The
Jacobite


heritage
steam
service
in
the
western
Highlands
of
Scotland
has
been
suspended
until
further
notice.

Its
operator,
West
Coast
Railways,
has
been
ordered
to
take
coaches
not
equipped
with
full
central
locking
out
of
service
by
the
Office
of
Rail
and
Road.

The
use
of
coaches
with
hinged
doors
had
been
covered
by
an
exemption,
but
that
has
now
been
withdrawn,
although
WCR
has
asked
for
it
to
continue.

WCR
commercial
manager
James
Shuttleworth
said:
‘We
are
disappointed
to
have
to
suspend
this
service
and
we
are
sorry
for
the
inconvenience
caused
to
our
customers
who
have
booked
trips.
We
again
appeal
to
the
ORR
to
reconsider
our
request
for
a
temporary
exemption.

‘The
Jacobite
service
is
enjoyed
by
thousands
of
customers
every
year.
It
boosts
the
local
economies
of
Mallaig
and
Fort
William
and
brings
an
estimated
£20
million
into
the
UK’s
tourism
sector.
If
the
ORR
does
not
grant
us
a
further
exemption,
we
believe
this
could
lead
to
up
to
£50
million
in
lost
value
to
both
local
and
national
communities.

‘We
remain
committed
to
working
with
the
ORR
to
find
a
long-term
solution
which
safeguards
the
future
of
heritage
services
on
the
main
line.’

WCR
added
that
passengers
with
bookings
for
the
Jacobite
will
be
offered
a
full
refund.