From Swiss Railways to Thailand’s Tracks: Aljoscha Benjamin’s Journey

 Aljoscha Benjamin and The Blue Jasmine © Discovery Trains

What led you to settle in Thailand?

Right after completing my tourism studies in Switzerland, I decided to move to Thailand. Asia had always drawn me in—I enjoy developing new projects, and I felt that this part of the world offered far more room for new adventures than Europe. I’ve now been living in Bangkok for five years.

You are now one of the people behind the Blue Jasmine project. Do you love trains?

I absolutely love trains. Ever since I was a child. I was born in Safenwil, Switzerland—a country deeply rooted in rail culture. As a kid, I used to watch trains pass by from my bedroom window, completely fascinated. I constantly asked my parents to take me to train stations, and thankfully, they were very patient. Later on, I traveled extensively by train around the world. You could say it’s in my blood.

Welcoming passengers at Bangkok railway station © Discovery Trains

How did the Blue Jasmine adventure begin?

Our inbound travel agency received a request from a prestigious gastronomic society, the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs. They wanted to celebrate an anniversary and were looking for something truly special. We came up with the idea of hosting a meal onboard a train—something that had never been attempted in Thailand before. We began researching the feasibility and identified a dining car that could work. In the end, however, the group was too large. The concept wasn’t suitable at the time, but we kept the idea and decided to revisit it later.

How do you turn a simple idea into a project of this scale?

It took nearly two years. First, thanks to the network of our Thailand-based director, Stefan Bruns, we gained access to the depots where the State Railway of Thailand stores its historic rolling stock. We identified around twenty vintage cars of interest and ultimately selected six that matched the spirit of the project.

With Stefan Bruns, Director of DTH Travel Thailand © Discovery Trains

Next, we organized a pre-tour with both international and local travel agencies to gather their feedback on the Blue Jasmine. I particularly remember a Spanish agency suggesting that we offer tapas in the compartments (laughs). That kind of input helped us refine and improve the concept.

Finally, we worked on shaping the entire journey: accommodations for the six nights spent off the train, the onboard dining experience, and the itinerary itself. The challenge was to elevate the program while allowing guests to discover meaningful sites away from mass tourism. Which stations should we stop at? We ultimately chose the most charming and coherent ones, in Uthai Thani and Sukhothai.

With Chef Kuhn Patipat © Discovery Trains

How did the partnership with Thai silk house Jim Thompson come about?

We were looking for a partnership idea with a brand. At first, I thought of a soap brand, as Thailand is well known for that, but Stefan wasn’t convinced. Then we met Jim Thompson’s managing director, Frank Cancelloni—a Frenchman, incidentally—who runs this historic Thai silk house. It turned out he was a real train enthusiast and had already heard about the Blue Jasmine project. When we suggested a partnership, he was immediately enthusiastic. The only challenge was timing: we were just two months away from the inaugural journey. We had to move very fast.

How was the train’s new interior design developed?

Jim Thompson’s interior design team came directly onboard the train. They were deeply involved in the project, taking notes, measurements, and developing proposals for each car. In the end, nearly 2,000 Jim Thompson pieces—including 300 custom-made curtains—were provided by the company to enhance the train. The result was truly striking. Following this partnership, we decided to rethink the train’s identity. The project’s official name is now “The Blue Jasmine x Jim Thompson.”

Will you be onboard the Blue Jasmine for every departure?

Yes, I’ll be the train manager throughout 2026. It’s a major responsibility. You have to anticipate potential technical issues as well as guests’ specific requests. It’s a real challenge. But I’m fortunate to be passionate about this work and to be surrounded by an equally committed team. When the train doors close, the guests are settled into their compartments, and the train begins to move, I feel something very powerful—a sense of pride. I tell myself, “We did it.”

Avec the Blue Jasmine team © Discovery Trains

Interview by Laure Jacquet,
Laure Jacquet, Managing Director of Discovery Trains, a rail-travel specialist agency

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