Harry Potter train operator loses High Court door safety challenge
The operator of a train service that featured in the Harry Potter films has lost a High Court challenge against a rail regulator over door safety.
West Coast Railways (WCR) challenged demands for central locking systems to be fitted to the carriage doors.
The owners of the Jacobite - which appeared as the Hogwarts Express in the boy wizard films - said implementing the new measures could cost £7m.
It operates on the iconic West Highland Line from Fort William to Mallaig.
WCR took legal action against the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) after it refused to exempt the company from rules banning the use of hinged doors without central locking.
The company relies on safety exemptions that allow for the continued use of heritage rolling stock
A judge dismissed the operator's case and concluded that the ORR had taken a "justifiable" approach.
The judge said a feature of WCR's Mark I trains was their hinged doors that "can be opened by anyone inside the train even when the train is moving".
Instead of a central locking system, the carriages have a "secondary" mechanism where doors are pulled shut into a locked position and a bolt is used on the inside of a coach.
The ORR, the safety regulator on Britain's railways, told the judge that "it does not wish to see heritage train operators go out of business" but from March this year wanted to ensure heritage trains "meet minimum safety standards" by introducing central locking.
Heritage appeal
The legal challenge centred on an ORR exemption refusal in January and March.
Welcoming the ruling, an ORR spokesperson said: "As the rail regulator, we are committed to ensuring the safety of all passengers.
"Other charter heritage operators which use the mainline railway have made the necessary investment to install central door locking on 'hinged door' carriages and it remains open to the West Coast Railway Company Limited to do the same.
"Such converted carriages can both retain their heritage appeal yet also reflect minimum modern safety standards."
West Coast Railway Company Ltd has been contacted for comment.