Anger as Harry Potter fans cram onto Westerton train platform to see Hogwarts Express

Fans turned up in their droves to see the luxury steam train, made famous as the Hogwarts Express in the blockbuster movie series, pass through on Monday night.

But there was anger when photos were posted on 
social media showing no 
social distancing on either of the platforms.

A number of people vented their disgust on a local community Facebook site.

One local resident posted: “Really pleased hundreds of people decide to run down to the station to see the train.

“Not like there’s a global pandemic happening right now with lockdown restrictions in place.”

Another posted: “I live on Maxwell and it was gridlocked village end, with cars all beeping and loads of people on foot.

“We decided not to go to the station with our daughter because of this and instead enjoyed the view from the safety of the football pitches instead! Seeing the pictures at the station I think we made the right decision.”

Scotrail also hit out, tweeting: “People shouldn’t have been gathering on platforms so close together.”

Current coronavirus guidelines state that people should be wearing masks while in stations and on 
public transport.

The public are also required to social distance while outside, staying two metres apart from those in a different household.

Scotrail also posted a warning before its journey that said: “If you’re at a station between Helensburgh and Westerton, stand well back from the platform edge. Don’t risk your life to get a photo of the Jacobite, it’ll be back next year.”

The Jacobite is an independently operated luxury steam train that operates tours of Scotland and often draws large crowds. It passed through a number of Scots stations, including Westerton, on its way back to its depot down south on Monday

The train starred in several of the fantasy films, with sequences filmed at the 
Glenfinnan Viaduct at the head of Loch Shiel.