Harry Potter’s Hogwarts Express is at a standstill

You may not know this, but the famous Harry Potter train actually exists in Scotland, although it is currently stranded at the station.

The Jacobite Steam Train, officially known as, is one of the oldest steam trains in the world and was used throughout the Harry Potter saga to transport the famous wizard and his friends from London to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The Jacobite notably crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct, which has become a worldwide attraction after being featured in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

It’s not at Platform 9¾ that you can board the legendary saga train, but instead in Fort William at Glasgow Queen Street Station. The train route unfortunately doesn’t end at Hogwarts but in the charming village of Mallaig. An enchanting journey of about 65 km in total. The trip costs between £28 and £50, and of course, you can be accompanied by a guide who will tell you the story of the train and its role in the successful film saga.

However, this venerable machine is now threatened by safety regulations, particularly the requirement to install centralized locking systems on the carriage doors. This may seem trivial, but it’s roughly equivalent to fitting an airbag into a 1908 Ford Model T!

The railway operators had obtained a slight reprieve with the postponement of the court decision to early 2024. Unfortunately, the verdict was delivered on Wednesday, March 20 and the marvelous steam train must remain at the platform. An appeal has been filed, but once again, the dream is halted by reality. Beyond the Harry Potter phenomenon, it would be sad for a piece of railway heritage to be forced to stay at the station.

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