The
Hogwarts Express is the train, a scarlet steam locomotive, that takes students to
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in
J. K. Rowling's
Harry Potter series. It leaves from
Platform 9 and 3/4 in
King's Cross Station,
London, at the beginning of every school year and after holidays and arrives at
Hogsmeade Station near
Hogwarts, where first-years are met by gamekeeper
Hagrid.
On the
Hogwarts Express, there are several passenger compartments for all the students. There is also a witch with a food cart who comes around selling such culinary delights as
chocolate frogs and
pumpkin juice for hungry students.
The
Hogwarts Express is where
Harry made his first friends on his way to
Hogwarts for the first time:
Ron Weasley,
Hermione Granger, and
Neville Longbottom, among others. It's also where he first stood up against the sniveling twit
Draco Malfoy. The
Hogwarts Express has been the scene of other important happenings in the students' lives, such as
Harry's first encounter with a
Dementor and some of
Ron's heated exchanges with
Malfoy and his crew.