JAKARTA - King of England Charles III decided to stop work rail services, services that had existed since the days of Queen Victoria, because they were no longer cost-effective.
The United Kingdom will have to cover an additional 46 million pounds (63 million US dollars) for the next two years before the service officially stops operating.
Queen Victoria, the great grandmother of King Charles, inaugurated the construction of the first royal carriage in 1869. The latest train consists of nine carriages, with the last carriage added in 1986.
However, this train has only been used twice during the last fiscal year, with a total cost of two trips of almost 80,000 pounds.
James Chalmers, the king's treasurer, said the king had now agreed the train, which critics have long considered a waste of money, will reach the end of the line by 2027.
"The royal train has been a part of national life for decades, loved and cared for by all parties involved, but in moving forward, we must not be bound by the past," said Chalmers, officially known as Keeper of the Privy Purpose, told reporters as reported by Reuters July 12.
"The time has come to say goodbye to the most memorable, as we strive for discipline and insight in the future in the allocation of our funds," he continued.
Although the king has fond memories of the train, palace officials say the train will need significant funding to finance its long-term use, although it is not yet clear how much it costs to save from its demolition.
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The announcement comes as Chalmers launched the Sovereign Grant annual report late last month, government assistance that includes personnel costs, royal palace maintenance and travel costs, which are currently set at 12 percent of Crown Estate's profits, a royal property portfolio.
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