Flying Scotsman at risk as new door rules come into force next month
The Flying Scotsman could be at risk of being forced off mainline rail lines because of new rules. New regulations from the rail watchdog state that all trains on the main line should have central locking to improve safety.
But heritage trains like the Flying Scotsman have their doors opened and locked individually with a traditional bolt key. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has called for companies to modernise the carriages with a central door locking system, reports the Mail[1].
The ORR argued that centrally-controlled locking systems prevent passengers from opening doors when the platform is too short, according to The Daily Telegraph.
An exemption from regulations banning carriages without central locking expires next month. West Coast Railways is hoping to have the rules reviewed.
An ORR spokesman said: "A regulation prohibiting relevant organisations from operating rolling stock with hinged doors for use by fare-paying passengers, without the means of centrally locking them in a closed position, came into force on 1 January 2005.
"ORR has granted relevant organisations exemptions from this regulation on a case-by-case basis in accordance with powers afforded to it.
"ORR determined that it would not issue West Coast Railway Company Limited (WCRC) with an exemption from this regulation in decisions issued on 31 January 2023 and 16 March 2023.
"WCRC has informed ORR that it proposes to challenge these decisions. ORR intends to defend this claim."
The Flying Scotsman was built in 1923 for the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER). It is considered an icon of British engineering and railway history.
The locomotive, with the official designation LNER Class A3 4472, gained its name from the train service it hauled between London and Edinburgh, known as the "Flying Scotsman." The Flying Scotsman was renowned for being the first steam locomotive in the UK to achieve a recorded speed of 100 miles per hour (160.9 kilometers per hour) in 1934.
The Flying Scotsman has undergone various changes and modifications throughout its history, including being converted to a different class (Class A1) in the 1940s and receiving a different numbering system (60103). It was also painted in different liveries over the years.
The locomotive was retired from regular service in 1963 and was subsequently purchased by private owners. It has since been preserved and has had a colorful history, including touring various countries and undergoing extensive restorations. The Flying Scotsman has become a symbol of Britain's railway heritage and remains a popular attraction for steam train enthusiasts around the world.