Britain's Royal Train is more than just a mode of transport for the royal family - it is a part of national heritage. The train has travelled through decades of British history, carrying key moments and members of the monarchy. It has allowed the royals to perform official duties onboard and travel overnight, arriving at destinations rested and ready for engagements. But that journey is soon coming to a close.
According to the Royal Household's latest financial report, cited by CNN, the current royal train will be decommissioned by March 2027 to "secure best value for public money." Going forward, senior members of the royal family will rely more on helicopters and scheduled trains for official travel across the UK, including between residences in England and Scotland. The move is in line with King Charles's efforts to modernise the monarchy and cut costs.
James Chalmers, Keeper of the Privy Purse - the official responsible for royal finances - described the decision as "the fondest of farewells," adding, "In moving forwards, we must not be bound by the past." He said the royal train had been "part of national life for many decades, loved and cared for by all those involved."
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Queen Victoria was the first British monarch to travel by royal train in the early 1840s. Since then, royal trains have been maintained at Wolverton in Buckinghamshire - the world's first railway town. The current train features a dedicated set of claret-liveried sleeper, dining, and lounge carriages.
Today, the train's fixtures and fittings are outdated, and its use has dropped sharply. In 2024-25, the royal train made only two trips, with a cost of over $105,000, according to the Royal Household's annual financial report.
The train played a visible role during Queen Elizabeth II's Golden and Diamond Jubilees in 2002 and 2012. In December 2020, Prince William and Kate, now the Prince and Princess of Wales, travelled 1,250 miles on the royal train to thank frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
King Charles III is now set to end the train's service. Before it is retired in 2027, the royal train is expected to go on a farewell tour, offering rail enthusiasts and royal watchers one last look.
What Happens To The Royal Train Now?
While no formal announcement has been made about the train's future, several royal train vehicles have previously been preserved in museums, including the National Railway Museum in York (NRM).
"I would not like to see them (parts of the royal train) scrapped," said Philip Marsh, senior railway manager and historian. "I'd like to see them displayed in a registered museum, whether that be the NRM or a new museum at their home in Wolverton."
