RAIL PASSENGERS RECEIVED A SURPRISE RECENTLY WHEN QUEEN ELIZABETH II BOARDED AN ORDINARY TRAIN SERVICE ALONGSIDE COMMUTERS AS SHE TRAVELED TO NORFOLK FOR HER CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY BREAK. THE QUEEN SHUNNED TAKING THE ROYAL TRAIN AND INSTEAD OPTED FOR A FIRST CLASS SEAT ON THE 10.45am FIRST CAPITAL CONNECT SERVICE FROM LONDON'S KING'S CROSS TO KING'S LYNN ON THURSDAY. SHE WAS MAKING THE JOURNEY TO REACH HER PRIVATE SANDRINGHAM ESTATE, WHERE SHE IS DUE TO SPEND THE FESTIVE HOLIDAYS WITH THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY. THE QUEEN ARRIVED WITH LITTLE FUSS 10 MINUTES BEFORE THE SCHEDULED TRAIN DEPARTED AND WALKED DOWN THE PLATFORM TO REACH HER CARRIAGE. BEFORE BOARDING THE TRAIN SHE WAS PRESENTED WITH A POSY TO WELCOME HER TO THE SERVICE. SHE THEN TOOK A WINDOW SEAT IN A FIRST CLASS COMPARTMENT, ACCOMPANIED BY A ROYAL PROTECTION OFFICER, BEFORE THE TRAIN PULLED OUT OF THE STATION ON TIME. THE ROYAL TRAIN IS AVAILABLE TO THE QUEEN BUT SHE HAS USED SCHEDULED SERVICES OVER THE YEARS. LAST MONTH SHE BOARDED AN EVERYDAY TRAIN TO TRAVEL TO ELY CATHEDRAL IN CAMBRIDGESHIRE AND IN 2007 TOOK ANOTHER REGULAR SERVICE TO MILTON KEYNES FOR AN ENGAGEMENT. FOR HER JOURNEY ON THURSDAY, THE QUEEN WAS DRESSES CONSERVATIVELY IN A COLOURED HEADSCARF AND A LARGE WINTER COAT. SHE SAT IN THE LAST CARRIAGE FACING THE ENGINE FOR THE 95 MINUTE JOURNEY WHICH COSTS £44.40 FOR A FIRST CLASS TICKET AND £27.70 FOR A STANDARD SEAT. THE DUKE IS ALREADY AT SANDRINGHAM HOUSE WHICH HAS BEEN THE PRIVATE HOME OF THE BRITISH MONARCH SINCE 1862. THE QUEEN AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY REGULARLY SPEND CHRISTMAS AT THE LARGE HOME AND MAKE IT THEIR OFFICIAL BASE UNTIL FEBRUARY EACH YEAR.
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