King Charles has praised the “remarkable efforts” of the British Transport Police (BTP) as he officially opened the force’s new headquarters in central London.
During the visit, The King met officers from across the force, including firearms officers, dog handlers, drone specialists and teams working to tackle violence against women and girls.
Charles also spent time with officers who responded to the fatal train collision near Bedford on 19 June, including PC Dave Sheldrick, the first British Transport Police officer to arrive at the scene, and family liaison officers who supported those affected.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, The King thanked officers for their dedication to keeping Britain’s railways safe.
He said: “I’m very, very pleased to be able to do this and, if I may say so, congratulate the whole of the British Transport Police for remarkable efforts all the time all over this country.
“And I know from travelling for all these years what a difference they make.”
The new headquarters will serve the national specialist police force, which is responsible for policing more than 10,000 miles of railway track and over 3,000 stations and depots across England, Wales and Scotland, as well as the London Underground, Docklands Light Railway and several tram networks.
Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi thanked The King for his longstanding support of the force and highlighted his interest in the challenges facing modern policing.
She said: “We know of your interest in our work and the challenges facing modern policing.
“We are particularly grateful for your understanding of the efforts we make every day to tackle violence against women and girls, keep passengers and railway staff safe, and keep the railway moving.”
She also reflected on the historic ties between the Royal Family, Britain’s railways and the British Transport Police, noting that the relationship stretches back more than 180 years to Queen Victoria’s first railway journey in 1842.
The King’s visit came just weeks after the fatal train collision at Elstow, near Bedford, in which train driver Shaun Burton died after two East Midlands Railway services collided. An interim investigation found that the train he was driving passed a red signal moments before the crash, which left 162 people injured, with 102 requiring hospital treatment.
