News

Following the successful 'slow TV' episodes featuring canal journeys and sled rides BBC4 has commissioned a third programme which will feature the 'Northern Dalesman' bus service from Richmond in N Yorkshire to Ingleton.  River valleys, ancient meadows, agricultural pastures and ancient mining villages and the 19th century Ribbleshead viaduct are all part of the scenery.

Not so much a news item as a reminder that we regularly lead guided geology walks from the stations along the Settle-Carlisle Line.  And if you'd like to read a great explanation of the geology all along the line, see http://www.see.leeds.ac.uk/misc/scienceandtourism/Final%20copy%20leaflets/9388-Settle-Carlisle%20Booklet3.pdf 

From Sunday 15 May 2016, a Settle Carlisle Line Day Ranger ticket will be available.  This will reduce the cost of travel for many journeys on the Settle Carlisle line.

The offer is being introduced to encourage people to travel on the world-famous railway, which remains open while essential repairs are carried out between Appleby and Carlisle in Cumbria.

Recently screened historical drama ‘Jericho’ has encouraged many viewers to find out more about the real history of the Navvy site at Ribblehead in the stunningly beautiful Yorkshire Dales.

This summer, call in at Ribblehead Visitor Centre and see you yourself how the famous viaduct was built.

http://sandctrust.org.uk/Jericho/ for more information.

THE REAL JERICHO EXPERIENCE

The FoSCL AGM will take place on Saturday 16th April at the Hallmark Hotel, Carlisle (just in front of the station).  It will start at 11.45 and finish around 15.30.  Speakers will be Alex Hynes, Managing Director of Arriva Rail North, and Simon Walton, former Chairman of the Campaign for Borders Rail.

Trains on the Settle-Carlisle Line are running as far as Appleby, there is a good express bus service to Carlisle that meets every train. 

Network Rail have agreed a plan to repair the section of line closed as a result of a major landslip at Eden Brows between Carlisle and Armathwaite.

Over 500,000 tons of embankment have slipped towards the river Eden below the line as a result of bad weather during December and January. 

The work is likely to take many months and as a result buses are replacing trains between Carlisle and Appleby.  Trains are running normally between Appleby and Leeds.

Network Rail has announced that the railway between Carlisle and Appleby will be completely closed "for many months" whilst work is being undertaken in the Armathwaite area, where there was a landslip in December.  Trains are running between Leeds and Appleby to a revised timetable and a replacement bus service is operating between Appleby and Carlisle.  The full statement from Network Rail can be found at http://www.networkrail.co.uk/news/2016/feb/railway-carlisle-apple

The newly refurbished Flying Scotsman will not be hauling the Cumbrian Mountain Express this Saturday 23 January due to problems discovered with the locomotive's braking system.  A statement from the Railway Touring Company explains that problems were discovered on recent trips on the East Lancs railway and unfortunately these cannot be resolved in time for the loco's scheduled trip along the Settle to Carlisle Line.  The full statement can be viewed here

The Department for Transport announced on 9th December that the next Northern franchise, starting on 1st April 2016, will be run by Arriva. 

Carlisle's Citadel Station is to get a £15 million pound upgrade and work will commence on Monday 30 November.  The majority of the investment will be spent on replacing the roof.  Glass falling from the roof has forced the closure of some platforms in the past years, prompting calls from unions for action to address safety concerns.

For a full report see

Once again Dales Railcard and West Yorkshire Metro card holders will be able to benefit from winter travel offers on the Settle to Carlisle Line.

Holders of Dales Railcards will be able to travel for a flat fee on specified dates.  For travel on the Settle-Carlisle line including to/from Brampton/Wetheral, the cost of the day return flat fare ticket will be £9.00 per person.  Up to four children can accompany a Dales Railcard holder for £4.50 each.

The legendary Flying Scotsman will be making a trip along the Settle Carlisle Railway early in 2016 as part of its testing following a £4.2 million pound restoration led by by the National Railway Museum.

The Pennine Way, England's longest National Trail, celebrated its 50th anniversary earlier this year.  FoSCL's own programme of free guided walks often use sections of the route as it passes through the western Dales.

The small gardens of Armathwaite are open again this weekend, 27-28 June.  Come by train to Armathwaite station!

For details see http://www.opengardens.co.uk/open_gardens.php?id=750

Another fantastic success for the Settle-Carlisle Ride2Stride walking festival; read the report here .  More visitors than ever, from overseas too.  Great events and a real boost to the local economy. 

UK railway fares are a jungle. If you don't know your way around you'll often end up missing out on hefty savings.  Learn how to play the system with hidden tricks, at

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-train-tickets

According to http://railwayherald.com: 

Network Rail has confirmed that it reinstated West Coast Railway Company's track access agreement as of 00:01 this morning (8th May), five weeks after suspending the organisation over safety concerns.

Network Rail has suspended West Coast Railways from operating anywhere on the national rail network following a serious SPAD (signal passed at danger) event earlier this year.

Carlisle Citadel Station has been recognised as one of national historical importance in a new book 'The English railway station'.  Author Stephen Parissien says that "Union stations, unifying different railway companies’ lines in one terminus, were common in America and Germany but not in England. Sir William Tite’s magnificent Citadel Station at Carlisle of 1847-8 is a rare example, originally intended for seven railway companies.