luxury tourism markets:
- Dream of the Desert (Saudi Arabia)
- The Samarkand Express (Uzbekistan)
- Guardian of the Nile (Egypt)
- Wonder of Emirates (United Arab Emirates)
These projects signal Arsenale’s broader ambition: building a worldwide network of premium rail experiences positioned at the intersection of heritage, hospitality, and ultra-luxury tourism.
Travel industry onboarding has already begun
The Leading Trains brand is already onboarding select travel agencies and tour operators through its website, suggesting the company is moving quickly to build a global distribution network ahead of full service launches.
With luxury rail demand rising and “slow travel” becoming one of the most profitable segments in premium tourism, The Leading Trains could become one of the most influential new players in the high-end travel space.
