Royal Train to Be Retired After 158 Years
Beloved by Queen Elizabeth II Since 1869
Maintenance Costs Reach 82 Million Won Despite Only Two Uses
The Royal Train, which King Charles III of the United Kingdom is known to have cherished, is scheduled to be decommissioned at the end of 2027. On July 1 (local time), Yonhap News reported, citing the BBC and The Telegraph, that "the Royal Train, introduced during the reign of Queen Victoria, will be discontinued in 2027 as part of efforts to reduce maintenance costs."
According to Yonhap News, the Royal Train originated in 1869 when Queen Victoria ordered a special train for the royal family. During World War I, King George V became the first in the world to install a bathtub on a train. This was to allow him to stay on the train without needing temporary accommodation during wartime. The current train in use was newly built in 1977 and underwent renovations completed in 1986. It is known to consist of nine cars, including a dining car, sleeping compartments, and bathrooms.
The Royal Train was used for major events such as Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee in 2002 and Diamond Jubilee in 2012, and frequently drew media attention during royal visits to the provinces. However, as rail travel has declined and air travel has increased, questions have been raised about whether it is necessary to continue spending money on maintaining a dedicated train.
According to the royal financial report released the previous day for the last fiscal year (April 2024 to March 2025), the Royal Train was used only twice, but maintenance and management costs amounted to 44,000 pounds (about 82 million won). In comparison, 55 uses of the royal private jet cost about 600,000 pounds (1.12 billion won), other flights cost 126,000 pounds (230 million won), and 141 helicopter trips cost 475,000 pounds (880 million won).
King Charles III arrived at Manchester Victoria Station in the UK via the Royal Train on January 20, 2023. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News
Previously, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, the royal family decommissioned the Royal Yacht Britannia, which had been used for overseas state visits, in 1997 as part of austerity measures. The Times noted, "Although King Charles III is known to be fond of the Royal Train, it is not expected that he will be as emotional as his mother, who shed tears at the yacht's decommissioning ceremony."
James Chalmers, who oversees royal finances, stated, "Much of the royal household has been modernized to reflect today's trends, so it is time to say goodbye to the (aging) Royal Train," adding, "The savings will be appropriately allocated to other areas."
Meanwhile, the royal grant has been fixed at 86.3 million pounds (about 160.7 billion won) for the fourth consecutive year. The royal household commented, "Due to inflation, the actual amount received has decreased," and added, "If the inflation rate had been properly reflected, the annual amount would now be 106 million pounds."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
