Full speed ahead for the Jacobite Steam Train

The Jacobite Steam Train rides again.

Narrowly avoiding a shutdown of its ability to operate any trains on Britain's rail lines, West Coast Railways had its weeks-long suspension lifted on May 8. The company was able to meet a series of conditions laid out for reinstatement. And with its operating license unsuspended, last week the company renewed operating its popular Jacobite Steam Train rides through the Scottish highlands.

West Coast Railways very narrowly avoided having to cancel the tickets of thousands of passengers who anxiously awaited a yea/nay about whether their trips would proceed. As many as 85,000 people will take the steam train journey from Fort William to Mallaig (and back) between May and October.

Our family and friends get ready to board the train for its return journey.

I have been closely following this story for weeks. I won't rehash it all here. Briefly put, some train operators on one of West Coast Railways' steam trains in England appear to have purposefully disabled an automatic braking system, which caused their train to proceed through a red light and come within less than a minute of striking a separate passenger train crossing its track. If the two trains had collided, it would've been one of the U.K.'s worst train crashes ever.

Although the agency responsible for overseeing the U.K.'s rail lines, National Rail, has reinstated West Coast Railways' operating license, it is still investigating the incident. National Rail continues to assess the company's safety certificate, and if it revokes that certificate then the trains cannot run. Over the coming months, National Rail will make checks on the operation of West Coast Railways trains. Furthermore, a criminal investigation continues into the incident which caused the suspension.

For now, at least, West Coast Railways continues its business. Steam train enthusiasts, as well as Harry Potter fans (the Jacobite Steam Train served as the "Hogwarts Express" in several films), can breathe a sigh of relief. Of course, though they no longer need worry about whether the train will continue to run, they may replace that worry with concern whether the trains will be operated safely.

All in all, I'm happy the steam train will run again. We have a train-mad toddler who is due for another ride this summer. Fingers crossed that lessons have been learned, new safety procedures are in place, and the journeys go smoothly.

Am I crazy for thinking about going again? Too big a risk? Or too much ado about nothing?

The Hogwarts Express immobulus spell has been lifted.

 

For more about the Jacobite steam train, see here: http://www.coloringwithoutborders.com/2013/10/riding-jacobite.html

 

 

For more about the Glenfinnan Viaduct, see here: http://www.coloringwithoutborders.com/2014/09/monday-exposure-glenfinnan-viaduct.html

For more about West Coast Railways' license suspension, see here: http://www.coloringwithoutborders.com/2015/04/jacobite-steam-train-license-suspended.html

Jacobite steam train license suspended

 

UPDATE: The Jacobite Steam Train SUSPENSION HAS BEEN LIFTED. See here: http://www.coloringwithoutborders.com/2015/05/full-speed-ahead-for-jacobite-steam.html

The Hogwarts Express currently suffers from an immobulus!

In an unprecedented move, the U.K. organization which oversees Great Britain's rail lines has suspended the license of a railway company. The organization, called Network Rail, oversees nearly all of the railway infrastructure on the island and concurrently shares responsibility for train safety on the tracks. In the first license suspension since the British railway system was privatized in 1993, Network Rail has temporarily banned West Coast Railways from operating on Britain's rail lines, effective April 3.

The Jacobite steam train ready to depart from Fort William.

West Coast Railways operates a number of steam train lines in Great Britain, including popular tourist lines in the Yorkshire Dales. Its main claim to fame, however, is the Jacobite steam train running through the western highlands of Scotland. This beloved train journey — often voted by Britons to be among the most scenic in the world — runs past highland mountains and deep valleys, sweeping by gorgeous lochs and over canals and bridges.

Most recently, the journey has been invigorated by its inclusion in the Harry Potter films as the Hogwarts Express. "Potterheads" have flocked to the steam train line since its stunning visuals running over the Glenfinnan Viaduct.

The Hogwarts Express crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct.

According to its suspension letter, "Network Rail has had concerns about [West Coast Railways] performance of its Safety Obligations for some time and recent events lead Network Rail to believe that the operations of WCR are a threat to the safe operation of the railway." Apparently, Network Rail had initiated a review in January of West Coast Railway's safety policies, but the company unilaterally suspended its remediation of any problems identified.

Then, on March 7, one of West Coast Railway's steam trains on its London to Bristol line ran a red light, endangering hundreds of passengers. A high speed train traveling at 100 mph had passed through that junction just a minute earlier. According to the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, there is evidence showing that the West Coast Railways train's driver and fireman took measures to negate the automatic braking system.

A collision of the two trains would have been catastrophic.

The total rail network ban will last until May 15. In the meantime, West Coast Railways must meet five conditions, including providing a plan to implement the January review of its procedures; introducing a system to ensure train drivers receive safety information; and implementing an "effective, risk-based driver monitoring regime." Furthermore, the company must show clear progress toward reaching two further conditions, concerning communication protocols and safety accountability for company management. For a full copy of the suspension letter, see here.

It is possible that West Coast Railways could lose its rail license entirely. Beyond a revocation of its license, company officials potentially could face criminal charges.

The Jacobite steam train is scheduled to begin its service on May 11, four days before the end of West Coast Railway's suspension. Presumably, if the company can meet Network Rail's conditions, its suspension will be lifted earlier. But considering the company's recalcitrant attitude, lifting the ban is not yet a given.

West Coast Railways has issued a statement to customers that its rail trips will be unaffected and operated by another (unsuspended) license operator until its ban is lifted. Whether customers retain confidence in the only rail company to have earned a complete ban on operations, remains to be seen.


UPDATE: As of April 22, West Coast Railways is undergoing a criminal investigation for the March 7 incident. Furthermore, National Rail has begun a process to review West Coast Railways' safety certificate — which, if lost, would mean it could not operate trains even if it regains its operating license on the tracks.

 

For more about the Jacobite steam train, see here: http://www.coloringwithoutborders.com/2013/10/riding-jacobite.html

 

 

For more about the Glenfinnan Viaduct, see here: http://www.coloringwithoutborders.com/2014/09/monday-exposure-glenfinnan-viaduct.html