Title: Paris commuter train has carriages transformed to resemble rooms from the Palace of Versailles
1Paris commuter train has carriages transformed
to resemble rooms from the Palace of Versailles
- Few commuters anywhere in the world would
describe their train journey to and from work as
a pleasant experience. - Passengers have become used to overcrowded
carriages, not to mention finding discarded
newspapers, sweet wrappers or worse on the seats. - But some lucky commuters in France enjoy an
altogether different ride, as these amazing
pictures show.
2Lavish A commuter train serving Paris in France
has been decorated in the colours of the Palace
of Versailles in an impressive project
3Incredible The refurbishments mean that the
train's carriages resemble rooms from the royal
palace
4- A train on the main rapid transit system in
Paris, the RER, has undergone a dramatic
refurbishment - to resemble the rooms of a royal
palace. - The train carries the colours of the Palace of
Versailles, which was once the centre of
political power in France. - And passengers who take a journey on the RER C
line between the Palace, which is 20 kilometres
south-west of Paris, and the centre of the
capital do so in lavish surroundings. - Ornate paintings and golden sculptures line the
aisles and even the ceilings are intricately
designed. Other attractive improvements include
the creation of a mock library in one of the
carriages. - The refurbishments are designed to evoke memories
of seven different areas of the royal chateau and
its grounds, including the Hall of Mirrors, the
Gallery of Battles and Marie-Antoniette's estate.
The changes, which were funded by the Palace of
Versailles, involved layering the interior walls
of the train with a high-tech plastic film. - The refurbishments were carried out thanks to a
deal between officials at the palace and rail
operator SNCF. Versailles was the centre of
political power in France from 1682, when King
Louis XIV moved from Paris, until the royal
family was forced to return to the capital in
October 1789 during the French Revolution.
5Striking An image of a statue from the palace
grounds looks down on passengers
6Splendid Ornate images can be found on the back
of comfortable seats
7Colourful Giant scenes from Versailles have
transformed the appearance of the train, which
runs on one of Paris's main commuter routes
8Enormous Branches sprawl across the ceiling of
the carriage in this huge painting
9Powerful imagery The train carries the colours
of the Palace of Versailles, which was once the
centre of political power in France
10Beauty A golden statue is reflected in a glass
mirror on the train
11Reflections The refurbishments are designed to
evoke memories of seven different areas of the
royal chateau and its grounds
12Booking details Passengers can take their place
alongside an amazing display which resembles a
library
13Vibrant A once-dull door on the train has been
transformed with bright red and pink colours
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15Facelift The changes,which were funded by the
Palace of Versailles,are the result of a
dealbetween officials at the palace and rail
operator SNCF
16Swirls Another decorative ceiling design based
on furnishings from the Palace of Versailles
17Unexpected The exterior of the train gives few
clues to the incredible displays found inside
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