Harry Potter steam train service suspended

A steam train that appeared in the Harry Potter films has been suspended in a wrangle over safety regulation.

West Coast Railways (WCR) has been challenging demands for central locking systems to be fitted to carriage doors on its Jacobite service.

WCR said it had suspended the service while it sought an exemption to the rules from rail regulator the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).

The Jacobite and its crossing of the Glenfinnan Viaduct, near Fort William, featured in 2002's Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

The service runs between Mallaig and Fort William from March to October.

Its crossing of the Glenfinnan Viaduct is popular with fans of JK Rowling's stories of a young wizard.

WCR received its most recent temporary exemption in November last year.

The company said it was awaiting a decision on a new application and had suspended the Jacobite service until further notice.

It said passengers booked on the train would be offered a full refund.

Commercial manager James Shuttleworth said: “We are disappointed to have to suspend this service and we are sorry for the inconvenience caused to our customers who have booked trips."

An ORR spokesperson said they warned all heritage operators "several years ago" that their trains had to either seek an exemption or be compliant with the rules after 31 March.

"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," they said.

“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.”