'Harry Potter fans won't be happy': Jacobite steam train carriages turn blue
Operator West Coast Railways says newer coaches are still “heritage”
Harry Potter fans travelling on the steam train likened to the Hogwarts Express might think they’ve found themselves in a unfamiliar remake - because its maroon carriages have been substituted with blue and grey ex-Inter-City coaches on some services.
The newer rolling stock has been spotted in use on the second of two daily Jacobite excursions between Fort William and Mallaig which crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct as featured in the film series.
However, information about the train on operator West Coast Railways’ website does not appear to refer to the Inter-City carriages, and simply states: “All our carriages are painted in heritage liveries.”
But it also said the journey taken by Harry Potter and his friends “lives on, with two trips a day, using similar carriages used in the filming of these magnificent movies”.
Rail industry observers predict another backlash from fans of the JK Rowling stories after use of the carriages, known as Mark 2s, provoked anger on social media last year.
The maroon coaches used on the morning Jacobite service, whose season started two months late on June 1, are known as Mark 1s.
The difference has been described as “like seeing a Marks & Spencer store from the pavement and going in and finding it’s Primark”.
The Inter-City coaches have been used because of the lack of carriages fitted with mandatory central door locking, over which the operator has fought a long battle with the rail safety regulator.
Doug Carmichael, of the Friends of the West Highland Lines, said: “Once again, as per last year, this will not go down well with Harry Potter fans especially.
“Mark 2 coaches are in use all over the UK on charter trains, but one of the many specialities of travelling the line to Mallaig is sitting in a maroon Mark 1 coach - even with that 'oldie' smell wafting through.
“Let's hope that there are not many very hot days coming up for passengers, as the air conditioning [on the Mark 2s] cannot be operated by the steam locomotives.”
Another industry source said: “The Jacobite advertises on its brochures 'Some of the carriages are similar to those used in the Harry Potter films' and shows only maroon carriages.
“Harry Potter fans won't be happy as they expect vintage 1950s maroon Mark 1 carriages, not ex-commuter Inter-City blue/grey carriages.”
However, West Coast Railways commercial manager James Shuttleworth said: “We do not differentiate between 'heritage' liveries.
“The point is actually covered on our website. Blue/grey was last applied to service stock by British Rail in the 1980s. It is therefore a heritage livery.”
The Office of Rail and Road regulator said on Friday it was still considering the latest in a series of applications by the company for an exemption from regulations introduced 27 years ago making central door locking compulsory.
As The Scotsman revealed in February, West Coast Railways has agreed to the safety measure in return for being given several years to complete the work.
It lost a High Court battle over the issue in 2023 but has since applied for exemptions, with the latest one expected to be decided by next month.
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