A luxury train journey vowing to ‘showcase the very best of modern England and Wales’ has hit a major snag following a last-minute cancellation, despite passengers forking out thousands on a ticket
The country’s most luxurious new train which idles past rolling countryside and golden beaches has hit a major snag – for the second time this month. There’s no denying the UK’s railways are in dire need of significant reform. Riddled with hefty delays and last-minute cancellations – most Brits have endured the commute from hell thanks to unreliable trains and overcrowded carriages.
When you’re forking out a staggering £11,000 for a double cabin, you would expect a much better, more efficient, service. However, the acclaimed Belmond has axed its inaugural run of its newest fleet, the Britannic Explorer, once again.
READ MORE: Beautiful 31-mile train journey past both mountains and beaches named UK’s best
Featuring an onboard spa, a world-class menu curated by a Michelin-star chef, and sleek rooms that look like they belong in a five-star hotel – the Britannic Explorer is the epitome of elegance. Earlier this year, the sleeper train unveiled it will be taking passengers on an incredible three-night journey to Wales via the west of England and the iconic Cotswolds.
Not only do guests get to marvel at stunning stretches of coastline, lush mountain ranges and unspoilt countryside – they can also partake in excursions such as hikes in the Welsh national parks, clay pigeon shooting and a trip to a luxury boozer.
The unique experience, does however come with an insane price tag – with a double cabin costing £11,000.
“Highlights on the Wales route include a picnic-style lunch featuring delights like rarebit and leek tart,” the company said. “Each dining experience onboard will reflect the landscape outside the train’s windows, using the freshest local ingredients to create an immersive culinary journey that celebrates the diverse flavours and stories of England and Wales.”
The boujee train was due to depart from London Victoria at 3.45pm on Monday, July 21 – but passengers were informed the night before that the journey had been suddenly cancelled. This follows a similar decision to cancel a three-night trip to Cornwall earlier this month (July 4).
Speaking to the Mirror, a Belmond spokesperson said the ‘difficult decision’ to postpone the inaugural journey of the Britannic Explorer was not ‘taken lightly’. “During the routine pre-trip protocol checks over the weekend, we encountered unforeseen technical issues related to the door mechanism,” they said.
“Despite the dedicated efforts of our engineering team, the issue could not be resolved in time, and as a result, we had to make the difficult decision to cancel the trip. As always, guest welfare and reliability of our train operations remain paramount.”
Belmond confirmed that that every affected guest was offered a full refund, along with a complimentary future journey aboard the Britannic Explorer in 2025 or 2026. “In addition, we are covering any related expenses incurred as a result of the cancellation,” the spokesperson added. “Our team worked closely with each guest to arrange immediate alternative accommodation where needed.”
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