News

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.

Engineering work is unfortunately likely to cause major disruption to weekend travel during October.  On Saturdays 10th and 17th and Sundays 11th and 18th there will be no trains between Leeds and Skipton. Buses will replace trains between these stations.

On Saturday 24th, Sunday 25th and Monday 26th October there will be various engineering projects resulting in no trains between Long Preston and Carlisle in either direction.  Additionally on the Sunday there will be no trains between Leeds and Shipley.

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: paul.kampen@gmail.com

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