‘Hogwarts Express’ passengers set to wear face masks as journeys get back on track

Passengers will have to wear face masks when Scotland’s steam-hauled Jacobite Express gets back on track next month after the Covid-19 lock.

And the train – which doubled as The Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter movies – won’t stop at Glenfinnan Station from July 15.

It normally spends 20 minutes in the station during the journey between Fort William and Mallaig.

But as Glenfinnan’s cafe and museum are staying closed over the summer it has been decided to cancel the stop.

The Jacobite Express doubled as the "Hogwarts Express" in the Harry Potter film franchise.

A spokesman for West Coast Railways, who operate the service, said: “It is a pity, but we are just delighted to be getting the Jacobite back on track.

“In view of Covid-19 we have introduced a raft of special measures to ensure the safety of passengers, staff and local residents.

“We are reducing the number of seats available in the carriages so that social distancing can be maintained.

“Face masks will also be provided for those passengers who don’t have one and we are issuing electric tickets rather than paper ones.

“But we are confident that none of the safety measures will detract from a great day out on our train.”

The twice-daily 84-mile round trip through some of Scotland’s most spectacular scenery has been voted the greatest railway journey in the world.

Starting in the shadow of Ben Nevis, it crosses the spectacular Glenfinnan Viaduct, dreams through Arisaig, Britain’s most westerly station, and skirts Loch Nevis, Europe’s deepest seawater loch, before reaching Mallaig.

Three heritage steam engines and the train’s old-fashioned carriages are now being prepared at West Coast Railway’s Carnforth depot, in Lancashire.

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