King & Queen to Durham (17/04): should such journeys be made by train?

[AndrewE]

I'm sure that HM KC III will use The Train whenever it makes sense to do so. He has always been very environmentally aware, in many places the train is much easier to make secure for an overnight stop than any city-centre hotel and it's often a good (maybe the most) reliable and secure way to arrive a.m. in a city centre without stitching up the traffic for the locals.

 

[Mikey C]

I have visions of King Charles getting off an LNER Azuma at Durham...

"These seats are really quite...appalling."

 

[Helvellyn]

Their Majesties were in Italy last week for a State Visit, which coincided with their twentieth wedding anniversary. I believe they then went to Balmoral to rest (The King is still undergoing cancer treatment) so I suspect they flew down from Scotland and were then heading elsewhere (Sandringham?) for Easter, so using the train probably didn't make sense.

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

The Royal Train gets absolute priority over everything else so the usual pathing concerns for operation of loco hauled charters don’t apply, they’ll hold up the regular passenger services for it if they have to.

Note that my use of the word "priority" was in reference to the decision making process around spending the royal travel budget and not in any operational sense, hence my mention of operating costs. Sorry if that was not clear.

 

[Meerkat]

I'm sure that HM KC III will use The Train whenever it makes sense to do so. He has always been very environmentally aware, in many places the train is much easier to make secure for an overnight stop than any city-centre hotel and it's often a good (maybe the most) reliable and secure way to arrive a.m. in a city centre without stitching up the traffic for the locals.

How green is the Royal Train with all that empty mileage and presumably a loco or generator chugging away all night? Also might involve more road travel (by multiple vehicles) from the staion than dropping in to the venue by helicopter.

 

[Angusbswheeler]

Convenient, and can be secured by police.

As one petty thief found out to his surprise back in 2002 https://ground.news/article/drama-w...s-secretly-parked-for-the-night-at-darlington

 

[popeter45]

I have visions of King Charles getting off an LNER Azuma at Durham...

"These seats are really quite...appalling."

if/when Newton Aycliffe ever runs out of orders, the idea of a one off Royal IET (maybe a Goverment one or two as well) would be fun to see
would at least be better enviromentally being bi-mode

 

[Meerkat]

if/when Newton Aycliffe ever runs out of orders, the idea of a one off Royal IET (maybe a Goverment one or two as well) would be fun to see
would at least be better enviromentally being bi-mode

Or just stick a bi-mode loco on the front…

 

[Technologist]

How green is the Royal Train with all that empty mileage and presumably a loco or generator chugging away all night? Also might involve more road travel (by multiple vehicles) from the station than dropping in to the venue by helicopter.

Given that the train is pulled by two 3500bhp locomotives and the royal helicopter is powered by two 900bhp engines and it's journey time is 4-5 times faster I'd suggest that the helicopter is probably the more environmentally friendly option!

Personally I think we've lost the plot on having a go at politicians using helicopters and aircraft, they are the senior representatives of the UK acting in an official capacity, they should turn up in something impressive.

 

[Meerkat]

Given that the train is pulled by two 3500bhp locomotives and the royal helicopter is powered by two 900bhp engines and it's journey time is 4-5 times faster I'd suggest that the helicopter is probably the more environmentally friendly option!

Personally I think we've lost the plot on having a go at politicians using helicopters and aircraft, they are the senior representatives of the UK acting in an official capacity, they should turn up in something impressive.

Though I wonder about the helicopter only taking 6 (?) people - presumably flunkies and security have to drive up to the convoy in the right place.

Agree about senior politicians - I want them on a secure flight where they can make secure calls (and turn round mid-air if necessary) and to travel quickly so they have more time to do their job!

 

[Dr Hoo]

Though I wonder about the helicopter only taking 6 (?) people - presumably flunkies and security have to drive up to the convoy in the right place.

Agree about senior politicians - I want them on a secure flight where they can make secure calls (and turn round mid-air if necessary) and to travel quickly so they have more time to do their job!

Quite.

I think that the first senior UK politician to make regular use of domestic air travel was Harold Wilson from 1964. Fixed wing flight from Northolt to Culdrose. Helicopter Culdrose to the Isles of Scilly for the Wilson’s’ second home. Apparently the helicopter made Mary Wilson’s dog airsick.