History
In December 1883 the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits (CIWL) created its second luxury train after the Orient Express introduced in June earlier that year. Due to contracts between CIWL's competitor Pullman and the owner of the Mont Cenis Railway, the Società per le strade ferrate dell'Alta Italia, CIWL couldn't use the Fréjus Rail Tunnel, so CIWL was forced to use the longer route along the Mediterranean coast. The connection between Paris and Rome was introduced as Calais Nice Rome Express, but was reduced to Calais Nice Express after only one year. In 1885 several Italian railways merged and CIWL could buy the routes formerly served by Pullman, what made it possible to use the shorter Mont Cenis Railway. The train was to be named Rome Express. In order to serve the British customers the Calais-Mediterranée Express was created in 1886, but it lasted until 1890 before the Rome Express made its first journey.
Read more about this topic: Le Train Bleu
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