Steam trains have been given the green light to return to the UK’s mainline railways just in time for one of the busiest weekends of the year, after recent heavy rainfall reduced the risk of trackside fires.
Network Rail has lifted a fire-related steam ban on key tourist routes in North West England, including the Settle & Carlisle and Cumbrian Coast lines. Meanwhile, West Coast Railways – the country’s largest operator of steam and heritage diesel trains – confirmed that its famed Jacobite service in Scotland will also switch back to steam traction from diesel.
The reprieve comes after weeks of restrictions prompted by exceptionally dry conditions, with an expert from Network Rail’s special trains team describing “brown corridors” of tinder-dry vegetation that posed a serious ignition risk from sparks and embers ejected by steam engines.
“The entire country has been at high alert,” the expert said, “but with the weather turning and rain arriving Friday night and over the weekend, the risk is reducing and steam can once again run on our metals.”
Following the driest start to spring since 1956, Network Rail was forced to impose a 10-day blanket ban in parts of the country due to concerns about wildfires, with earlier months seeing barely a quarter of normal rainfall levels. Trackside fires had already broken out in areas including Cumbria, Dorset and Derbyshire, exacerbating fears about allowing heritage locomotives to operate on exposed rural lines.
The easing of restrictions was based on high-resolution weather forecasting from MetDesk, which provides Network Rail with detailed data on fire risk, leaf fall and ice for every 500 yards of track. North West England was downgraded from “black” (no steam permitted) to “red” alert on Saturday, allowing steam locomotives to operate with limited power, supported by a diesel engine at the rear. On Sunday, the alert level was reduced further to “amber,” requiring only additional caution.
James Shuttleworth, commercial manager at West Coast Railways, said the decision was crucial for the charter industry ahead of peak summer season. “The rainfall means we can finally run the Jacobite as it was meant to be – under steam,” he said. “Passenger demand is always strongest during the holidays, so this timing is vital.”
With most steam locomotives based at Carnforth in Lancashire, the ban had caused a logistical headache for West Coast. One engine caught mid-service when the restriction came into force had to be left stranded in York. “It’s not just about running the services,” Shuttleworth said. “You’ve got to think about fire access and containment too. Especially in upland areas, a lineside fire can spread to forest or peat, and that’s incredibly difficult to extinguish.”
West Coast’s Jacobite, which runs between Fort William and Mallaig and is known to fans of the Harry Potter films as the “Hogwarts Express”, is one of the most popular steam rail journeys in the UK. Steam traction is now expected to resume for that route immediately.
Despite the return of steam, operators remain cautious. “We’ll continue to assess each journey carefully,” said Shuttleworth. “You’ve got to be responsible – a small spark in the wrong place can still cause trouble.”
Passengers travelling on steam-hauled services are advised that operations may still be subject to last-minute changes depending on weather conditions and fire risk. Most heritage rail operators make clear that refunds are not available if diesel replaces steam due to safety concerns.
The lifting of the ban came too late for Saturday’s run of the luxury Northern Belle train over the Settle & Carlisle route, which was hauled by diesel instead. However, the outlook for the rest of the bank holiday and into June is much more optimistic for steam enthusiasts.
