The end of the Royal Train

[alastair]

BBC reporting Royal Train to be decommissioned https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce377nr5r43o That's sad news.

The royal train is going to be taken out of service by 2027, in a cost-saving measure announced by Buckingham Palace.

 

[WesternLancer]

Yes. Not the announcement you’d have wanted hear in the 200th anniversary of railways.

Very much a shame in my view.

 

[dk1]

Such a shame I wondered if this might happen following the death of her majesty but know Charles uses and enjoys this train.

 

[brad465]

I haven't been a huge follower/admirer of the Royal Train, but I suspect the writing was on the wall when the Queen's coffin was moved to London by air instead of rail, despite being doable by rail. Yes that wasn't a "Royal train" in this sense, but it showed the difficulties in having dedicated trains for royal purposes, whether financial, security-related, PR-related, etc.

 

[50002Superb]

Interesting quote: The royal train will be taken around the UK before it is removed from service, after which it could be put on public display.

 

[ANDREW_D_WEBB]

The stock is now generally over 50 years old so will become more and more expensive to maintain. Whilst trains are an environmentally friendly form of transport the carbon footprint for one carrying a handful of passengers will be much bigger and Charles is well known for his views on climate change.

Widespread public opinion would probably not stand for the construction of a new Royal Train

 

[PP57601]

Interesting quote: The royal train will be taken around the UK before it is removed from service, after which it could be put on public display.

top n tail by 47798/799 and 67005/006

 

[alastair]

I haven't been a huge follower/admirer of the Royal Train, but I suspect the writing was on the wall when the Queen's coffin was moved to London by air instead of rail, despite being doable by rail. Yes that wasn't a "Royal train" in this sense, but it showed the difficulties in having dedicated trains for royal purposes, whether financial, security-related, PR-related, etc.

Agreed. I imagine one of the main worries was massive public interest possibly resulting in "Flying Scotsman type" trespass incidents?

 

[Adam Williams]

A real shame.

two new more fuel-efficient helicopters offer a suitable alternative

And what's the carbon impact of those?

As part of a sustainability drive, one of the royal Bentleys is now powered by biofuels, with the other due to transition this year, and a move to electric vehicles is under consideration.

Did we get transported back into 2005 or something? Plenty of EVs that could've been driven in the last decade.

The annual review for the Prince of Wales omits his income, expenditure and tax payments, a move away from the transparency implemented by Charles

 

[ANDREW_D_WEBB]

Interesting quote: The royal train will be taken around the UK before it is removed from service, after which it could be put on public display.

Suspect several heritage railways will be keen to secure one as an attraction. Hope the terms of sale include ongoing maintenance/ preservation so they don't end up rusting away.

Also hope the carriages are not sold to tacky uses.

Does the NRM have a claim on any?

 

[marks87]

the current carriages are approaching being some of the oldest still on the mainline network so makes sense to retire the life expired stock
and in that time the speed of services has improved to the extent there really isnt a need for it anymore as overnight trips are no longer needed even to reach balmoral

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Jun 2025 ==


a shared royal/gov class 802 would have been nice

There’s also a general preference to fly to Balmoral, via Aberdeen and a helicopter.

Although whether such short-haul flights should be encouraged is another question. But I can understand the argument for why it’s now the preferred mode of transport.

 

[22C]

I think it’s a real shame that it’s not being replaced. I always thought (having read it in a few places but I can’t remember where) that it offered good value for money because it provides transport (obviously) but also accommodation and office space etc. in a convenient and easy to secure environment, wherever it needs to be.

I’m not sure how many people typically travel on the royal train along with the King, but I should imagine it’s a fair few. (I think there’s one sleeper, one dining car and one or two coachettes for the royal household.)

 

[zwk500]

The royals can still use regular trains, it's the sleeping and dining car facilities which were unique to the royal train. Didn't the late Queen take scheduled trains to Sandringham?

Yes, plenty of photos of her on a GN train at King's Lynn.

(Photo of Queen and Prince Philip sitting in first class on a train with Great Norhtern branded headrests.)

 

[Mikey C]

Yes, plenty of photos of her on a GN train at King's Lynn.

(Photo of Queen and Prince Philip sitting in first class on a train with Great Norhtern branded headrests.)

"Oh good, it's a 365, and not one of those newer trains with those bloody ironing board seats."

 

[brad465]

Yes, plenty of photos of her on a GN train at King's Lynn.

(Photo of Queen and Prince Philip sitting in first class on a train with Great Norhtern branded headrests.)

I'm guessing they'd just had an argument when that photo was taken

 

[The Quincunx]

Interesting quote: The royal train will be taken around the UK before it is removed from service, after which it could be put on public display.

Good luck getting it to run in Northern Ireland.

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

Very disappointing - I though Charles was an enthusiast - is there any track has not done while he still has the opportunity?

As an aside are there any royal trains left in Europe - I think the Danish and Dutch ones (a couple of coaches more accurately) have been retired. De Valera in Ireland had a presidential coach many years ago I think.

 

[david1212]

BBC reporting Royal Train to be decommissioned https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce377nr5r43o That's sad news.

This states

The announcement came alongside the annual publication of royal finances, which showed that a journey on the royal train, from Gloucestershire to Staffordshire and then London, over two days in February, had cost more than £44,000.

The Royal Family will still travel on regular train services - and the annual report showed 141 helicopter trips were taken last year, costing £475,000.

It would be interesting to know exactly what is included in the £44000.
As various posts above state the age of the carriages is another factor.

... a shared royal/gov class 802 would have been nice

A 221 would be cheaper as a royal and governmental train, massively reducing costs while retaining the idea of a royal train.

A set of MK5 coaches would be another option not least as less demand for them.

Sadly this seems as if the use of a specific train for the royal family is viewed as too much effort/operational inconvenience.

Security is probably another factor as a helicopter can be much closer to door-to-door plus the landing site much easier to secure than a railway station.

 

[trainswitheddy]

Bad month for the 67 enthusiast...

 

[popeter45]

Bad month for the 67 enthusiast...

was the royal train ever pulled by electric?, missed the chance to see it pulled by a 93 or 99

 

[Mag_seven]

was the royal train ever pulled by electric?

Yes -Class 87s were favourite choices back in the day.

 

[John R]

Apparently it was used twice in the last year. Sad to say that it’s difficult to justify the costs involved in maintaining a train for such limited use when there are alternatives. It was always on the cards once Elizabeth died, as its retention was known to be because it was a convenient way for a very elderly monarch to get to places without early starts.

 

[fgwrich]

Bad month for the 67 enthusiast...

And like a lot of recent DB loses, they’ve only just painted the two 67s up too…

In all seriousness though, I am sorry to see this happen. Though it was inevitable, it does feel like another shot in the arm for the railways, and a little against the green agenda. Though I’m sure it won’t stop some Royals travelling by Rail, as some, without as much fanfare, still do.

 

[Yew]

the current carriages are approaching being some of the oldest still on the mainline network so makes sense to retire the life expired stock

How many miles have they done, much less than a comparable set of Mk3s from an IC125, certainly.

 

[MadCommuter]

Apparently it was used twice in the last year. Sad to say that it’s difficult to justify the costs involved in maintaining a train for such limited use when there are alternatives. It was always on the cards once Elizabeth died, as its retention was known to be because it was a convenient way for a very elderly monarch to get to places without early starts.

I wonder why it was only used twice. Seems pointless if that's the extent of useful journeys it can make in a year.

Charles used to go to Ayr a lot in the train but this must have dropped off since he became king?

 

[DerekC]

I hope the consist is displayed together and not separated into individual coaches. But where to put it? You would need to kick a lot of stuff out of York to make room for it. Is there a station that could spare a 9-car platform anywhere? How about Waterloo International?

 

[bluenoxid]

How many documents/policies will the royal train withdrawal save?

Are royal train rules and processes applied when they travel on a normal train?

Does it risk any jobs at Wolverton where I think it’s based?

I assume that not all the carriages are of interest if the train was to be put on display.

 

[fgwrich]

I hope the consist is displayed together and not separated into individual coaches. But where to put it? You would need to kick a lot of stuff out of York to make room for it. Is there a station that could spare a 9-car platform anywhere? How about Waterloo International?

Technically 11 vehicles. I can’t imagine it will all be saved and remain together - more than likely it’ll be the key, most important vehicles that will end up in somewhere like the NRM or one of its many offshoots.

And no, Waterloo International isn’t available - and hasn’t existed since December the 10th 2018 when it slowly became part of the main station again.

 

[Energy]

A set of MK5 coaches would be another option not least as less demand for them.

MK5s may struggle for political support unless CAF can move production from Spain to Newport.

Yes, plenty of photos of her on a GN train at King's Lynn.

(Photo of Queen and Prince Philip sitting in first class on a train with Great Norhtern branded headrests.)

I seem to remember she wasn't impressed with the 387s, particularly their worse first class...

In all seriousness though, I am sorry to see this happen. Though it was inevitable, it does feel like another shot in the arm for the railways, and a little against the green agenda. Though I’m sure it won’t stop some Royals travelling by Rail, as some, without as much fanfare, still do.

"The Royal Family will still travel on regular train services"

They'll still go on trains, though it's unclear how often the King himself will use them. Prince William has flown on Ryanair previously.

It would be interesting how the environmental impact compares to a helicopter. Sending the whole royal train for such few passengers can't have been particularly green.

 

[JamesT]

I wonder why it was only used twice. Seems pointless if that's the extent of useful journeys it can make in a year.

Charles used to go to Ayr a lot in the train but this must have dropped off since he became king?

The King’s cancer diagnosis was announced in January last year, which must have had an effect on how much it was used.

But even before that, it looks like it was a good year when it made it into double figures of trips.