Discounts to attract passengers to storm hit Settle-Carlisle rail line

Bosses at the Settle Carlisle railway are keen to promote that the famously picturesque line, which offers views of the Yorkshire Dales and the Three Peaks to passengers, remains open for business whilst months of essential repairs are carried out.

The discount for passengers applies to Day Ranger tickets from this coming Sunday and sees fares priced at £15 for adults and £7.50 for children. Railcard holders, including the local Dales Railcard, will be entitled to another third off the reduced price.

The ticket is valid for one day with no time restrictions and permits journeys from any station on the line between Leeds, or Bradford Forster Square, to Appleby via Settle and onwards to Carlisle using the connecting replacement bus service from Appleby.

Drew Haley, general manager of the Settle Carlisle Railway Development Company, said: “We are delighted that Northern has introduced this new Ranger ticket at a fantastic price.

“The Yorkshire Dales and Eden Valley can now be accessed from as little as £10. Local users can also take advantage of the offer by visiting Leeds or Bradford, going south.”

The landslip occurred during the severe winter storms that caused widespread damage across the North of England.

Network Rail initially closed the 72-mile line in early February after aerial monitoring confirmed the scale of ground movement at the railway embankment at Appleby.

The engineering work to repair the damage is being carried out by Network Rail and is expected to last for several months yet.

Repairs focus on the section of the track at Eden Brows, near Armathwaite in Cumbria’s Eden Valley, and the project will take so long to be completed because of its remote location and the difficulty posed by the terrain.

Douglas Hodgins, chairman of the Friends of the Settle Carlisle Line, is hopeful the ticket offer will keep the line busy.

“This is an excellent offer from Northern which should certainly boost passenger numbers,” he said.