Luxury hotel brand Belmond and film director Wes Anderson have joined forces to create a special experience aboard the British Pullman, a Belmond Train. Anderson, known for his work on The Darjeeling Limited, The Grand Budapest Hotel and most recently The French Dispatch – which stars an enviable ensemble cast including Timothée Chalamet, Adrien Brody, Owen Wilson, Léa Seydoux and Bill Murray – brought his dreamlike storytelling expertise to the train’s Cygnus carriage.

The best and worst dressed at the Cannes Film Festival 2021

Paying tribute to Cygnus, the Greek god of balance, often depicted as a swan, Anderson brought in motifs and detailing inspired by swans and waves, from the reflective silver leaf on the ceiling that’s reminiscent of a reflective pool, to the swan-shaped champagne coolers. His signature art nouveau style and unique colour palette are also apparent in the carriage, and the carriage now offers two new private coupes for a more intimate experience.

How an overnight train ride to London can take you back to the 1920s

“I love trains! I have often had the chance to invent train compartments and carriages in my movies – so I was … very eager to make something new,” Anderson says. “[Belmond’s train projects] are keeping something special alive – igniting this endangered species of travel for a new golden era.”