Coaches

Pearl, Dinah, Buffy, Ashley

Carrie, Dinah, Pearl, Belle Bar Car

Tassita, Belle Sleeper, Dinah, Pearl, Rusty

The Coaches are the hardworking, customer-oriented heart of the passenger train. They serve as the foil to the freight train, as race partners to the national engines, and as love interests for Rusty, Greaseball and Electra.

Most productions of Starlight Express have 4 coaches. The characters themselves have changed with different productions.

Every production of Starlight Express uses:

• Pearl the Observation/First Class Coach
• Dinah the Dining Car

In classic productions, Pearl and Dinah were joined by:

• Buffy the Buffet Car
• Ashley the Smoking Car

As well as the central four Passenger train coaches, the 1984 show also included:

• Belle the Sleeping Car, Poppa's Coach
• The 2nd and 3rd class Sleepers, extra ensemble

Belle the Sleeping Car and the sleepers were removed from the show relatively early on.

Over time, the following characters have made an appearance:

• Duvay the Sleeping Car replaced Ashley for the 2012 UK tour
• Belle the Bar Car replaced Ashley in Bochum in 2018
• Carrie the Luggage Van replaced Buffy in Bochum in 2018
• Tassita introduced in the 2017 London workshop, later brought back for Wembley 2024
• Belle another Sleeping Car introduced in 2017 London workshop, brought back for Wembley 2024, is unrelated to her predecessor of the same name