Settle to Carlisle railway prepares to welcome new passengers


The Carlisle to Settle line will celebrate 150 years of carrying passengers in 2026

A picturesque and historical railway line is preparing to welcome new passengers as inter-city trains are rerouted along it during engineering work.

Welcome banners are being installed at all stations along the 116km (72m) route of the Carlisle to Settle line between Cumbria and North Yorkshire.

In January, West Coast Main Line trains will be diverted on to the former Midland Railway line as work to replace the Clifton railway bridge over the M6 takes place.

The Settle Carlisle Railway Development Company said it will be the first time for many passengers travelling the scenic line, which celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2026. Peter Myers, the organisation's chairman, said: "This is an opportunity to promote the Settle Carlisle Railway, which celebrates 150 years of passenger services and provides a gateway to the North Yorkshire Dales, Cumbria's Eden Valley and the Lake District."

The line was named among the top 10 more scenic routes in Europe by travel publishers Lonely Planet.


Welcome banners are being placed along the 72-mile stretch of the Settle to Carlisle line

Network Rail is carrying out work on the West Coast Main Line between Carlisle and London between 24 December and 15 January, as part of a £400m scheme over the next four years. Work includes signalling upgrades north of Carlisle and at Preston station and work on the Hanslope Junction near Milton Keynes.

I note that Google does not recommend the Two Tunnels route, nor the canal towpath, but rather takes you over the top

B. Barnham

10:58 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 13:24 will be started from Worcester Shrub Hill.
This is due to earlier engineering works not being finished on time.
Last Updated:21/12/2025 10:17

09:50 London Paddington to Hereford due 12:57 will be cancelled.
This is due to a fault on this train.
Last Updated:21/12/2025 09:36

14:28 Hereford to London Paddington due 17:22 will be cancelled.
This is due to a fault on this train.
Last Updated:21/12/2025 09:36

The map suggests that this is NOT a station obviously ripe for significant extra residential housing.  Do I have that right?

Landslips hit properties, rail line and close clifftop path

A "significant landslip" has affected beachfront properties and prompted safety warnings to coastal path walkers.

Council officials said there was a risk of more "earth falling as water continues to flow down the side" of the private land at Nefyn, Llyn Peninsula. "We are aware that a number of private properties have been affected, but fortunately they were unoccupied at the time," said Cyngor Gwynedd.

A separate landslip in Gwynedd also affected the Welsh Highland Railway's line about four miles (6.4km) from Caernarfon, but bosses say it won't affect planned Santa services.
...


A huge quantity of mud has blocked the rail line affecting Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways

Operators of Welsh Highland Railway said Santa train services from Caernarfon would continue to operate over the weekend, although over a shortened route, following a landslip near Tryfan Junction.

It was spotted during an inspection on Friday with a huge quantity of mud thought to have been deposited on the line following persistent rain on Thursday.

Paul Lewin, boss at Ffestiniog Railway Company, said it happened at a location close to a river which had been strengthened in the past due to "land movements historically".

"But that has not prevented a torrent of slurry-like mud from being deposited on the line during the intense rain storm."

Engineers are due to complete an assessment and provide the operator with an update.

J.  Jewellery Quarter.  I was hesitating to post this because I felt I had cheated by looking at a list of stations beginning with the letter J; on the other hand, Graham had kindly chosen to help us by his choice of labels for the maps.

I recommend a visit to the Jewellery Quarter's museums to get an appreciation of British craftsmanship and a realisation that there is still some manufacturing in this country.

I don't think we've had any recent or detailed discussion on the Coffee Shop forum, but from the BBC:

Universal Studios' UK theme park was given the green light this week, a decision creating buzz for families up and down the country who might one day want to go.

After months of discussions, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Steve Reed gave planning permission for the park to be constructed in Kempston Hardwick, close to Bedford.

This isn't just another attraction - it's an attempt by the US entertainment giant to build one of the biggest theme parks in the world.

Universal mentioned in planning documents that a country like the UK should have at least two global theme parks, and this project was described as a "generational opportunity".

But can Universal pull off something of quite this scale, going up against the likes of Disneyland Paris? As BBC News heard from locals, it might be a tall order - and not everyone is happy.

Trainspotters are out in full force today [20.12.2025] to capture the final journey of a historic service.

Pathfinder Railtours based in Stroud, Gloucestershire, has operated for more than 50 years. The company's final service - diesel train D1015 Western Champion - left Salisbury, Wiltshire, at 06:00 GMT as part of the Pathfinders Finale and is due to return by 23:00.

Peter Watts, one of the founders of Pathfinder Railtours, said the team hoped to "go out on a high".

He added: "We have created a void by not running anymore. But voids and vacuums get filled so I would imagine come the new year there will be someone else ready to step into our shoes."

Daisy House died in hospital on Monday

The family of a 16-year-old have paid tribute to their "bright, beautiful" girl after she died following an incident on the London Underground.

British Transport Police (BTP) officers and paramedics were called to Loughton Underground station, Essex, with reports of a casualty on the tracks.

Daisy House died in hospital and her family said: "Our beautiful daughter Daisy lost her life. She was a bright, beautiful, clever, and funny girl who had just started sixth form and had her whole future ahead of her."

They also thanked the emergency services who tried to save her following the incident at about 14:30 GMT on Monday.

The statement continued: "We thank everyone who has sent best wishes, kind messages, and floral tributes. We would now ask for our privacy to be respected while we come to terms with the loss of our Daisy and what life will be like without our daughter."

Planning this as my first public transport trip of the year - anyone care to join me?

The Midland & Great Northern (M&GN) Class A Rebuild locomotives started off as a series of 4-4-0s built by Beyer, Peacock & Co. between 1882 and 1888. The first batch of four were built for the Lynn & Fakenham Railway, and the remaining eleven were built for its successor, the Eastern & Midlands Railway. As initially built, all fifteen locomotives closely resembled the London South Western Railway Adams 6ft 7in 4-4-0s that Beyer, Peacock built in 1880.