The Palatine was the name given to an express passenger train, introduced by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway

London, Midland and Scottish Railway

The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...

 in 1938: the 10.00 from Manchester Central

Manchester Central railway station

Manchester Central railway station is a former railway station in Manchester City Centre, England. One of Manchester's main railway terminals between 1880 and 1969, it now houses an exhibition and conference centre named Manchester Central.-History:...

 to London St Pancras

St Pancras railway station

St Pancras railway station, also known as London St Pancras and since 2007 as St Pancras International, is a central London railway terminus celebrated for its Victorian architecture. The Grade I listed building stands on Euston Road in St Pancras, London Borough of Camden, between the...

 and the return working, the 16.30 from St Pancras to Manchester Central.

A matching service, the 10.30 from St Pancras to Manchester Central , and the 16.25 from Manchester Central to St Pancras, introduced in the same year, was named the Peaks Express.

Both services were suspended at the outbreak of World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

. However British Railways resurrected the Palatine name postwar for the 07.55 from St Pancras and the 14.25 from Manchester. This train made the trip in 3 hours 55 minutes, with stops at Chinley, Millers Dale, Matlock, Derby and Leicester. The name was withdrawn in 1964.

The direct line to Derby via Millers Dale was closed in 1968. Today there are no direct passenger services between Manchester and St Pancras.