Scotland’s Railway marks Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

Scotland’s Railway is marking the Queen’s 70-year reign in its own unique way at Glasgow Central and the Forth Rail Bridge this week.

With Jubilee events taking place across Britain over the extended Bank Holiday weekend, celebrations started with Network Rail construction manager, Ian Simms playing the bagpipes from the cathedral of Scotland’s Railway – the Forth Rail Bridge.

A rendition of Highland Cathedral from the top of the iconic structure marked the date and time the official coronation ceremony began at Westminster Abbey – 2 June 1953 at 11.15am.

Glasgow Central is hosting a tea-party on the station concourse this Friday, 3 June.

Guests include those from the armed forces charity SSAFA (the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association), which provides lifelong support to serving men and women and veterans from the British Armed Forces and their families. 

Veterans will be piped into to the station, before enjoying afternoon tea served by the Grand Central Hotel, with background music from the Coronation era providing a sense of place and time.

The Queen’s reign has seen a huge transformation in the railway industry, from steam trains transporting passengers in the 1950s, to diesel trains from the 1960s and now the work to electrify Scotland’s Railway.

Over the last 70 years, the railway has also welcomed Her Majesty and the Royal Train, as well as members of the Royal family at Central and Waverley stations.  

Queen officially opened Borders Railway in September 2015 and more recently, senior Royals visiting during COP-26, when the world came to Glasgow to tackle the climate change emergency.

Alex Hynes, managing director, Scotland’s Railway, said “On behalf of Scotland’s Railway, I’d like to offer my warmest congratulations to her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, on her Platinum Jubilee – a really remarkable 70-years of service to people across the country.

“Her majesty’s unwavering commitment to service and duty is exemplary – and similar core values exist at the heart of the railway family as we serve our passengers and freight customers.”

Download article