The Jacobite Steam Train excursions in the Scottish Highlands are running again, after having been shut down over a longstanding safety issue.
Known worldwide for their role as the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter movies, the train runs over scenic former mainlines from Mallaig to Fort William, including a run over the Glenfinnan Viaduct.
The trains had been using early 1950s Mark I British Rail coaches, with old-style door locks that could be operated by passengers, a system banned since 2005, when staff-operated central locking systems were required. Safety officials refused this year to extend an exemption that had been granted.
Train operator West Coast Railways, which operates heritage train routes across Britain, has now bought out the fleet of former rival Riviera Trains, including 60 Mark II coaches, which have central locking.
Service was shut down for several months earlier this year, stirring widespread complaints about loss of tourism revenue in the region. The steam train carries about 100,000 passengers a year, with two daily round trips.
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