The ongoing heatwave has derailed travel plans for Scots hoping to experience the iconic Jacobite steam train.
Network Rail has introduced a nationwide ban on all steam trains lasting one week, citing health and safety concerns amid the UK’s ongoing heatwave.
The network operator fears that steam locomotives could ignite wildfires across the country due to the sweltering conditions currently being experienced throughout the UK.
The announcement came as a major disappointment for tourists and rail enthusiasts who had been looking forward to travelling aboard the historic steam locomotives. Many were learning of the disruption just days before their scheduled journeys.
The decision follows an incident involving the famous Hogwarts Express, the Scottish Daily Express reports. The combination of soaring temperatures and dry conditions is believed to have caused the steam locomotive to emit sparks while travelling through Cheshire.
The sparks caused a blaze on the side of the railway tracks, raising concerns about running steam trains during the current heatwave.
As a result, passengers were reportedly left stranded on the tracks, resulting in approximately 80 hours of delays. A diesel locomotive was required to tow the train 70 miles back to its base in Crewe on July 11.
A Network Rail spokesperson said: “The current long periods of hot dry weather have increased the risk of wildfires across the country. As a result, we have asked charter operators to replace steam engines with diesels in line with our steam charter fire risk policy.”
One customer, who was clearly outraged, told The Sun that the situation led to his journey on the Hogwarts Express, made famous by the iconic films starring Daniel Radcliffe, being cancelled.
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He said: “Poor show for the price. No steam train the day we went and regular blue and white intercity carriages. A lot of disappointed kids the day we were there. Nothing Hogwarts about it.
“I asked for our trip to be transferred but was told it was sold out every day. Nonsense. Our carriage was half empty.”
Train operators have been instructed to switch to diesel locomotives to reduce the risk of sparks igniting dry vegetation and causing wildfires. The disruption also affected passengers aboard the prestigious Northern Belle, where tickets start from £595 per head.
A spokesperson for the Northern Belle said: “Obviously this is a big disappointment for both us and many of our passengers. But there is a very high fire risk after all the recent hot weather so we are using a heritage diesel locomotive instead.”
In response, the company is offering passengers a £50 refund along with a complimentary cocktail during their journey.
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