British Royal Train Closing After 180-Year Run. Here's Why
British monarchs have traveled privately via train since the 1840s. Queen Victoria took things a step further in 1869 when she commissioned two luxury coaches to service the Crown. The tradition has continued up until the present day, but won't be lasting for much longer.
Buckingham Palace has announced that the British royal train will be decommissioned by 2027 in order to "secure best value for public money." The royal contract to keep the train running expires in March 2027 and will no longer be renewed.
James Chalmers, Keeper of the Privy Purse, in charge of managing the Royal Household's finances, explained the decision as the Crown's attempt to "modernize and adapt to reflect the world of today."
'The royal train, of course, has been part of national life for many decades, loved and cared for by all those involved," said Chalmers. "But in moving forward we must not be bound by the past."
Chalmers added that the move serves as a huge cost-cutting measure. The Sovereign Grant Report, which breaks down the Royal Household's annual finances, noted that the cost to store and maintain the royal train far outweighs its practical usage.
The Royal Family would have to make a "significant level of investment" to keep the train operational past 2027.
The report also noted that the Royal Family had also purchased two new helicopters that offer more cost-efficient travel versus the royal train.
The Royal Travel Appendix on the 2024-25 Sovereign Grant Report details just how costly train travel was compared to other modes of transportation.
From April 2024 to March 2025, the Crown used the royal train just twice, costing around $60,000 each trip. The figure makes the monarchy's 55 chartered flights at $14,800 each and 141 helicopter rides at $4,600 each look like an absolute bargain.British Royal Train Closing After 180-Year Run. Here's Why first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 6, 2025
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