Which one of the following trains/railways passes through Germany, France, Austria, Hungary and Romania ?

The Orient Express is a legendary international railway that historically connected Western Europe to the gateway of Asia. The original route departed from Paris (France) and traveled through Strasbourg, Munich (Germany), Vienna (Austria), and Budapest (Hungary) [c1][t1]. From Budapest, the route branched; one significant path led through Bucharest (Romania) before reaching its final destination in Istanbul [t1][t4][t5]. This specific alignment covers all five countries mentioned in the question. In contrast, the Trans-Siberian Railway is primarily a Russian route connecting St. Petersburg to Vladivostok [c2][t8]. The Cape-Cairo railway was a proposed north-south route across Africa, and the Union and Central Pacific are transcontinental railroads located in the United States [t8]. The Orient Express remains a cultural symbol of European cross-border travel, having carried royalty and diplomats across these diverse nations [t3][t6].

Sources

1. [1] FUNDAMENTALS OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY, CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 7: Transport and Communication > The Orient Express > p. 60
2. [2] FUNDAMENTALS OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY, CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 7: Transport and Communication > Trans–Siberian Railway > p. 58