The Ecliptic Express was a popular luxury express train which was used to travel through the Arklay Mountains. 1 2
History
In order to cover the vast distance between the Arklay Mountains, Raccoon City and other locations, a rail line was built along with a 5-car luxury train in order to accomodate travel. Due to the Umbrella Corporation having important facilities throughout the Arklay Mountain region, Umbrella began to secretly use the Ecliptic Express line for the purpose of allowing direct transport of Umbrella employees and materials between the Arklay Laboratory and Umbrella Research Center.
In mid to late July 1998, Umbrella commenced the 'Reclamation Project', an attempt to ascertain whether the previously closed Management Training Facility could be re-opened and used by the company once more. An initial Investigation Unit was dispatched but contact was quickly lost, and a 2nd Investigation Unit was dispatched via the Ecliptic Express to find out what happened. The operation was led by Albert Wesker and William Birkin.
On July 23 at almost 20:20, the Ecliptic Express was attacked by the Queen Leech, commanding an army of leeches. The leeches quickly overtook the train, killing and infecting every last person on board with the t-virus, wiping out the 2nd Investigation Unit. Shortly after, the train stalled in the forest and Delta Team of the Umbrella Security Service was sent to investigate. After re-taking control of the train, Delta Team reported to Wesker and Birkin before being attacked by the leeches themselves. With the deaths of its controllers, the train headed straight for the Umbrella Research Center at a frightening speed, ensuring its derailment. Billy Coen and Rebecca Chambers were able to apply the brakes, but the train crashed within the training facility at a reduced speed, allowing the two to barely survive.
As a result of the train's involvement in the biohazard incident at the Umbrella Research Center, the incident came to be known as the 'Ecliptic Express Incident'.
Structure
The Ecliptic Express had a luxurious retro interior design reminiscent of the famed 'Orient Express'. It was comprised of five separate cars, with three having two decks. Firstly, the driver's car. Second, a car containing the conductor's room, two cabins and a bar on the upper deck. The first class cabins were as nice as hotel rooms. The third car housed passengers, with the upper deck containing other cabins. The fourth was another passenger car, with the fifth being a dining car equivalent to a three-star restaurant, with a kitchen and storage compartment.