In Asia, the iron horse is all about velocity—the region’s swiftest operational trains include the Shanghai Maglev, Indonesia’s Whoosh, and Japan’s Shinkansen.
In Hong Kong, the MTR whisks commuters from workplace to hearth (and back) with minimal fuss and immaculate carriages. If you’ve endured the New York City Subway or London Underground, the contrast is cause for celebration. Luxury is an empty cabin and a seat that isn’t damp. We seldom spare a thought for railways unless a delay derails the day.
Enter Paolo Barletta, the visionary founder and CEO of Arsenale, intent on persuading us that slow travel is the ultimate indulgence. In a world where haste eclipses panache, the romance of the rails has receded into the shadows of modern frenzy. Barletta, however, is resolute in resurrecting this timeless conveyance, lavishing it with luxury and refinement. In an exclusive conversation with Robb Report Hong Kong, he unveiled his audacious blueprint to redefine travel, drawing on his family’s storied legacy in hospitality and real estate.
Arsenale emerged from a craving to craft something extraordinary—a venture that transcends convention. Barletta’s vision rests on the conviction that travel ought to be cherished, not endured. With an exacting eye and an unswerving pursuit of excellence, he positions Arsenale as the vanguard of luxury rail travel, fusing the pinnacle of hospitality with the poetry of the rails. His odyssey began with a precise ambition: to erect Italy’s most iconic and exquisite hotels. With the newly opened Orient Express La Minerva, he moves one step closer. Yet Barletta’s aspirations soared beyond bricks and mortar; he sought to reimagine the entire voyage. With La Dolce Vita Orient Express in the Arsenale portfolio, the glamour of slow travel had returned. Inspired by the elegance of land cruising, he intends to export this pioneering model from Italy to the world stage, and there are already notable projects in the pipeline: Dream of the Desert, the first luxury train to cruise Saudi Arabia, is expected to launch in late 2026. Arsenale stands as a trailblazer, marrying real estate mastery with profound hospitality acumen to forge a synergy unrivalled in the luxury sphere.
But what does luxury rail travel signify in an era where convenience reigns supreme? Barletta contends that the soul of travel lies not in arrival but in the passage itself. Post-Covid, a palpable shift has emerged: the tumult of contemporary existence has kindled a longing for slower, more resonant encounters. Trains, with their measured tempo and panoramic vistas, offer an antidote to our accelerated age. Barletta eloquently extols the alchemy of rail journeys. Unlike aeroplanes or ships, trains afford an intimate communion with the terrain, as landscapes unfurl like a living tapestry. It is not merely about the endpoint; it is the privilege of traversing the land, imbibing its beauty and culture en route. On board, guests savour regional gastronomy, immersing themselves in the culinary heritage of each locale. Barletta believes that this ethos will strike a chord with discerning travellers, particularly in Asia.
The resurgence of luxury trains is no fleeting fad; it heralds a deliberate renaissance in global exploration. Historically, railways have connoted the quotidian—commuting, efficiency, haste. Barletta insists this narrative is ripe for reinvention. The age of the luxury train is upon us, blending sublime comfort with intrepid discovery. As Barletta observes, the travel terrain is in flux. With rail networks proliferating worldwide, the canvas for lavish journeys expands exponentially. In the decades ahead, he foresees seamless odysseys unburdened by repacking, airport rigmarole, or logistical labyrinths. Luxury rail travel promises repose, reflection, and genuine engagement with the surroundings—all within carriages of meticulous splendour.
His ambition spans continents. From Asia to the Americas, the allure is universal. Barletta likens it to the cruising sector’s metamorphosis: once utilitarian, now synonymous with extravagance on the high seas. Rail travel, he argues, is primed for parallel elevation. Innovation, however, is the crucible. Forging a new paradigm demands precision and unflagging excellence. Arsenale must deliver not only breathtaking itineraries but also an onboard symphony and destinations that exceed the exacting standards of today’s elite.
Gazing forward, Barletta remains buoyant. With harmonious rail infrastructure and sublime locales, train journeys could reclaim their place in the travel pantheon. Arsenale’s formula is elegantly simple: mesmerising scenery, peerless service, and an abiding pledge to etch indelible memories. In an epoch defined by ephemera and instant gratification, Barletta’s vision for Arsenale revives the noble art of travel—grandeur, glamour, and a life-affirming creed that it is the journey, not the destination, that truly matters, both philosophically and literally. Luxury rail journeys beckon as an escape from the mundane, urging travellers to decelerate and relish the moment savour. As Arsenale embarks on this exhilarating odyssey, it vows to reshape the luxury travel landscape, marrying yesteryear’s elegance with tomorrow’s ingenuity. For those craving a reimagined escapade, the train may well be the most sumptuous conveyance on the horizon. If space is the final frontier, the first was unmistakably set in motion by gilded locomotion.
