Settle to Carlisle line has potential to be major rail route for North – Yorkshire Post letters

THIS month has been the 30th anniversary of the reprieve for the iconic Settle and Carlisle (S&CR) line, which is part of the 113-mile Leeds-Carlisle route.

The Yorkshire Post says: Thank you Michael Portillo for saving Settle to Carlisle line

It is now more popular than ever but still grossly underused as a major inter-city artery.

Passenger numbers have grown with the eight trains per day to Carlisle, but it remains a stopping service, a provider of leisure travel over this scenic route, when what is really needed is a fast through service to Glasgow without the present messy change of trains at Carlisle.

At present, travelling Leeds-Glasgow, with a change at Carlisle, is roughly 245 minutes, but with faster inter-city stock, 210 minutes is possible.

Future potential is starting journey times at Sheffield 
or Nottingham, even Hull, straight to the Settle and 
Carlisle line, without a 
change at Leeds or Carlisle for Glasgow.

Leeds City Station, the third-busiest outside London, 
deserves better – and a quality stopping service over the 
Settle and Carlisle line, for tourists, combined with a superior fast inter-city to Glasgow, over ‘the roof of England’, would help this majestic route to fulfil its potential.