New drama celebrating 150 years of passenger service on the Settle Carlisle Railway to premiere this weekend

A new play celebrating 150 years of passenger service on the world-famous Settle Carlisle Railway will receive its premiere this weekend, bringing the dramatic history and human stories of the iconic route to life.

Commissioned by the Settle Carlisle Railway Development Company, Lives Along the Line has been created to mark this significant milestone in the railway’s history and celebrate the people, communities and events that have shaped the line over the past century and a half.

The premier will take place on Saturday, July 4 at Appleby Public Hall followed by a second performance on Sunday, July 5 at Settle Victoria Hall.

Playwright Joan Barnard, who is based in Ravenstonedale near Kirkby Stephen, spent months researching the railway, visiting locations along the 72-mile scenic route and meeting people connected with the line before beginning work on the production.

The play will be performed by Ravenstonedale-based community theatre group The Vagabonds, bringing together local talent to tell the story of one of Britain’s most treasured railways.

As part of the project, a performance will also be recorded to create a film, and the scripted made into an e-book providing a resource for schools, to support railway-related projects and help pupils explore the railway’s history as part of their National Curriculum studies.

Playwright and Director, Joan Barnard, said: “Lives Along the Line celebrates the 150th anniversary of the Settle-Carlisle Line, an exploration, in words and music, of those who built it, those who worked on it, those who saved it and those who travel on it."

The production has only been made possible thanks to the generous funding support of Northern, Avanti West Coast, TransPennine Express and LNER, whose contributions have helped bring this special anniversary project to life.

Chair of the Settle Carlisle Railway Development Company, Pete Myers, said: “Commissioning a play about the Settle Carlisle line is a fitting way to mark it's 150th anniversary. Lives Along the Line celebrates the communities and generations that this line has meant so much to.

"We are very grateful to Northern, Avanti West Coast, TransPennine Express and LNER for funding of the production. This support has enabled us to make the film and script available to schools for free, making this project a celebration of our past and creating a learning resource for future generations.

Community Manager at Avanti West Coast, Joanna Buckley, said: “We’re proud to be supporting the Settle and Carlisle Railway to celebrate its milestone anniversary year. Through our Community Rail Partnership Fund, we want to connect people to the railway and support projects that bring them closer to it. Sharing the story of the iconic route, as well as the people and places it serves, brings to life its heritage and helps future generations understand what makes it so special.”

Community & Development Manager at TransPennine Express, Andrew Watkins, said: “We are proud to support Lives Along the Line, a fantastic project which celebrates 150 years of passenger service on one of Britain’s most iconic railways.

“The Settle Carlisle line has a remarkable history, shaped by the people who built it, worked on it, fought to protect it and continue to use it today. This production is a wonderful way to bring those stories to life, while also creating a lasting educational resource for schools and future generations.

“Community rail plays such an important role in connecting people with their local railway, and we are pleased to work alongside the Settle Carlisle Railway Development Company and industry partners to help make this special anniversary project possible.”

Both performances of Lives Along the Line are matinees, allowing audiences to travel by train to and from the shows from both the Carlisle and Leeds ends of the line.

Tickets are available online from the Settle Carlisle Railway Development Company website (settle-carlisle.co.uk), and a limited number of tickets may be available on the door – Adults £6, Concession (children, students, and 60+) £2, under 11s free.