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Hogwarts Express steam train cancelled over safety issues (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-66271357)

I'm not sure what the timescale is, but with two return paths becoming vacant for the foreseeable, could Scotrail not employ two of their Inter7City HST sets to run in place of The Jacobite?

Apart from lineside photography, what benefits would potential customers lose by travelling in an HST rather than a steam-hauled Mark I coach? In terms of gains for the customer, the biggest gain would be cost given the extortionate cost of The Jacobite versus the cost of an Off-Peak Day Return on Scotrail (£60.75 against £16.80 [£11.05 with a railcard]). Using an Inter7City set would also allow both First Class and catering to be offered.


*** Edited to include actual costs ***

That’s a big blow to West Coast Railways not being able to operate The Jacobite.

Personally, I’ve never used it because the cost difference between it and Scotrail is too great IMHO. I’m not a huge Kettle fan to pay so much more to travel on this line. The scenery is still the same from a Scotrail 156!

Would love to travel on an HST from Glasgow to Mallaig.

For the benefit of Timmer (https://flickr.com/photos/pwakely/51634304164/)  ;D

A couple of weeks ago I did a day trip from Warminster to Carlisle and back in an HST - wonderful !  That's how rail travel used to be..........and still should be. In 40 years time will they be running excursions in an IET ?  I think not, I don't think they will be repairable after even 20 years.

Update:  That train from Phil looks familiar !

Can anyone advise if HSTs have ever run on the West Highland lines? If not then getting any approvals in the short term will not be realistic.

See my post above!  Mallaig, Oban and Kyle have all seen the Midland Pullman. Kyle has seen the NMT, but I'm not sure about Mallaig or Oban. So, yes, they have run on the West Highland lines.

Top pictures of the 2021 Midland Pullman Railtour to the Highlands there Phil. Great.

I did look into it but a bit (well very) pricey for me and you had to book and pay for hotel accommodation on top of the price for the railtour.

I have mixed feelings on Railtours when it comes to the cost versus traveling on timetabled services and organising the trip yourself. But many people absolutely love railtours and find them great value for money.

The potential customers of the Jacobite would seem to be Harry Potter fans, rather than rail fans or scenery lovers.

Hmm ... then

a) Would it not be a good idea to run the "Harry Potter Train" from Princes Risborough to Chinnor where it could be part of the Harry Potter experience tours?

b) If people who are there for neither the scenery nor the railway are travelling to Fort William as tourists to ride this train, will its failure to be operating have an effect on the wider tourist business in the area?

With you 100%. As you can see, I am happy to be lineside to get the photo opportunity, but would not normally consider a very pricey railtour. Just before Covid struck, I took my daughter, who is an avid Harry Potter fan, up to Fort William. Naturally, we spent some time at Glenfinnan, but daughter was more than happy to experience travelling over the viaduct in a 2-car 156 at a cost of slightly more than a tenner for the two of us.

I’m sure that Master Potter has proved a great boost for the Jacobite - but it was operating well before he saw the light of day.

I have ridden on the Jacobite a couple of times - but to my mind you see a lot more at "ground level".

(https://mbob.co.uk/rforum/glenaug12.jpg)

Really good photo. ^^

"The" Jacobite?  :o ;)

Yes in this case I believe - not the engine's name but the named train

From their website

(https://mbob.co.uk/rforum/jacobite.png)

From the Press and Journal (https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/transport/6027865/famous-harry-potter-steam-train-to-return-to-service/)

From the BBC (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-67552056)

One wonders if there is not enough ex-HST carriages about to make up a compliant rake. Maroon paint or vinyls and I doubt anyone would really notice. Of course it would need an air-braked locomotive so we can expect to see LNER or SR motive power rebadged in rouge.

From Rail Advent (https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2024/01/orr-revoke-west-coast-railways-exemption.html)