The Jacobite steam train, known to millions as the Hogwarts Express from the Harry Potter films, has been suspended after safety inspectors found that door locking issues put passengers at risk of falling from carriages or being hit while leaning out of windows.
The train operates on the West Highland Line between Fort William and Mallaig in the Scottish Highlands. It relies on an exemption from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) that allows the continued use of heritage rolling stock.
Operator West Coast Railways said all services had been suspended while it reviews concerns raised in an ORR report. The train has been out of action since the weekend, and the company had hoped to resume services this week.
However, an unannounced visit by ORR inspectors found “a couple of issues of concern”, including problems with procedures around secondary door locks. The ORR said train stewards were not preventing passengers from operating the locks, leaning on doors, or hanging out of open windows while the train was moving.
In a statement, West Coast Railways said: “As of now, passenger journeys on the Jacobite have been suspended while West Coast Railways review the concerns raised by the ORR to reach a satisfactory and swift solution to the issues raised. Please accept our sincere apologies for these cancellations.”
The operator, which supplied Warner Bros with the locomotive and carriages used in the films, said it was offering full refunds and hoped to run services again “as soon as possible”.
