The Hogwarts Express Announcement Was Cancelled This Year, But Harry Potter Fans Showed Up Anyway And Were Not Happy Muggles

Every year, a large group of Harry Potter fans typically make a pilgrimage to King’s Cross. The real life busy London train station is the fictional home of the Hogwarts Express, the magical transport wizarding students take to school that departs from Platform 9 3/4s. In the books and movies, the train leaves at 11 AM sharp on the first day of September each year; so, it’s become a tradition for muggles, often dressed as their favorite characters, to visit the station at the appointed time.

King’s Cross has at least partially embraced its place in Harry Potter lore over the years by adding a Platform 9 3/4s sign and a shop where fans can buy wizarding merchandise. In the past, they’ve also played along with the Back To Hogwarts attendees by putting the train to Hogsmeade, the town Hogwarts is located in, on the list of departures at 11 AM. This year, however, the decision was made to cancel the festivities. Network Rail, which runs King’s Cross, told Newsweek the number of fans showing up in recent years made it “challenging” and their priority was to serve the actual passengers.