The curtain will finally fall on a symbol of royal tradition as the UK Royal Train is scheduled for decommissioning no later than 31 March 2027. The decision, announced by Buckingham Palace in a closed media briefing on Monday 30 June, comes just months after a high-profile rebranding appeared to signal a renewed lease of life.
DB Cargo UK, the freight operator with a royal warrant, will see its long-running stewardship of the Royal Train brought to an end after over 30 years of continuous operation since privatisation. The UK rail freight sector has been closely involved with the Royal Train’s daily upkeep and operation, making the move a significant milestone in British railway history.
Royal decision closes the chapter
A Palace spokesperson confirmed that “the train will be decommissioned on or before 31 March 2027,” ending more than 180 years of royal travel by rail. Although it has often drawn criticism for its cost, the Royal Train has remained a working symbol of statecraft, offering privacy and security for senior members of the monarchy.
This year alone, the Royal Train cost approximately £600,000 to operate, according to official figures. Despite sparing usage—fewer than ten trips annually in recent years—it was seen as offering “practical overnight working transport” for high-profile engagements. In March, King Charles III rebranded the train with his royal cypher, prompting hope that it might be reprieved.
Freight sector loses a unique contract
DB Cargo UK, which inherited the Royal Warrant via English, Welsh & Scottish Railway (EWS) in 1995, has operated and maintained the Royal Train since the mid-1990s. The train is maintained at a secure depot in Wolverton, with a small, dedicated team of five staff. Earlier this year, the freight operator had its Royal Warrant renewed by the King.
“This has been a long-standing relationship and a unique aspect of our business,” a DB Cargo UK source told RailFreight.com. “We take great pride in the professionalism and confidentiality that the Royal Train demands.”
Rich history of freight and royalty
The current Royal Train fleet, assembled in 1977, includes nine carriages—ranging from private sleeping quarters and dining facilities to secure communications rooms. Usually hauled by specially liveried Class 67 locomotives in royal claret, it runs primarily on the national rail network, often during overnight slots to avoid commercial disruption.
In parallel with operating the Royal Train, DB Cargo UK and other freight operators have shared multiple ceremonial moments with the monarchy. In 2023, DB Cargo unveiled a royal blue Class 66 to commemorate King Charles III’s coronation, while Queen Elizabeth II famously rode a GBRf-crewed express to mark 175 years of royal rail travel in 2017. On 9 September 2015, Her Late Majesty formally opened the Borders Railway in Scotland, with RailFreight.com UK Editor Simon Walton on board.
Scrap value or heritage future
Although the decommissioning is now official policy, heritage groups and rail enthusiasts may yet advocate for preservation. Some rolling stock could be considered for static display or ceremonial use, though no announcement has been made about the final fate of the vehicles. The train could follow in the decommissioning of the Royal Yacht Britannia, which was laid up in December 1997, and has become a huge tourist attraction at the Port of Leith, Edinburgh.
For now, Britain’s rail freight sector prepares to bid farewell to one of its most prestigious, if unconventional, contracts. As one industry figure put it: “The Royal Train is a unique part of our operating heritage—one that will never be repeated.”