News

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.

FoSCL has recently launched its Prospectus for the next franchise and beyond.  We are currently putting our plans to the short listed bidders.  It won't happen tomorrow, but we expect that bit by bit we'll get most of the improvements in rail services and rolling stock that we would like to see.

FoSCL is supporting calls to re-open the Waverley Line in full from Edinburgh to Carlisle.  The support was given by chairman Richard Morris when he addressed the AGM of the Campaign for Borders Rail.  A report in the Cumberland News 21 November gives the story.  Also in the article is news of the formation of the Settle Carlisle Association - a new body co-ordinating activities of the Friends, the Development Company and the S&C Trust.

For late night shopping, going to the cinema or a meal in Carlisle, or a connection from other destinations, an additional late evening service will run from Carlisle to Kirkby Stephen on the following Thursdays up to Christmas.

Thursday evenings from Carlisle to Kirkby Stephen stopping at all stations - 20th, 27th November; 4th, 11th, 18th December.

Carlisle (dep) 20.57, Armathwaite 21.11, Lazonby 21.18, Langwathby 21.24, Appleby 21.39, Kirkby Stephen (arr) 21.54

The 2015 AGM will be held in the Victoria Hall, Settle on Saturday 18th April.

Nominations for the committee officers (Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer) and committee members - suitably prposed and seconded - should be received on or before Monday 7th January 2015 by:

Paul Kampen - FoSCL Secretary

74 Springfield Road, Baildon,

Shipley, West Yorkshire

BD17 5LX

email: [email protected]

Nomination forms are available on request.

£8.50 flat fare day return ticket available for Dales Railcard holders

Can be accompanied by up to four children for a flat fare of £4.25 each

Available:

2 November to 28 November 2014

27 December 2014 to 13 February 2015

23 February to 28 March 2015

Not available on trains timed to depart before 0815 Mondays-Fridays but no restrictions at weekends or bank holidays

Celebrating 25 Years of Saving the Settle-Carlisle Railway.

Northern Dalesman bus link 2014

Photo: John Carey

FoSCL are supporting the Northern Dalesman bus link every Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday until October 19th 2014. The bus connects with 0900 Sunday train from Leeds (0850 on Bank Holiday Mondays) at Ribblehead Station and goes to Snaizeholme Lane End (for the Red Squirrel Trail); Hawes; Buttertubs Pass; Keld (mornings only); Muker; Gunnerside; Reeth (for Arkengarthdale) and Richmond.

Stop at Kirkby Stephen Station on Saturday 10th May between 10am and 4pm to meet and buy the work of some local artists and crafters.  Items include wonderful S&C and local photography and the finest pencil drawings available as prints and cards, up-cycled furniture and even some railway collectables.

As part of the 25th anniversary celebrations FoSCL and Friends of DalesRail walk leaders have arranged a series of linear walks between April and October starting in Settle and finishing in Carlisle.  The walks will mainly follow the route described by Vivienne Crow in her 2012 book 'Settle to Carlisle Way' published by Rucksack readers.