Hogwarts Express Suspended Due to Health & Safety Concerns

March 22, 2024March 22, 2024 Koen 0 Comments

Scotland’s Jacobite steam train, which famously featured as the Hogwarts Express in the film Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets, has been suspended due to health and safety concerns.

Train suspension

The Jacobite steam train is a big tourist draw for Scotland, attracting both Harry Potter fans and heritage railway enthusiasts.

People flocked to the Scottish Highlands either to experience the train ride, or to find a spot along the railway line to witness the steam train crossing the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct.

According to British media outlets like the BBC, the Jacobite steam train has now been suspended for an unspecified duration.

West Coast Railways (WCR), which operates the Jacobite steam train, said that passengers with a booking for the train will have their tickets fully refunded.

harry potter jacobite steam train hogwarts express glenfinnan viaduct scotland — *The Jacobite steam train crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct on its scenic journey from Fort William to Mallaig. ©Paliparan*

Health and Safety concerns

The Hogwarts Express has been suspended pending a health and safety ruling from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).

West Coast Railways was expected to install central locking systems on their train carriages instead of the current hinged doors.

For the last 30 years, the heritage railway used carriages with hinged doors under an exemption, but this has not yet been renewed, which led to the suspension of the Jacobite steam train service.

A West Coast Railways spokesman said: “The Jacobite service is enjoyed by thousands of customers every year.

“It boosts the local economies of Mallaig and Fort William and brings an estimated £20m into the UK’s tourism sector.

“If the ORR does not grant us a further exemption, we believe this could lead to up to £50m in lost value to both local and national communities.”

harry potter jacobite steam train hogwarts express — *The conflict revolves around the carriage doors of the steam train. ©Paliparan*

Rules

According to the ORR, heritage railway operators such as WCR were cautioned “several years ago” that they would need to install a central locking system to comply with new health and safety regulations, or alternatively, seek an exemption.

An ORR spokesperson said: “West Coast Railway’s application for an exemption failed and they made a claim for judicial review.

“A temporary exemption was granted in order to maintain the status quo, enabling WCR to operate whilst the litigation reached a conclusion.

“Despite this, WCR chose to sell tickets when it was far from certain that a new application for an exemption would be granted, either in time for the commencement of services or at all.

“It submitted an exemption application on 8 March, which we are now assessing.

“ORR is disappointed that WCR appears not to have made sensible contingency plans for the benefit of their customers.”

The ORR did not comment when they expect to decide on WCR’s exemption application.

Alternatives

Although the suspension of the Jacobite steam train may be a big disappointment for heritage rail enthusiasts and Harry Potter fans wishing to ride on the Hogwarts Express, there are still alternatives.

The Fort William to Mallaig railway line, which the Jacobite steam train traverses, also sees regular ScotRail passenger services.

Although the diesel trains used by ScotRail might not be as appealing as the steam train, they offer the exact same view over the Glenfinnan Viaduct and other sights along the highly scenic railway line.

Moreover, a ticket for the ScotRail train from Fort William to Mallaig is much cheaper than a ride on the Jacobite steam train.

mallaig scotrail — *A ScotRail train (left) next to the Jacobite steam train (right) at Mallaig. ©Paliparan*

Conclusion

The Jacobite steam train, which gained worldwide fame after appearing as the Hogwarts Express in a Harry Potter film, has been suspended pending a health and safety exemption application.

It remains unclear whether the exemption will be granted and if the Jacobite steam train will still be able to operate this year.

Although a significant portion of the blame falls on operator WCR for not addressing the issue in time, I do believe that the UK is taking health and safety regulations to extremes.

For many decades, trains have safely operated with hinged doors, and this remains the standard in many countries around the world, so it’s not as if there is suddenly an urgent technical problem with the Jacobite steam train.

That said, the law is the law, so WCR has to comply with the rules one way or another, either by installing a central locking system or obtaining an exemption.

It would however be unfortunate if one of Britain’s most famous heritage railway operators were to be shut down for an extended period, as it would disappoint many tourists and have a negative impact on the local economy.

Koen

Koen works as a freelance journalist covering south-eastern Europe and is the founding father and editor-in-chief of Paliparan. As a contributor to some major Fleet Street newspapers and some lesser known publications in the Balkans, he travels thousands of miles each year for work as well as on his personal holidays. Whether it is horse riding in Kyrgyzstan’s Tian Shan mountains, exploring the backstreets of Bogotá, or sipping a glass of moschofilero in a Greek beachside taverna, Koen loves to immerse himself into the local culture, explore new places and eat and drink himself around the world. You can follow Koen on his travels on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.

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