A palace on rails: the end of the British Royal Train after two centuries

While long-distance travel on luxury trains has become a forbidden dream for many in recent years, and a slower, more enjoyable way to travel for a few lucky ones, there is one royal family that anticipated this trend by more than 180 years, making it a distinctive feature of its regal image: the British royal family. The British Royal Train, which for almost two centuries has served as Buckingham Palace's residence on rails during the monarchs' travels, will be retired by 2027, before the natural expiry of the current maintenance contract. This decision by King Charles III brings to an end a tradition that began in 1842 with Queen Victoria, the first British monarch to travel by train.

The reasons for this choice are part of a cost-cutting plan to ease the financial burden on the royal household, which is thus also giving up one of the longest-standing symbols of the British monarchy.

The history of the British Royal Train dates back to the 19th century, when the development of the railway infrastructure began a long transformation in the way people traveled, also influencing the very presence of the monarchy in the country. Although Queen Adelaide was the first royal to use the train in 1840, Queen Victoria made the use of railways customary in royal life with her journey from the town of Slough to Paddington Station in London on June 13, 1842. On board a custom-built Great Western Railway carriage, pulled by the locomotive “Phlegethon”, the queen realized that traveling across the kingdom by rail meant forging a closer bond with her people, generating a new perception of the monarchical role, less distant from the people.

For this reason, in 1869, Queen Victoria commissioned new carriages, paving the way for increasingly luxurious and functional interiors. With the Diamond Jubilee in 1897, the Great Western Railway presented the first true example of a Royal Train, consisting of six carriages, some of which were already equipped with lighting and toilets. The aesthetics were meticulously detailed, with dark green leather furnishings and floral friezes reminiscent of the symbols of the nations of the United Kingdom, using refined woods such as Karri pine, Cuban mahogany, and satinwood.

The early 20th century saw the introduction of new carriages for subsequent monarchs. In 1902, Edward VII commissioned two new royal salons with separate rooms, such as a mahogany smoking room. In 1912, George V also traveled on a carriage specially designed by the Midland Railway, which also had a dining car. During World War II, the Royal Train played a crucial role in the safety of the royals: King George VI traveled by rail in three armored carriages, built by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway in 1941, to protect him during visits to bombed areas.

After the war, the tradition continued, but it was not until 1977, for Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee, that the current official train was assembled. The modern Royal Train, consisting of nine carriages painted in the distinctive “Royal Claret” (burgundy), was designed according to standards of functionality and understated elegance. On board, the train included a study, a dining room, a bedroom, and spaces for staff and security.

Queen Elizabeth II had a special relationship with the Royal Train. It was not only a practical means of transportation for official trips, but also a veritable mobile office and, above all, a refuge of privacy. In fact, it would seem that her personal carriage, approximately 22 meters long and embellished with works of art, was one of the few places where the sovereign could truly concentrate on her work without interruption.

Despite her desire for tranquility, the queen was certainly not alone on board. According to reports, Elizabeth traveled with an entourage of up to thirty-four staff members per trip. One of the most curious facts concerned the queen's bathing routine: it is said that she always bathed at the same time, and that the train drivers received precise instructions to avoid any kind of jolt or bump.

Elizabeth II was not the only one to request specific modifications to the Royal Train: all the monarchs who traveled aboard these carriages left their mark on the interiors of the carriages, which have been replaced over time, many of which are now preserved in symbolic locations and museums, such as the National Railway Museum in York. Among others, the museum houses the lounge car of King George VI (Queen Elizabeth's father), a cozy smoking room in mahogany with rosewood and satinwood inlays.

Access to the Royal Train has always been a privilege, with discrimination even within the royal family itself. For a long time, use of the train was reserved mainly for the reigning monarch and consort, and at most for those first in line of direct succession. Prince William and Kate Middleton have only boarded the royal train on very specific and recent occasions, such as the tour in December 2020. The only exception that attracted a lot of attention at court was Elizabeth II's invitation to the then Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, who had the privilege of traveling with the Queen to Cheshire shortly after her wedding.

The use of the train has declined in recent years, despite its symbolic value and centuries-old history: the high cost of travel and maintenance, together with King Charles III's desire to modernize the monarchy and reduce expenses, have led to the decision to decommission the Royal Train. Its imminent demise, expected before 2027, marks the end of an era for this extraordinary symbol of the British monarchy on rails, which will be replaced by two new helicopters for the royal family's private travel.

Opening image:  The dayroom built in 1890 by Wolverton for Queen Victoria © Royal Train