Leeds-Settle-Carlisle and the national rail network
This is the website of the Friends of the Settle-Carlisle Line (FoSCL), one of several organisations supporting the Settle-Carlisle section of the main line from Leeds to Carlisle. This is not a heritage railway, but part of the national rail network with its passenger trains operated by Northern Rail. We do NOT run steam trains, but steam and diesel charters frequently travel along the line, see www.railtourinfo.co.uk for details.
Together with our partner organisations, we support the railway line that runs from Settle Junction in the south to Carlisle in the north, a total of 72 miles (115 km) in length. The Settle-Carlisle partnership has adopted all ten stations between Settle and Carlisle, tends the station gardens and carries out minor maintenance work. Three of the stations are leased from Network Rail and have a variety of uses intended to encourage people to visit the area. For more information on the wide range of activities we undertake to promote and develop the Settle-Carlisle Line, see About Us.
News Items
Ribblehead Walk Wednesday 17th April
Tramways and tunnel trail.
Ribblehead Footsteps in Time tours
Free events April to September, see https://www.foscl.org.uk/content/ribblehead-tours for details.
Pick up your leaflet from stations along the Leeds Settle Carlisle line.
Horton-in-Ribblesdale café bar
New Cafe Bar coming to Horton-In-Ribblesdale!
If you have travelled on the Leeds-Settle-Carlisle line through Horton-In-Ribblesdale station in the last few months, you might have noticed work being carried out on the southbound (Leeds) platform station building.
Ride To Stride 2024
Ride2stride 2024 - Tuesday April 30th to Monday May 6th
Membership update
Membership Renewal Guide:
Hello Friends
Membership subscriptions are due for renewal before 1st March 2024 and can be renewed now. We value your continued support and details of how to renew are outlined below.
The subscriptions for 2024 are as follows:
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Individual: £20
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Joint: £25 (two adults at same address)
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Junior: £1 (Up to 18 years of age)
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Student: £15 (For ages 18-25)
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Family: £30 (two adults plus children up to 18 years of age)
Volunteers welcome
Volunteers are always welcome. If you fancy doing something a bit different, as much or as little as you like, contact [email protected] to explore possibilities - we have a surprisingly varied portfolio of activities.
User Group Activities
Train Services
We are continually monitoring Northern Trains's performance in detail: punctuality, reliability and cancellations. Every month this information is summarised and distributed to The Friends' board and Northern. Read more.
The Hellifield Clitheroe line: We have a long-running campaign to reinstate regular passenger services to Manchester along the existing railway line between Hellifield and Clitheroe. The infrastructure is there, it just requires the will to run passenger trains along it! Read more.
Improvements to the passenger service: the new timetable in May 2018 was the biggest change in 25 years. There are a few more services and on balance we think it's a step forward. It could still be improved and we have an ongoing campaign to achieve this. Read more.
Integrated Transport in the Settle-Carlisle corridor: we are strongly supportive of rural bus services which connect with the railway line. There is hardly any funding from either Cumbria County Council or North Yorkshire County Council. FoSCL has contributed but we can't do it all ourselves. An excellent and comprehensive paper on integrated transport has been written by John Carey, FoSCL Committee Member. Read more.
Diary Dates
Forthcoming events from the FoSCL diary:
- Sat 20 Apr, 2024 : 20 April 24 - Garsdale Circular via Grisedale
- Sun 21 Apr, 2024 : 21 April 24 - Dent to Ribblehead via Blea Moor
- Sat 27 Apr, 2024 : 27 April 24 - Pottering around Horton-in-Ribblesdale
- Tue 30 Apr, 2024 : 30 April 24 - ride2stride Walking Festival - Settle Circular via Giggleswick
- Wed 1 May, 2024 : 01 May 24 - ride2stride Walking Festival - Horton Circular Geology Walk
- Wed 1 May, 2024 : 01 May 24 - ride2stride Walking Festival - Ribblehead: Footsteps in Time
- Thu 2 May, 2024 : 02 May 24 - ride2stride Walking Festival - Mallerstang Edge
- Thu 2 May, 2024 : 02 May 24 - ride2stride Walking Festival - Perambulation of Skipton
- Fri 3 May, 2024 : 03 May 24 - ride2stride Walking Festival - Settle Circular
- Sat 4 May, 2024 : 04 May 24 - ride2stride Walking Festival - Settle Circular via Oxenber Woods
- Sun 5 May, 2024 : 05 May 24 - ride2stride Walking Festival - Trail Taster: The Pennine Way
- Mon 6 May, 2024 : 06 May 24 - ride2stride Walking Festival - Gone to Pot
- Mon 6 May, 2024 : 06 May 24 - ride2stride Walking Festival - Trail Taster: Dales High Way
- Sat 11 May, 2024 : 11 May 24 - Will we see Bluebells at Appleby?
- Sat 18 May, 2024 : 18 May 24 - The Highway: Garsdale to Kirkby Stephen
The Settle-Carlisle Railway Conservation Area (SCRCA)
A small group of volunteers is creating an illustrated guide to the Settle-Carlisle Railway Conservation Area (SCRCA). To find-out more - or to 'virtually explore' this unique and fascinating area - visit https://scrca.foscl.org.uk/