Wildfire link to Harry Potter express prompts UK steam train ban

Wildfire link to Harry Potter express prompts UK steam train ban A nationwide steam train ban has left families scrambling to rearrange trips after wildfire fears prompted operators to swap iconic Britain's heritage steam locomotives for diesel engines A nationwide steam train ban has quietly been put in place over safety concerns. Network Rail imposed the ban amid fears steam locomotives could spark trackside fires during the ongoing heatwave, leaving disappointed families with long-planned trips thrown into chaos. The move came after a train used on Harry Potter-themed services was thought to have started a wildfire. The blaze near Winsford, Cheshire, on Saturday forced the West Coast Main Line to close in both directions, with 72 trains cancelled and a further 158 delayed over the weekend. The train involved is regularly used on West Coast Railways’ Jacobite service, known around the world as the real-life Hogwarts Express because it crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct featured in the Harry Potter films. The incident came as England endured its second heatwave in a month, with weeks of scorching weather leaving grass and vegetation along railway lines tinder-dry. Network Rail has since banned steam locomotives from the national rail network until the wildfire risk eases, with operators told to use diesel engines instead. Network Rail uses a traffic-light fire risk system for steam trains, ranging from green, where services can run as normal, to black, when steam services are suspended altogether. The restrictions have forced heritage railways to tear up timetables ahead of one of the busiest weekends of the year as schools across the country begin breaking up for the summer holidays. Among those left disappointed were families who had booked trips on the Jacobite Steam Train. One customer branded the experience “rubbish” after the steam locomotive was replaced. Writing on TripAdvisor, 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.” Elsewhere, another family said their £180-a-head Spirit of Summer Lunch trip was also affected after they were told just 48 hours before departure that the journey would no longer be steam-hauled. The message said: “We are writing to inform you that regretfully, due to the increased risk of line side fires following a prolonged period of dry weather and extreme heat. Network Rail has implemented a nationwide steam ban extending across this week which includes the date of our Spirit of Summer Lunch tour on Thursday 16th July. “As a result, we are unfortunately unable to operate the Spirit of Summer Lunch with a steam locomotive, but our trip will still run as scheduled on Thursday, using the same beautifully restored vintage carriages and offering the same high standard of on-board service. In place of steam, the train will be hauled by a vintage diesel locomotive.” The Northern Belle, one of Britain’s best-known luxury trains, has also been affected. Its £595-a-head Settle and Carlisle Special will now be hauled by a heritage diesel locomotive instead of a historic steam engine. A Northern Belle spokesperson 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. “Our trip over the lovely Settle-Carlisle line should still be an absolute delight, for our chef will be cooking up a sumptuous brunch and dinner. And as compensation, we are refunding £50 to passengers as well as offering them a complimentary cocktail onboard.” 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.” West Coast Railways said it had followed Network Rail’s established fire safety procedures and that all steam operators adhere to the same colour-coded fire risk system.