
150 Years of the Settle & Carlisle Railway
All aboard the Settle & Carlisle Railway as we celebrate 150 years of one of Europe's most scenic train journeys.
Our limited availability £1.50 tickets promotion is now over. You can still purchase standard and advance tickets across the route from the ticket widget above, so you can soak in the views as you roll through the Yorkshire Dales and Cumbria countryside.

Things to do on the Settle & Carlisle Railway
The Ribblehead Viaduct walk
Spend the day in Carlisle
Explore the Yorkshire Dales
History of the Settle & Carlisle Railway

1876: The first passenger train navigates the railway thanks to the heroic effort of the workers. Over 6000 people contributed to the construction of this line!
1923: Midland Railway merged with the London North Western Railway to become part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway.
1939–1945: The line is a key navigation route for munitions during World War II.
1948: Nationalisation saw the line lose its importance as a vital navigation route.

1963: The Beeching Report condemns the Settle & Carlisle Railway as uneconomical.
1964–1974: Major services are cut including 'The Waverley' and 'The Thames-Clyde Express'.
1981: Friends of Settle & Carlisle Railway founded to campaign against the line's closure.
1989: British Rail agreed to keep the line open.
1990: Settle & Carlisle Railway Trust founded.
1992: The Settle & Carlisle Railway Development Company is founded.
2000–2013: 8 stations reopened including Ribblehead, Horton-in-Ribblesdale and Kirkby Stephen. Plus 2 million annual journeys reached!
2020: Northern enters public ownership.
Now: Northern Trains continues to operate on the Settle & Carlisle Railway and are proud to work alongside the three organisations supporting and promoting this magnificent route.
(Photography credits: Robert Falconer, Settle & Carlisle Railway Trust, Leslie Cullen)