The famous Hogwarts Express in Scotland may stop operating due to the crisis

The operator, West Coast Railways (WCR), has been in a three-year dispute with the Office of Rail (ORR) over the need to install central locks on carriage doors. Since 1999, safety regulations have prohibited the operation of carriages with swing doors that cannot be centrally locked. The Jacobite route uses 1950s Mark 1 coaches with traditional swing doors without such locks. Until 2023, ORR provided Jacobite with exceptions allowing the use of historic carriages.

A WCR spokesman said the company intends to continue operating but has not yet made a final decision on possible flight cuts or schedule changes. The official WCR website states: “Bookings for the Jacobite 2026 season will open in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for more details.” According to James Shuttleworth, WCR’s commercial director, the tourism route is worth around £30 million to the UK economy each year.

Converting 120 historic carriages with new central locking systems could cost Jacobite owners £7 million – a sum it describes as “significant” for the entire fleet. WCR is currently seeking a final resolution to its dispute with ORR after the regulator refused to grant an exception to central locking rules, leading to litigation.