After several setbacks, when will Britain’s most expensive train service finally embark on its promise of ultra-luxury rail travel through the countryside?
UPDATE: Britannic Explorer’s latest Lake District journey was halted after just four hours. Read the full news story here.
Britain’s most expensive sleeper train, the Britannic Explorer, was set to make its inaugural journey on 21st July following two cancelled launches earlier this month. The £16,000-per-ticket luxury service was set to depart London for mid-Wales on Monday marking a new chapter in British rail travel.
The train’s initial debut was marred by maintenance issues, forcing the cancellation of its Friday, July 11th maiden voyage to Cornwall and a subsequent Lake District journey, just a day after a star-studded launch party hosted by Keira Knightley at London Euston station.
“The adjustment to the schedule was due to final refinements being made to ensure the train operates at the highest possible standard,” a Belmond spokesperson explained. Passengers affected by the cancellations were offered full refunds, including associated travel costs.
But yesterday the company announced “with a heavy heart” that it was cancelling the debut trip again, reportedly because of technical issues which could not be fixed in time. Whilst train delays and cancellations are comically common in the UK, so many false starts for the luxurious travel brand doesn’t signal confidence.
The Britannic Explorer, featuring 18 cabins including three grand suites that command up to £50,000 for a three-night stay claims to set a new pinnacle in British luxury rail travel. “It’s a reimagining of what travel in Britain can be,” says General Manager Hendrik Huebner. “We’re creating moments of wonder between iconic stops – slow, soulful, sensory travel that’s very much in tune with what luxury travellers are seeking now.”
Service includes fine dining cars overseen by Michelin-starred chef Simon Rogan and onboard spa treatments. Despite the rocky start, we suspect demand will remain strong, with Belmond reporting 70% of cabins already booked for the year.
The train’s routes will cover Cornwall, Wales, and the Lake District, with three-night journeys starting from £11,000 for a double cabin, including excursions, meals, and beverages.
The Britannic Explorer is part of Belmond‘s prestigious portfolio of luxury travel experiences, which includes the legendary Hotel Cipriani in Venice and Portofino’s clifftop Splendido. The company, acquired by LVMH in 2019 for £2.34 billion, already operates the iconic Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, where journeys from Paris start at a comparatively modest £3,885 per person.
