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The Belmond Royal Scotsman is a Scottish overnight luxury train, started in 1985 by GS&WR (Great Scottish and Western Railway Co.), and run since 2005 by Belmond Ltd. Its itineraries include 2-, 3-, 4-, 5- or 7-night journeys around the Scottish Highlands, visiting castles, distilleries and historic sites. Once each year, it also makes a 7-night journey around the whole of Great Britain.
Train's history
The first train was composed of Mark 1 sleeping cars and three vintage dining and lounge carriages. After the inauguration of the current train set in 1989, the vintage coaches have kept on running as the Queen of Scots charter train.
For the second train batch the train's former owner acquired Pullman cars, which were built in 1960 by Metropolitan Cammell for the East Coast Main Line. This train consisted of four sleeping cars, two dining cars, and one observation car.
The train's two dining cars have been replaced over the years. Dining Car 1, which used to be a Gresley kitchen car, was damaged in a shunting incident on depot and, as a wooden (Teak) bodied vehicle was deemed unsafe to continue passenger operations, it was withdrawn from mainline service. It was followed in 1992 by Pullman car Raven, acquired at the same time as the others in the train. Dining Car 2 used to be 99131, an ex-LNER SC1999 coach named Victory. It was replaced by the Pullman car Swift, which was acquired in 2011 and converted by Assenta Rail in Scotland. On 9 August 2011, the train hosted the very first wedding on an Orient Express train.
Two former Mark 3 sleeping cars were added to the train in 1997 as service carriages, replacing two Mk1 coaches (99987 & 99966). One of them has also got double sleeping cabins.
Belmond acquired another Pullman coach in 2015 from CRRES (West Coast Railway Co Ltd) and again employed Assenta Rail to undertake outfitting and project management in order to create "State car - SPA". After provisional mechanical and body works at CRRES the coach was shipped to Mivan Marine in Antrim, where it was outfitted with two Bamford SPA rooms and 2 additional bedrooms (1 PRM Twin and 1 Double) with inter-connection. Upon completion the carriage was taken back to CRRES for final mechanical works and entry into the rolling stock library as 99337. The carriage entered service in September 2016.
Following an announcement in March 2023, a new accommodation category, Grand Suite, was launched in May 2024. Similar to their namesakes on the Venice-Simplon Orient Express, the two compartments feature double beds and a drawing saloon with a sofa. For this a new State Car 1 was converted from another Pullman car, Kitchen First 316 Magpie. It replaced the previous State Car 1 (ex Pullman Parlour First 324 Amber) in late April 2024. For 2025, the introduction of two more Grand Suites and the abandoning of the Single cabins is scheduled, for which one more replacement carriage, Pullman Kitchen First 315 Heron is foreseen.
Current train fleet
| Carriage | Current number | Former number and name | Layout |
|---|---|---|---|
| Observation Lounge Car | 99965 | Pullman Kitchen First E319 Snipe | Loose chairs and sofas with coffee tables, bar, outside observation platform |
| Dining Car 1 | 99967 | Pullman Kitchen First E317 Raven | 20-seat dining saloon, kitchen |
| Dining Car 2 | 99960 | Pullman Kitchen First E321 Swift | 20-seat dining saloon, pantry, cellar, linen closet, managers office. |
| State Car - Spa | 99337 | Pullman Kitchen Second E337 | Two spa rooms, a double cabin and a PRM-accessible Twin cabin with inter-connection |
| State Car No. 1 | 316 | Pullman Kitchen First E316 Magpie | Two grand suites and a double cabin |
| State Car No. 2 | 99962 | Pullman Parlour First E329 Pearl | Four twin cabins |
| State Car No. 3 | 99963 | Pullman Parlour First E331 Topaz | Four twin cabins |
| State Car No. 4 | 99964 | Pullman Kitchen First E313 Finch | Three twin and two single cabins |
| State Car No. 5 | 99968 | 10541 (Mk III Sleeper) SLEP | Two double cabins, staff sleeping cabins, staff toilet and shower, generator |
| Service Car | 99969 | 10556 (Mk III Sleeper) SLEP | Staff sleeping cabins, staff toilet and shower, staff mess, generator |
The train length is 675 feet (206 m) without locos.
Haulage
Until 2015, the Royal Scotsman motive power was provided by West Coast Railways, usually using Class 37, Class 47 or Class 57 diesel locomotives.
For the 2016 season, the haulage contract was taken over by GB Railfreight. Two of their Class 66 locomotives, 66743 and 66746, being dedicated to the train. These were repainted into Belmond Royal Scotsman maroon livery with appropriate decals in April/May 2016, the work being carried out by Arlington Fleet Services at Eastleigh Works in Hampshire. 66746 appeared first, being released on 11 April with 66743 following on 30 May.
Related trains
The train was a definite inspiration for Belmond's other luxury service Grand Hibernian which entered in service in August 2016 for trips in Ireland and Northern Ireland but ceased in February 2021. The train was made of Irish Mark 3 carriages, including five sleeping cars, two restaurant cars and an observation car, featuring a very similar composition and carriage layouts to the Royal Scotsman.
The carriages left Ireland in 2022, and Belmond planned to relocate the train to a new place inside Europe. It has been realized in shape of the new service Britannic Explorer, which will have its first ride in July 2025, featuring round trips from London to Cornwall, Wales and The Lake District. Like the latest improvements of Royal Scotsman, the train will have Grand Suite compartments and a room for wellness treatments.
References
- "Belmond Royal Scotsman - Itineraries". Luxury-Trains.co.uk. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
- "Belmond Royal Scotsman - Luxury train travel in Scotland - The Grand Tour". Belmond Royal Scotsman. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
- "Marriage on the Orient Express". thetimes.co.uk. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- "Royal Scotsman Grand Suite" (PDF). Luxury-Trains.co.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
- "Pullman BRE 316 Magpie Pullman Kitchen First built 1960".
- "Belmond Royal Scotsman". IRT Society. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- "Pullman BRE 315 Heron Pullman Kitchen First built 1960".
- "THE ROYAL SCOTSMAN". Luxury Train Club. 3 November 2011.
- "Inside the first luxury sleeper train in England and Wales". The Independent. 14 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
- "Britannic Explorer - a Belmond train". Belmond. Retrieved 15 November 2024.