by For the second time in a month, the luxury train operator Belmond has drawn the opening run of the latest addition to its fleet, the Britannic Explorer.
The new train, which costs between £ 11,000 per double cabin for a three -day journey, had the trip to Wales over the western England and the Cotswolds, which is carried out by London Victoria today at 3:45 p.m.
But late last night, passengers were announced that the company had decided to cancel the trip “with a heavy heart”.
Contributions and severe delays? In Great Britain? Yes, even for this best operated operator company a journey that should Ironically present “the best” of modern England and whale.
The most recent cancellation followed tests on the weekend, which showed technical problems related to the door mechanism.
“Despite the committed efforts of our engineering team, the problem could not be solved in time, and as a result we had to make the difficult decision to cancel the trip today,” said Belmonds Sabrina Panizza.
There was a feeling of déjà vu about the announcement, the two weeks after the first planned start of the train-one three-day trip to Cornwall, which was to be canceled on July 4th.
The company had hoped that the problems would have been smoothed in good time for the deviation from Wales, but in the end the connector had only been pulled a few hours before the end.
“This decision did not become lightly,” says an e -mail to the passengers late Sunday evening. “We deeply regret that inconvenience was caused.”
With the passengers that come from a number of countries in Europe, Asia and North America in addition to Great Britain, the costs for compensation are likely to be high.
Ms. Panizza said that all affected guests had been issued with a complete refund. In addition, you were offered a free trip on board the Britannic Explorer later this year or in 2026.
“We are [also] Covering of the associated expenses that arose due to the cancellation – including the arrangement of immediate alternative accommodation, ”she said.
Although a new start date was not set immediately, Ms. Panizza said: “The train will officially be fully functional this summer, whereby the exact date will be confirmed in more detail.”
In the past 40 years, Belmond has acquired a well-deserved reputation for the provision of train trips at the luxurious end of the spectrum, especially with its flagship Venice Simpleon-Orient-Express (VSOE).
This reputation was set at the Telegraph Travel Awards in 2025 when the company, which belongs to the French luxury LVMH, was appointed as the best Rail Holiday Company.
In addition to the VSOE, Belmond operates the Eastern & Oriental Express in Malaysia, the Hiram Bingham and the Andean Explorer in Peru and the Royal Scotsman in Scotland.
What the Britannic Explorer will offer (if he finally leaves the station)
The company fed the growth of demand for slower, more mindful, but also extremely luxurious train trips and decided this year with a new train-from Britannic Explorer to, which would offer this type of top end experience on routes in England and Wales for the first time.
Three routes were aimed at celebrating some of the most scenic regions of the countries: Pembrokeshire and Snowdonia National Park (Eryri) in Wales; The Cornish Riviera; and the Lake District (including the glorious route between Settle and Carlisle).
The train itself is a brand new descent, a completely revised version of the Grand Hibernian train, which is operated by Belmond in Ireland between 2016 and 2021.
Instead of reproducing the classic appearance of the VSOE in the Hercule Poirot style, the new train, which largely creates the Albion Nord-Designer in London in London, combines a modern feeling with vintage elements that are based on the natural world and the creative forces (and materials) of the areas.
The aim was to create a feeling of “contemporary nostalgia” in expansive suites and large suites (all with their own bathroom) and dining rooms that are inspired by the herbs and flowers used in British cuisine. The meals themselves were mastered by Michelin, British chef Simon Rogan recognized by Michelin on his culinary ethos of a farm-to-fork and reflected local specialties and craft providers on the way.
The social center of the train is the observation car, a spacious, stylish room with armchairs, banquets and a bar with amber glass panes that are inspired by the “timeless charm of the Victorian pharmacy”.
Off-train, the trips were designed so that you have visits to galleries, robust hikes and wild swimmers, yoga meetings by the sea and a number of gastronomic experiences in connection with the opportunity to learn how to draw a beer in a Cotswolds pub.
“We offer some unique experiences, things that people themselves can not only drive to these places,” said Gary Franklin, Senior Vice President of Belmond, Trains & Cruises. “We show modern England with incredible craftsmen, artists and products.”
A modern England with severe train delays …
