The British Royal Train Will Be Retired in 2027

"This long-serving, bespoke set of royal carriages — with roots in privately commissioned vehicles dating back to 1842 and the current formation built in the 1970s — will be taken out of service in March 2027. Officials cite the high costs of storage, maintenance and the tailor-made refurbishment it would require (likely tens of millions) and its very low recent usage — just two journeys in the past year compared with dozens of private charter flights and more than a hundred helicopter trips — as the reasons for the decision. Senior royals will instead rely on two new helicopters and scheduled rail services, and the train will undertake a final farewell tour so the public can see it one last time; historically significant cars may later be preserved in museums. The move has prompted surprise from some given the monarch’s environmental stance, but follows a broader European trend of phasing out royal carriage trains, with only a couple of monarchies retaining theirs and using them rarely." - Katie Nadworny Katie Nadworny Katie Nadworny is an Istanbul-based writer who specializes in stories at the intersection of culture and politics in Turkey, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. She has lived in Turkey for nearly a decade and has traveled extensively around the region. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines