The Royal Train has transported members of the Royal Family around the UK since the 1800s – but plans to modernise the Royals will see it scrapped.
In 2027, the train will be decommissioned. However, it's likely that the public will get a chance to see the Royal Train, as it will be moved around the UK beforehand and there are talks about it going on display. Here, we take a look at the train's incredible history – including its former sumptuous interiors.
1. There have been specific trains for the Royal Family since Queen Victoria's reign, who commissioned special coaches in 1869.
2. The train is made up of nine carriages, with different locomotives pulling them over the years.
3. The train's previous extravagant interiors included a mahogany smoking room, 23K gold paint and blue silk decor.
4. The newest carriages date to 1986 – much older than modern trains. It's thought that this included added protections to defend against machine gun fire, rockets, and bombs.
5. The late Queen Elizabeth II was a particular fan of the train, as she preferred to travel and sleep on it ahead of engagements.
6. While Queen Victoria commissioned the Royal Train, Queen Adelaide (widow of King William IV) was the first member of the British Royal Family to travel on the UK's railways.
7. It became a popular way for the Royal Family to travel from London to the Balmoral estate in Aberdeenshire.
8. In 1901, Queen Victoria's coffin was conveyed to Windsor via the Royal Train.
9. During WWI, King George V used it to travel around the country and as lodgings – this was only revealed to the public after the war.
10. King George VI used it to visit areas that were being bombed in WWII, which meant the wooden cars were replaced with 56-ton armour-plated versions. It's also rumoured that special cabinets were installed to store top secret documents.
11. Under the reign of George V, the train was fitted with the first bathtub ever to be placed on a train.
12. While trains in the UK can hit speeds of up to 200 mph, the Royal Train tended to stick to speeds of 70 mph.
13. It's believed that Prince Harry has never travelled on the Royal Train.
14. The staff of the Royal Train reportedly take pride in arriving within 15 seconds of their projected arrival time.
15. Travelling in the train was becoming expensive – costing around £52 per mile.
16. From the 1960s to 1990s, the train was stored in the Royal Train Shed in Wolverton – now a Grade II listed residential building.
17. According to Avanti West Coast, two of the modern locomotives used to pull the train run on bio-fuel made from waste vegetable oil.
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Main image: King Charles at the Royal Train in Cardiff, 2018. Credit: Getty
