About Us

• About US •

Our web site showcases the activities of The Friends of the Settle Carlisle Line (The Friends) and The Settle and Carlisle Railway Trust (The Trust). Together with the Settle Carlisle Railway Development Company: https://settle-carlisle.co.uk/ , our respective organisations work very closely together to support the line and its users.

The Friends

The Friends of the Settle Carlisle Line was originally formed in 1981 to campaign against a proposal to close this famous historic and scenic route, and in 1989 the Government decided that the line must remain open. Since then we have acted as a user group to improve facilities and services for passengers, and as a support group for the train operating companies. Eight stations have been reopened, station buildings have been refurbished, platforms raised and Victorian style lamps installed. We have restored and now maintain the disused signal boxes at Armathwaite and Settle Stations.

The Friends principal activities include:

Campaigning for more and better trains in the new Northern franchise.
Liaison with Northern on passenger services and Network Rail on railway infrastructure.
Regularly providing On Train Guides to enhance travellers’ experience of the Settle-Carlisle Line.
Leading Guided Walks from stations along the line and at the historic Ribblehead site.
Helping to produce and distribute promotional leaflets to boost passenger numbers.
Running shops at Settle and Appleby stations selling a wide variety of S&C related items and local produce. Some of these items are also sold in our on-line shop.
Looking after station gardens, providing heritage style benches and re-painting woodwork.

The Trust

Formed in 1990, The Settle and Carlisle Railway Trust exists to help preserve, restore and maintain historic buildings and structures along the line and to promote public knowledge and appreciation of the line.

The importance of the built heritage of the Settle & Carlisle was recognised by the Minister for Transport, at the time consent for closure was refused. The Minister proposed the establishment of a charitable trust, to assist with the restoration of buildings and structures on the line. The Settle & Carlisle Railway Trust was established by Trust Deed on 14th March 1990 and is registered with the Charity Commission (No 702724).

Geographically the Trust’s activities cover the line from Carlisle to Settle Junction; Settle Junction via Hellifield to Leeds and Hellifield South Junction to Blackburn. However, for the foreseeable future, the Trust will focus on the route from Hellifield to Carlisle due to the wealth of historic and architecturally important elements that are contained on this section of route. This also aligns with the boundaries of the Settle & Carlisle Railway Conservation Area.