'Hogwarts Express' Jacobite steam train fans still flock to Glenfinnan Viaduct despite indefinite suspension
Daily Fort William-Mallaig trips on hold pending safety decision
Dozens of tourists a day are still flocking to Glenfinnan in the hope of seeing the Jacobite steam train crossing the viaduct despite services being suspended indefinitely since the start of the season.
Daily return trips between Fort William and Mallaig on the train associated with the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter films have been halted by its operator as part of a long-running safety dispute with the rail regulator.
West Coast Railways (WCR) has put services on hold since April pending a decision from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) over whether it can use carriages without central door locking in return for agreeing a timescale for its installation.
The ORR said that take until July, but WCR could run services with compliant carriages as it did last year.
Emily Bryce, operations manager at the National Trust for Scotland’s Glenfinnan Monument visitor centre, said questions about the Jacobite were the most frequently asked by visitors.
She said: “People are still going up to the viaduct to wait for the steam train to arrive even though there are lots of signs saying it’s not operating.
“A significant proportion of visitors think it’s still running.”
Ms Bryce said in previous years around 1,000 people a day came out in all weathers to see the train, but dozens were still turning up despite the service being suspended.
She said the visitor centre had seen a 13 per cent increase in visitor numbers this month compared to last May, but uncertainty over the Jacobite was “not helpful” and businesses in Mallaig had been badly affected.
Ms Bryce said it had also caused overcrowding on ScotRail trains on the line, partly because of seats being block booked by tour operators who previously used the Jacobite.
She said: “It is full and standing room only every day..”
One local resident added: “We still have folk trudging up the hillside every day, and influencers keep pumping out reels from previous years featuring how to see the Jacobite.”
Another said: “There are people who haven’t realised the Jacobite isn't running at the moment, so they are saddened when they turn up.
“But most visitors take it in good spirit and say they’re happy just to see the viaduct.”
Doug Carmichael, of the Friends of the West Highland Lines, said: “It’s a big disappointment to hundreds of potential passengers, those who love watching the train cross the world-famous viaduct, and Fort William and Mallaig businesses which have suffered a big drop in footfall.”
A ScotRail spokesperson said: “We do not have the additional trains or staff to cover the suspension of WCR’s services.
“This would require the removal of services in other parts of Scotland.”
WCR commercial manager James Shuttleworth said it was still awaiting the ORR’s decision.
He told The Scotsman in February: “We have conceded we are going to have to fit central door locking and are reasonably optimistic of reaching an accord.”
An ORR spokesperson said: “We are looking at the application and updated information that was supplied in March, and our standard timeframe is four months, but this is not an absolute timeline.
“We’re continuing to engage with WCR and work remains to establish the feasibility, detail, and delivery timeline of the proposed approach.”
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