Carlson Wagonlit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Carlson Wagonlit Travel is a travel management company that was created by the merger of travel management agencies by Accor and the Carlson Companies: Carlson Travel Network and the Accor-owned Wagonlit company fused in 1994. In 2006, Accor divested its 50% interest in Carlson Wagonlit Travel, selling it to Carlson Companies and One Equity Partners (a private equity affiliate of JPMorgan Chase).
Contents |
[edit] Carlson Travel Network
Carlson Travel Network can trace its origin back to a tarvel agency that was founded by Ward Forster in the United States in 1888 and named Ask Mr. Foster. When bought by the Carlson Group, the business was developed into the Carlson Travel Network.
[edit] Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits
Georges Nagelmackers founded the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits et des Grands Express Européens (the International Sleeping-Car Company and Great European Expresses) in Belgium in 1876. CIWL quickly established itself as the premier provider and operator of sleepers and dining cars.
The company deployed the first sleeping and dining car for long-distance train travel in Europe. In 1883 the company started with a service to Constantinople, now Istanbul in Turkey, called the Orient Express. Prior to WWI CIWL was the only international operator of sleeping- and dining-cars in major parts of Europe. During WWI the competing Mitropa company was founded. During the interbellum the company had its heyday. In 1925 Wagon-Lits opened its first Travel Palace in Paris. CIWL provided train services through Europe, North Africa and Turkey, with a fleet of 2268 cars. After WWII CWIL set again the standard for luxury travel by rail. In 1991 Wagon-Lits became part of Accor. Currently CIWL provides services in Austria, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and the UK.
[edit] CIWL trivia
The 1918 armistice was signed in CIWL #2419 ("Le Wagon de l'Armistice"). The same wagon was also used for the 1940 armistice between France and Hitler-Germany. The wagon was then blown up.
In 2003, the company restored seven cars of the famous Pullman Orient Express, now available for tourist events.
CIWL model railway cars have been manufactured by many companies including Märklin, Fleischmann, Trix, and others.
[edit] CIWL in different languages
- German: Internationale (Eisenbahn-)Schlafwagen-Gesellschaft
- Danish: Det Internationale Sovevogns- (og de Store Europæiske Eksprestogs-)Selskab
- Finnish : Kansainvälinen Makuuvanunu- (ja Euroopan Pikajuna)yhtiö
- French: Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits (et des Grands Express Européens)
- Greek: Διεθνης Εταιρια των Κλιηαμαξων (και των Ταχειων Ευρωπαίκων Αμαξοςτοιχιων)
- Italian : Compagnia Internazionale delle Carrozze (con) Letti (e dei Grandi Treni Espressi Europei)
- Dutch : Internationale Maatschappij voor Slaapwagens en Europa's Groote Sneltreinen
- Polish : Międzynarodowe Towarzystwo Wagonów Sypialnych (i Expresów Europejskich)
- Portuguese : Companhia Internacional das Carruagens-Camas (e dos Grandes Expressos Europeus)
- Romanian : Compania Internaţionala a Vagoanelor cu Paturi (si a Marelor Expresse Europene)
- Russian : Международное Общество Спальныхъ Вагоновъ (и Скорыхъ Европейскихъ поъздовъ)
- Serbian : Međunarodno Društvo Kola za Spavanje / Међународно Друштво Кола за Спавање
- Spanish : Compañia Internacional de Coches-Camas (y de los Grandes Expresos Europeos)
- Czech: Mezinarodni Společnost Lůzkových Vozů (a Velkých Evropských Expresnich Vlaků)
- Hungarian: Nemzetközi Vasúti Halokocsi Társaság
