The British Royal Train, the famous rolling capital of Big L Capitalism, is due to retire soon. Although it was only brought online in March 2021, plans are already underway to retire it by March 2027. That same royal train, constructed in the 1970s, continues to serve new generations of royals with pride. It provides a fascinating window into the lavish golden age of British rail travel. The Royal Household are committed to achieving best value for public money. This decision represents a break from traditional modes of royal transport in the reign of King Charles III.
Even though it’s emblazoned with the royal crest, the inside of the British Royal Train is alarmingly austere. You would think that a so-called “palace on wheels” would be pretty extravagant, but that’s not the case with this one. Its aesthetic is like a 1970s business hotel, prioritizing function over form. This striking comparison illustrates a notable change in royal travel, from opulence to a more pragmatic functional focus.
Since its arrival the train has been kept at Wolverton, a historic railway town in Buckinghamshire, north of London. Wolverton Works has considerable historic value. In 1842, it created the first coach built solely for royal use, specially made for Queen Adelaide. Queen Victoria continued to do so by using modified private carriages well into the 19th century. To usher in that new age, in 1869 she commissioned a custom ride. In 1897, the Great Western Railway went all in and manufactured a full train of six vehicles of them. This unique train was commissioned to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.
Over its operational life, the British Royal Train has led the way in what is possible. It introduced innovations like onboard toilets, electric lighting, radios, telephones, bathtubs, bedrooms, air conditioning, and lavish décor. These innovations not only catered to royalty, but helped shape the design of everyday passenger trains.
Aside from a very few official engagements, in recent years the British Royal Train has experienced a virtual moratorium. In 2024-25, it only produced two trips – one that ended up costing the Royal Household more than $105,000. This past year, royal travel costs reached $6.4 million in total. This was almost a $682,000 increase over the previous fiscal year. King Charles III has made the decision to retire the train, in keeping with his dedication to environmental advocacy. Instead, he’ll ferry between them on not especially sustainable travel such as helicopters.
The upcoming decommissioning of the British Royal Train has raised feelings among those who have been associated with its storied legacy. James Chalmers, Keeper of the Privy Purse, said that with this decision “the fondest of farewells” will now take place. And he stressed the importance of going beyond being shackled by a history of doing things a certain way.
The folks in Wolverton are justifiably proud of their historic ties to the royal train. Philip Marsh, a local resident and railway enthusiast, noted that “everybody in Wolverton knows someone who has worked on the royal train and they’re bloody proud of it.” He said that he looked forward to additional efforts to preserve the train and avoid scrapping.
“I would not like to see them scrapped.” – Philip Marsh
Marsh highlighted the advantages of traveling by train, stating, “It’s the safest form of travel and it allows the ‘principals’ to relax, attend briefings on the move and arrive rested at engagements after travelling overnight.” His comments reinforce the tangible benefits that have made royal train travel a classic staple through the years.
Furthermore, Marsh acknowledged that innovations introduced on royal trains have made their way into standard passenger services: “Innovations on royal trains have filtered through to ordinary passenger trains in the same way that Formula 1 technology has cascaded down to our cars.”
The British Royal Train is preparing for its last hurrah tour around Britain. Rail fans and royal watchers alike will have a rare opportunity to see this historic vehicle rumble across the countryside one last time before it retires. This tour serves to celebrate and highlight the important long-established service that royal travel has provided. It asks us to consider how this mode of travel has changed in the past decades.
