Latest news with #royaltrain
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
British Royal Train Closing After 180-Year Run. Here's Why
The British royal train is nearing its final stop. British monarchs have traveled privately via train since the 1840s. Queen Victoria took things a step further in 1869 when she commissioned two luxury coaches to service the Crown. The tradition has continued up until the present day, but won't be lasting for much longer. Buckingham Palace has announced that the British royal train will be decommissioned by 2027 in order to "secure best value for public money." The royal contract to keep the train running expires in March 2027 and will no longer be renewed. James Chalmers, Keeper of the Privy Purse, in charge of managing the Royal Household's finances, explained the decision as the Crown's attempt to "modernize and adapt to reflect the world of today." 'The royal train, of course, has been part of national life for many decades, loved and cared for by all those involved," said Chalmers. "But in moving forward we must not be bound by the past." Chalmers added that the move serves as a huge cost-cutting measure. The Sovereign Grant Report, which breaks down the Royal Household's annual finances, noted that the cost to store and maintain the royal train far outweighs its practical usage. The Royal Family would have to make a "significant level of investment" to keep the train operational past 2027. The report also noted that the Royal Family had also purchased two new helicopters that offer more cost-efficient travel versus the royal train. The Royal Travel Appendix on the 2024-25 Sovereign Grant Report details just how costly train travel was compared to other modes of transportation. From April 2024 to March 2025, the Crown used the royal train just twice, costing around $60,000 each trip. The figure makes the monarchy's 55 chartered flights at $14,800 each and 141 helicopter rides at $4,600 each look like an absolute Royal Train Closing After 180-Year Run. Here's Why first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 6, 2025
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Yahoo
The British Royal Train Will Be Decommissioned Soon—Here's Why
The British royal train will be officially decommissioned in March 2027 due to maintenance costs. The Royals will shift to using helicopters and scheduled trains for travel between residences across the U.K. Before its retirement, the royal train will go on a farewell tour of Britain, giving the public a chance to say travel is almost synonymous with British culture. But in March 2027, the current British royal train will be decommissioned, and senior royals will instead depend on helicopters and scheduled trains to travel around the country and between their residences. 'The process to decommission the Royal Train, in anticipation of the expiry of the current contract in March 2027, will commence during the year," the Sovereign Grant Annual Report 2024-25 states. "This decision has been made due to: the cost associated with the storage and maintenance of the Royal Train versus the level of usage; the significant level of investment which would be required to keep the Royal Train in operation beyond 2027; and the two new helicopters providing a reliable alternative." The current train was built in the 1970s and is in need of tailor-made refurbishment that would most likely cost tens of millions of dollars. The original royal train was built for Queen Adelaide, the widow of King William IV, in 1842. In 1869, Queen Victoria commissioned a bespoke train vehicle for herself, since she saw touring the country as an important part of her duties. For her Diamond Jubilee (a celebration of the 60th year of her reign) in 1897, the Great Western Railway built a train of six vehicles for Queen Victoria's use. Some people are surprised that King Charles, who is known for his environmental activism, would oversee the discontinuation of the train in favor of less sustainable options like helicopters. The announcement also comes, ironically, weeks before Britain will be celebrating the 200th anniversary of public rail travel in the country. But in the last year, the royal train only made two trips, compared to 55 private charter flights, 141 helicopter journeys, and a number of scheduled flights. However, the U.K. isn't alone or completely unique in its decision. Other European monarchies have let go of their royal carriage trains over the last 25 years, with only Denmark and Norway currently retaining them. And even in those two countries, the trains are rarely used. Train lovers and fans of the British Royal Family will have a last chance to see the royal train before it goes out of commission. Before its 2027 retirement, the Royal Train will make a final farewell tour of Britain, allowing the public to see it one more time as it passes. It is unclear what will happen to the royal train after it's decommissioned, but significant train cars are often preserved in museums, so there may be opportunities to see and visit this train again, sometimes in the future. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
CNN
07-07-2025
- Business
- CNN
Why Britain's royal train is coming to the end of the line after 180 years of service
In the early 1840s, Queen Victoria became the first British monarch to travel by train in her own dedicated royal saloons, but more than 180 years later, King Charles III looks set to oversee an end to this noble tradition. The current British royal train, decked out in its rich claret livery, will be decommissioned by March 2027 to 'secure best value for public money,' according to the Royal Household's latest financial report. Instead, senior royals will make greater use of helicopters and scheduled trains for official visits around the country and to travel between their residences in England and Scotland. James Chalmers, Keeper of the Privy Purse — the ancient title of the individual responsible for royal finances — said the decision to stop the royal train would mean 'the fondest of farewells,' but added, 'In moving forwards we must not be bound by the past.' He noted: 'The royal train, of course, has been part of national life for many decades, loved and cared for by all those involved.' Nowhere will that loss be felt more keenly than in the world's first railway town, Wolverton in Buckinghamshire, where royal trains have been lovingly housed and maintained since the very first vehicle in 1842. 'Everybody in Wolverton knows someone who has worked on the royal train and they're bloody proud of it,' says Philip Marsh, senior railway manager, historian and author of 'The Full Works,' a book about the town and its royal train connections. 'This is incredibly sad news,' said Andrea Rossi, chief executive of DB Cargo UK, which has managed the train on behalf of the British government for 30 years. 'Not just for DB Cargo UK… but for the broader railway family too. 'There is always a great sense of occasion when the royal train is out on the network. Our drivers take great pride in being asked to take the controls of what is arguably the most prestigious train in the UK and a piece of our national heritage.' Unlike the sumptuous velvet and gold-lined royal carriages of the 19th century, the current British royal train is surprisingly spartan and practical on the inside — more 1970s business hotel than palace-on-wheels. Its fixtures and fittings have grown outdated and while it still offers secure accommodation for official trips, its use has dwindled notably in recent years. Retirement was considered once before in 1997, but it was extensively used during Queen Elizabeth II's Golden and Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2002 and 2012, touring the country and witnessed by large crowds of wellwishers. It saw action in December 2020, when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge — Prince William and his wife Kate, now the Prince and Princess of Wales — took a 1,2500-mile tour of Britain by train to thank key workers for their efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic. Over the last two decades it has even been paired with beautifully restored steam locomotives such as the world-famous Flying Scotsman and Duchess of Sutherland, adding an extra layer of pomp and circumstance to the occasion. Following the Queen's death in September 2022, it was expected to transport her coffin from Scotland to London but was sidelined due to concerns about security along the route. Built in the 1970s, the current royal train is approaching the end of its life. Refurbishing the collection of heavily modified and tailor-made vehicles to modern standards would likely cost tens of millions of dollars. Procuring replacement vehicles to bespoke designs would be even more expensive — particularly as state funding for the Royal Family has increased to cover the $500-million refurbishment of Buckingham Palace. Some have expressed surprise and sadness that King Charles, known for his environmental advocacy, has chosen to scrap the train in favour of less sustainable options like helicopters. The announcement's timing, just weeks before Britain celebrates the 200th anniversary of public rail travel, has also drawn criticism. But the numbers don't look good. In 2024-25, the royal train made just two trips, costing over $105,000, according to the Royal Household's annual financial summary. That compares with 55 private charter flights costing almost $819,000, 141 helicopter trips averaging $4,600 each, and scheduled flights totaling $172,000. Royal travel overall cost $6.4 million last year, up $682,000 from the year before. Britain's royals aren't alone in letting their trains go. Over the last 25 years, monarchies in Japan, Sweden and the Netherlands have retired theirs too. Only Denmark and Norway retain dedicated royal saloons, although they are seldom used. The first carriage built exclusively for use by a British royal was constructed at Wolverton Works by the London & Birmingham Railway for Queen Adelaide, the widow of King William IV, in 1842. For 25 years, Queen Victoria travelled in converted carriages until a bespoke vehicle was commissioned in 1869. British rail companies soon competed to provide ever more luxurious carriages for Victoria and her family, who regarded touring the country as part of their duties. By 1897, for Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, the Great Western Railway had built a complete train of six vehicles. Over the years, royal trains pioneered innovations such as onboard toilets, electric lighting, radios, telephones, bathtubs, bedrooms, air conditioning and luxury furnishings. 'Innovations on royal trains have filtered through to ordinary passenger trains in the same way that Formula 1 technology has cascaded down to our cars,' says Marsh, the rail historian. 'It's the safest form of travel and it allows the 'principals' to relax, attend briefings on the move and arrive rested at engagements after travelling overnight.' After World War II, the nationalized British Railways inherited a large collection of royal vehicles, including armor-plated saloons. These were used until Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee in 1977, when the current train was assembled. The royal train is expected to make a final farewell tour of Britain before its 2027 retirement, offering rail fans and royal watchers a last chance to see it pass. Its future remains uncertain, but the survival rate of royal train vehicles is, with many residing in museums such as Britain's National Railway Museum in York. 'I would not like to see them scrapped,' concludes Marsh. 'I'd like to see them displayed in a registered museum, whether that be the NRM or a new museum at their home in Wolverton.'
Daily Mail
05-07-2025
- Daily Mail
PETER HITCHENS: If Charles was truly green, he wouldn't scrap the royal train - he would have two
Why has the royal train, green and majestic, been scrapped? It makes no sense. Its annual cost is £1million. Compare and contrast this with the fact that far more than £1million was spent last year on 170 totally ungreen helicopter journeys for the Royal Family – costing nearly £17,000 each.
BBC News
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Travels with the Queen recalled as royal train nears end of line
Euston Station, 1937: The royal train sits quietly at the platform with a policeman posted outside to guard young Princess Elizabeth; suddenly he hears a soft knock on the carriage window behind future Queen beckons him inside. "Here's a shilling," she says. "Can you go and get me a comic please?"This is one of many anecdotes told by those who worked on the train that are now preserved by journalist and author Phil says with a laugh: "Can you imagine being the policeman who's supposed to be guarding the heir to the throne and then being told to go and buy a comic?"Reportedly, the officer did just that. In 2027, 90 years after this moment took place, the royal train will be pulled from Palace has taken the decision to decommission the historic rolling stock as part of a "drive to ensure we deliver value for money".It will be taken around the UK before it is removed from Marsh first became associated with the train in 1997 when he was tasked with putting together a business case to sell it, but he says it "fortunately didn't stack up".He made friends with Leo Coleman, project manager at Wolverton Works, Buckinghamshire, where the train is kept, who was responsible for modernising the train for the Queen's silver jubilee in Mr Coleman died he was left his archive and tasked with chronicling its story, and he has shared some of those memories for this article. The comic book story was documented by Chris Hillyard, the last foreman of the train, who died in November with another occasion Mr Hillyard was on the train, alongside the Queen, when he noticed a smell of stopped the train and asked the signalman to block the adjacent railway while he investigated the he was doing this, the Queen appeared at the window, apparently unaware the other line had been said: "Oh, Mr Hillyard, I'll be your lookout. It'll be quite safe.""Yes, ma'am. Thank you," he responded politely. Queen Adelaide was the first member of the Royal Family to have a carriage built for the royal train in continued to be used by members of the Royal Family, including Queen Victoria, who would often stop at Wolverton for a refreshment break as the train did not have 1869 Wolverton Works built the very first bespoke royal carriages for Queen Victoria, costing £1,800. The monarch donated £800.A special shed was constructed for the train in 1869 at Wolverton but has since been converted to flats, though the train has remained at the site for its entire Edward VII innovated in 1901 when he introduced electricity, powered by the steam engine, but a generator was eventually installed in 1941 alongside radio and 1977, when Mr Coleman was tasked with upgrading the royal train for the jubilee, the focus shifted from luxury to of the Royal Family were expected to live and work on the train for long periods, requiring functional design changes such as an office. The first journey after the 1977 upgrade was from Euston to completing their engagement Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh asked to speak to Mr Coleman."Everything all right, ma'am?" he asked. "No," she responded, "what's happened to the old ironing board?" As part of the improvements a new ironing board had been installed but the Queen's lady-in-waiting wanted the old one Coleman called Wolverton Works and a member of staff had to find it and carry it to Glasgow on the next available train. Today, the seven carriages that make up the royal train are owned by Network Rail while the locomotives named King's Messenger and Royal Sovereign are owned by DB Cargo Rail Services run Wolverton Works, where the train is from DB Cargo and personnel from Gemini are on board during all journeys in case something goes seven carriages include a saloon for King Charles, which includes his own bedroom and is also his day coach, a restaurant cart and a dining cart, and the remaining carts are for use of support Cargo told the BBC when the royal contract expires on 31 March 2027 it will retain its locomotives and may put them on other Rail has been asked what it plans to do with its carriages, but has not yet responded. Mr Marsh, who documents the train's history on the website hopes they will be kept in a museum."Every carriage on the train has been designated as part of the national collection," he explained."Designation means that it can't be scrapped. It will need to go to a museum whether it's at York or any other museum is up for debate." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
