“Phenomenal” demand for S&C ‘Plandampf’ tickets

Tickets for Tornado’s historic timetabled service trains over the Settle & Carlisle have “all but sold out”, according to the train operating company, Northern.


‘A1’ No. 60163 is serviced at Doncaster, home of the original Peppercorn ‘A1s’, ahead of its historic timetabled trips over the S&C. NICK BRODRICK

Paul Barnfield, Regional Director at Northern said: “It is great to see so many people supporting this historic venture.

“We always knew that the first timetabled steam services in the UK for 50 years would be extremely popular, but the demand for tickets has been phenomenal.

“Those who have pre-booked reservations will be guaranteed their place on the relevant service, but for those who have unreserved standard tickets access to the services will be on a first come, first served basis. We strongly advise those who want to travel to arrive early as there will be a formal queuing process in place.”

New-build Peppercorn ‘A1’ No. 60163 Tornado will be hauling the first timetabled main line passenger trains for nearly five decades, thanks to an alliance between Steam Railway and sister publication RAIL, Northern, Network Rail, DB Cargo, Friends of the S&C and the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust.

The trains, running under the banner of ‘I LOVE S&C’, have been organised to revive the fortunes of the beleaguered S&C, severed by a landslip last February, as well as the communities the route serves.

Passengers will be able to ride on two regular services per day on February 14-16, with No. 60163 taking over from the usual Class 158s which normally operate over the line. Four carriages in the seven-coach train are for pre-booked tickets only; the remaining three will be open for pay-on-the-day fares.

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