It will likely be at a cost of around $350 million and the project will take at least two and a half years to build. “Maybe the person who buys the train will start a new chapter of their life,” he says. “Because we [travelers] are constantly in a rush.

Building or restoring a luxury train is a multi-million dollar undertaking. To purchase and restore a single Amtrak-approved luxury passenger car, costs typically range from $750,000 to $2.3 million per car. This includes the base cost of a decommissioned steel shell (approx. $50,000–$150,000) plus extensive mechanical overhauls to meet modern safety standards like FRA Tier III compliance. For a full-scale luxury train set (e.g., 10–15 cars including sleepers, diners, and observation lounges), the total investment can easily exceed $30 million to $50 million. High-end finishes—such as mahogany paneling, en-suite marble bathrooms, and bespoke furniture—account for a significant portion of the budget. Beyond construction, operating costs are steep; in the U.S., Amtrak charges roughly $4.72 per mile just to haul a private car. Consequently, most modern "new" luxury trains, like the Orient Express La Dolce Vita or Japan's Seven Stars, are backed by major luxury hospitality groups rather than individual private owners.