150 Celebrations
2026 marks the 150th anniversary of the first passenger service to run on the Settle to Carlisle railway.
Back in January 2026, former MP Michael Portillo who was Minister of State for Transport when the line was threatened with closure, wrote to us. In 1989 he had signed the letter reprieving the line. Michael Portillo subsequently became the Honorary President of the Friends of Settle-Carlisle Line. Since then he has been a supporter a strong supporter of the line.
“In April 1989, I wrote to the Friends of the Settle-Carlisle Line, announcing that the proposed closure of the Settle-Carlisle Railway Line would not take place, and the line was reprieved.
At that time, I charged the Friends to work to support and promote the line, and suggested the formation of a registered charity (The Settle-Carlisle Railway Trust) to help raise funds to preserve and restore this magnificent line. Both organisations have worked tirelessly since that time to achieve those aims; and I am delighted to see the extensive programme of work and celebratory events that they have planned for the 150th Anniversary in 2026.
As Honorary President of the Friends, I am very pleased to extend my support, and to thank all those involved in the 150th Anniversary. I would encourage everyone to make time to visit and ride the line to experience the spectacular setting and fascinating heritage, and to witness the wonderful dedication and passion of its splendid volunteers.”We started our celebrations on Wednesday 4th February in Settle Victoria Hall witha fabulous stakeholder breakfast.The event was attended by 51 people from a wide range of businesses, local authorities, transport companies and supporter organisations who came together to both celebrate and look ahead.”
On Wednesday 4th February in Settle Victoria Hall the Settle Carlisle Railway held a fabulous stakeholder breakfast to launch the 150th Anniversary year for Passenger Travel on the line. The event was attended by 51 people from a wide range of businesses, local authorities, transport companies and supporter organisations who came together to both celebrate and look ahead.
Between now and the end of 2026 we have many more exciting events planned. Please see the adjacent image for a poster with more details.
Next for the celebrations come the launch of a ‘passport’ for the line – a family friendly booklet that will have free challenges and activities to encourage people to visit every station, giving them things to see and do there, a steam train journey from Carlisle to York in May to mark the formal anniversary and the naming of a train by Northern which will be a lasting reminder of this remarkable achievement.
Secondly 2026 also sees 40 years since the stations between Settle and Carlisle re-opened. In the 1970s just Settle and Appleby were actually functioning as stations for stopping trains (some special walkers services did stop at the intervening points but the buildings were all closed up and derelict) but in July 1986 all the other wonderful stops along the line were brought back into use and many of the buildings came under the management of the railway trust who lovingly restored and repurposed them to help make visitors journeys far more pleasant with heated waiting rooms, shops, cafes and visitor centres.
New plaques will be unveiled at each station this year to commemorate their history and place in their community and Ribblehead Tearoom is undergoing a £50,000 refurbishment before re-opening at Easter to showcase one of the beautiful jewels in the crown on the line.
There is so much going on and we would love everyone, locals and visitors alike to get involved. We recommend you follow us on social media https://www.facebook.com/FriendsSettleCarlisle/ to keep up to date with what is happening and when.