Launch of the Golden Eagle

On 26th April 2007, Golden Eagle Luxury Trains Limited, the leading long-distance luxury train operator based in the UK, launched a new £12.8 million (US$25 million) fully en-suite private train in Moscow. The Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express will serve the world's longest railway line and will set new standards of comfort and service for rail travel in Russia. The launch celebrations were attended by over 100 of the world's media and specially invited guests.

Several launch celebrations took place between 26th and 30th April, 2007 in Moscow. HRH Prince Michael of Kent GCVO, Mr Yakunin, President OAO Russian Railways, Mr Strezalkovsky, Minister of Tourism and Mr Gendelev, General Director, Russian Railway Tours attended the launch of the Golden Eagle at Belorussky station on Thursday 26 April, with a gala cocktail reception in the evening at the British Embassy. On Friday 27 April the official naming ceremony of the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express was held at the Imperial waiting room at Kazansky station, followed by a celebratory three night train journey on board the train to Kazan and Yekaterinburg.

Below are some extracts from HRH Prince Michael of Kent GCVO's speeches at the launch of the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express in Moscow on 26th and 27th April, 2007:

"The Golden Eagle exemplifies what can be achieved through positive Russo-British collaboration. As a champion of British small businesses I am particularly proud of the part Golden Eagle Luxury Trains have played in the development of the Golden Eagle and in opening up luxury rail travel along the Trans-Siberian and Silk Road routes to international travelers"

"To put into operation a train of this quality has its challenges and so, after seven years of planning, today's launch of the Golden Eagle is a tremendous achievement and I congratulate all concerned."

"Building trains and operating tours is one thing, filling them with passengers is quite another and I have no doubt that with the continued support and commitment of so many operators and agents world-wide – many of who are here today - that Golden Eagle Luxury Trains, having carried their 10,000th passenger in 2006, can look forward to carrying many more aboard the Golden Eagle in the years ahead."

"I have every confidence that the introduction of the new train will serve to ensure that many more travellers will be drawn to Russia for the voyage of a lifetime aboard the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express."