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Full steam ahead for Border City Express steam charter celebrating 150 years of the Settle Carlisle Railway - Bradford to Carlisle October 3, 2026

To celebrate 150 years of passenger travel on their line, the Settle Carlisle Railway Development Company has chartered a steam train with heritage carriages to travel from Bradford Foster Square to the Border City of Carlisle.

Settle Carlisle Railway Development Company Ltd has commissioned the steam charter train to give people the opportunity to travel as passengers did in bygone eras – so bring your travel blankets and dress for travel on an original historic carriage, pulled by steam from the West Coast Railways’ pool of heritage carriages and engines.

Following the success of the Bradford City of Culture and Railway 200 charter trains last year, the Border City Express will again provide an opportunity for passengers to travel back to the age of steam and travel along the iconic Settle Carlisle line. 

The steam train will set off from Bradford Foster Square on Saturday, October 3 via Keighley, Skipton and Settle before arriving at Carlisle Citadel Station.

Proposed timings: Bradford Forster Square 08.50, Keighley 09.15, Skipton 09.35, Hellifield (water) 09.50/10.40, Settle 11.00, Carlisle 12.45

Return - Carlisle 16.30, Settle 18.30, Helifield (detach steam) 18.50/19.20, Skipton 19.35, Keighley 19.50, Bradford FS 20.15

The Settle Carlisle Railway Development Company have requested the Scots Guardsman or Black Five locomotive from West Coast Railways.

Passengers can choose from Premier Dining, First Class or Standard Class in comfortable heritage carriages as the train sweeps through the Yorkshire Dales and Cumbrian scenery—described by Lonely Planet as one of the top 10 most scenic railway journeys in Europe.

Tickets are on sale now.