So, students used to arrive via magic carpets(before they were banned), brooms, floo powder(I think), and many other ways. The Hogwarts Express is a (relatively) new thing in the Harry Potter books. This is of course just off the top of my head, so feel free to fact check this👍

Thx dude

Anything for an HP fan😁

If we go back in history, then there were a lot of methods which students used to reach the Hogwarts castle like broomsticks, enchanted carts, later carriages, some used to apparate while some used magical creatures like thestrals but all of them had some drawbacks.

After the international statute of secrecy was imposed then portkeys came into effect which also had certain drawbacks like students used to miss the time slot or some of them were portkeys sick thus ending up in hospital wings.

Finally, the minister of magic Ottaline Gambol inspired from muggle trains invented the Hogwarts Express.

You can find all this info in Hogwarts: An incomplete and Unreliable Guide.

Magic. That’s how.

Newt Strike you said they apparated but you cant apparate to Hogwarts for security reasons, or do you mean apparating to Hogsmeade?

Well that was the drawback with Apparition, students attempted to try it and often end up with disastrous effects probably splinching as the castle used to be surrounded with anti- Apparition charm

K thanks 4 clarification 👍😊