Danny Boyle and Cillian Murphy are back. It took over two decades, but the team that basically redefined the modern zombie genre—though they’ll fight you on whether "Infected" count as zombies—is finally returning to the wasteland. While everyone is buzzing about the return of Jim or the fact that they shot this thing on modified iPhone 15 Pro Max rigs, there is one specific sequence that has dominated the rumor mill and leaked production photos. People can't stop talking about the 28 Years Later train scene.
It makes sense. There is something fundamentally claustrophobic about a train. You’re in a metal tube. You’re moving at high speeds. There is nowhere to run if the doors don't open. If you look back at the original 28 Days Later, the horror was found in the wide-open, desolate spaces of a silent London. Now, it seems Boyle is flipping the script by shoving the tension into a cramped, high-speed environment.
What we actually know about the 28 Years Later train scene
The production for 28 Years Later has been sprawling across the North of England, specifically around Northumberland and the Holy Island. But the sequence involving the train isn't just a quick transition shot. Based on local sightings and production reports from the set near the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, this is a major set piece. This isn't a sleek, modern commuter rail. It looks rugged. It looks like survival.
Honestly, the choice of location is brilliant. Using a vintage or heritage railway line adds this sense of a regressed society. 28 years is a long time. In the world of the Rage Virus, the power grid is long gone. High-tech infrastructure is a memory. If humanity is moving around at all, they’re doing it with mechanical grit.
The 28 Years Later train scene reportedly involves a massive amount of practical effects. We’ve seen shots of actors—including Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Jodie Comer—interacting with a train that looks like it has been through a literal war. There are blood-spattered windows. There are barricades. It’s not just a ride; it’s a mobile fortress. Or a trap.
The logistics of filming on a moving track
Filming on a train is a nightmare for a director. You have limited angles. Lighting changes every time you pass a tree or a hill. But Danny Boyle loves a challenge. By using the iPhone 15 Pro Max as the primary camera system, the crew was able to rig lenses in spots where a traditional Arri Alexa or Panavision rig simply wouldn't fit.
Imagine a Rage-infected runner sprinting down a narrow aisle. With a bulky camera, you’re stuck with a static shot or a very clunky dolly move. With a smartphone-sized sensor strapped to a cage, the camera can literally mimic the frantic, jerky movements of the Infected. It’s going to feel intimate. It’s going to feel way too close for comfort.
Why the setting matters for the story
Trains represent connection. In a post-apocalyptic setting, a functioning train line suggests that some level of civilization has been restored. Or, at the very least, a very powerful group has seized control of the tracks.
If Jim (Cillian Murphy) is still out there, seeing a train must be a shock. In the first film, his journey was solitary. He walked through a graveyard of cars. The 28 Years Later train scene suggests a shift in the scale of the world. We aren't just looking at survivors anymore; we’re looking at a world that has tried to rebuild and is likely failing.
There's a specific tension in the idea of the "Infected" getting onto a train. It's the Train to Busan effect, but with the raw, grainy, British aesthetic that made the original 2002 film so iconic. If one person turns in a locked carriage, the whole ecosystem of that train collapses in seconds. The Rage Virus doesn't wait. It doesn't have an incubation period that allows for a dramatic goodbye. It’s immediate.
Breaking down the leaked footage and photos
If you’ve been scouring the forums, you’ve probably seen the grainy shots of stunt performers hanging off the side of carriages. This suggests an external element to the 28 Years Later train scene. It’s not just about what’s happening inside the cars.
- The Roof: Expect a sequence on top of the train. It's a classic trope, but Boyle usually finds a way to make it feel visceral rather than "action-movie" glossy.
- The Tracks: Reports indicate scenes of the train being halted or ambushed. In Northumberland, the rugged terrain provides the perfect backdrop for a breakdown.
- The Speed: This isn't a high-speed bullet train. It’s a chugging, heavy beast. The sound design alone—the screeching metal, the rhythmic thumping—will likely be used to mask the screams of the Infected until it’s too late.
The "iPhone" Factor in the 28 Years Later train scene
A lot of people are skeptical about the movie being shot on phones. I get it. We’re used to $100 million movies looking "expensive." But remember, the original 28 Days Later was shot on the Canon XL-1. That was a standard-definition digital video camera that even at the time was considered "low quality."
Boyle used that grit to his advantage. It looked like a documentary of the end of the world.
By shooting the 28 Years Later train scene on smaller devices, they can achieve a level of "shaky cam" that actually feels earned. They can tuck cameras into the luggage racks. they can tape them to the floor. The result should be a sequence that feels like found footage but with the color grading and professional eye of Anthony Dod Mantle, the cinematographer who won an Oscar for Slumdog Millionaire.
👉 See also: Calm Down and Lose You To Love Me: What People Get Wrong About Selena Gomez Most Popular Song
The smaller cameras also allow for more "runs." In a train sequence, you often have to reset the whole train's position on the track, which takes hours. If you can run ten cameras simultaneously because they’re small and cheap (relatively speaking), you get the shot faster and from more terrifying angles.
Comparing this to the original trilogy plans
For years, we heard about 28 Months Later. It never happened. Alex Garland (the writer) and Danny Boyle just couldn't find the right spark. Apparently, the spark was this idea of a new trilogy.
The 28 Years Later train scene is reportedly part of the first installment of a planned three-film arc. This suggests that the train might be a recurring element or a symbol of the "new world" that the sequels will explore. Rumor has it that Nia DaCosta is directing the second part, which was filmed almost back-to-back with Boyle’s. Does the train lead to a safe zone? Or is it a transport for the Infected?
Addressing the "Zombies on a Train" Cliché
Some fans are worried that a 28 Years Later train scene feels a bit too much like Train to Busan or Snowpiercer. It’s a valid concern. We’ve seen "monsters on a vehicle" plenty of times.
However, the "Rage" infected are different. They aren't dead. They’re humans with a viral neurological overload. They have a certain level of feral intelligence. Seeing them navigate a train—smashing through windows rather than just bumping into doors—creates a different kind of threat.
Also, Boyle’s pacing is unique. He knows when to hold a shot to let the dread build. Most modern action-horror films cut every 0.5 seconds. Boyle lets you sit in the discomfort. If the train scene is anything like the opening "Don't Wake Up" house sequence from 28 Weeks Later (which Boyle directed the second unit for), it will be exhausting in the best way possible.
Real-world locations used for filming
If you want to go see where the magic happened, look toward the North East of England.
- Rothbury: Heavy filming activity was reported here, involving military-style vehicles.
- Keighley & Worth Valley Railway: This is where the bulk of the rail action was captured. It’s a heritage railway that perfectly captures that "frozen in time" look.
- Lindisfarne (Holy Island): This location is tidal, meaning it gets cut off from the mainland twice a day. It’s the ultimate "locked room" setting for a movie about a virus.
Practical takeaways for fans following the production
If you’re trying to keep up with the latest on the 28 Years Later train scene and the film in general, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, don't trust every "leak" you see on TikTok. A lot of people are filming "zombie" content near the sets that isn't actually part of the production.
Second, look at the credits. The fact that the original team is back is the biggest indicator of quality. This isn't a cheap cash-grab sequel handled by a random studio director.
Third, pay attention to the sound. The original film’s score by John Murphy is legendary. If the train sequence is paired with a distorted, industrial version of "In the House - In a Heartbeat," it’s going to be an all-timer.
What to watch for in the trailer
When the first teaser finally drops, the 28 Years Later train scene will likely be the "money shot." Look for:
- The lighting: Is it flickering?
- The sound of the tracks: Does it sync with the heartbeat of the protagonist?
- The windows: Are they reinforced?
The train represents the journey from the past (the 2002 film) to the future of the franchise. It’s a literal and metaphorical engine for the new story.
Final thoughts on the sequence
The 28 Years Later train scene isn't just about scares. It’s about showing how much the world has changed—and how much it has stayed the same. Humanity is still trying to move forward, still trying to use technology to outrun its mistakes. But on a train, there is only one direction to go.
To stay ahead of the curve on 28 Years Later news, keep an eye on official production wraps from Sony Pictures. The film is slated for a June 2025 release, meaning we are close to seeing how this claustrophobic nightmare actually plays out on the big screen. Make sure to re-watch the original film to spot any visual callbacks Boyle might hide in the train's carriage numbers or graffiti—he’s known for those kinds of Easter eggs.