Tourism worries after delay to new Harry Potter train season

The operators of a train famous for its role as the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter films have warned of a delay to the start of its new season.

West Coast Railways' (WRC) Jacobite steam train operates on the iconic West Highland Line from Fort William to Mallaig.

It has sought a safety exemption to use old-style Mark 1 carriages that are popular with its customers, but the application needs to be reviewed by the regulator, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).

Business group West Highland Chamber said the rail journey was a "vital economic engine" for the area and added it had already received reports of some visitors cancelling accommodation due to "uncertainty" around the new season.

WRC said it had not sold tickets or set a start date for the new season. In the past the service usually started running in March or April.

WCR supplied film-maker Warner Bros with the locomotive and carriages for the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter film series.

The West Highland Line's historic Glenfinnan Viaduct also featured.

The rail journey has been described as one of the world's most scenic, and is popular with railway enthusiasts as well as film fans.

WCR was in a long-running dispute with the ORR about having to install central locking on its Mark 1 carriages to prevent passengers from opening doors when the train is moving.

Boss James Shuttleworth told BBC Scotland News the system would be installed, but this would take time and it had applied for an exemption to use the carriages meantime.

He said exemptions had been successfully secured in the past, with stewards manually locking doors.

Shuttleworth said for a few seasons it had used more modern Mark 2 carriages, which have central locking.

But he said a decision had been made not use them this season because of their reduced capacity, and that they also require a diesel locomotive at the back to provide power to an air conditioning system.

He said using Mark 2s had resulted in lost income, and customer feedback showed a preference for the Mark 1 carriages.

Shuttleworth said details on the start of the new season would be released as soon as they were available.

The ORR said no agreement had been reached on an exemption and the application was being reviewed.

West Highland Chamber said it recognised that the Jacobite steam train had played an important part in the local hospitality and retail sectors for many years.

A spokesperson said: "The Jacobite steam service is more than just a rail journey; it is a vital economic engine for the West Highlands.

"While we are encouraged by the news that West Coast Railways is working toward a 2026 start date with their traditional Mark 1 rolling stock, we cannot ignore the impact that uncertainty has already had on our business community.

"We have already seen reports of cancellations across local accommodation providers due to the initial lack of clarity.

"Therefore, while a delayed start is not the ideal scenario, it is a far better outcome than a total suspension of service, and we welcome the progress being made on safety upgrades."

The spokesperson added that the chamber hoped to work collaboratively with WCR during this and future seasons.