Refreshment trolley service celebrates 20th anniversary helping others

The refreshment trolley service on the Settle Carlisle Railway is celebrating its 20th anniversary helping others - they have pulled on their walking boots and are now getting on their bikes.

Names the best scenic railway route in Europe by travel publishers Lonely Planet, the Settle Carlisle Railway is popular with tourists and commuters. The route has a regular refreshment trolly services provided by the Settle Carlisle Railway Development Company.

o mark the special anniversary, a new Settle Carlisle beer has been commissioned for sale on trolley service and members of the crew who work on the services have already climbed the highest walk along the line, and one of the Three Peaks, Whernside a total of 525 metre climb over 8.4 miles in aid of the Air Ambulance service.

Now they are taking to the saddle for the Virtual Cycle Challenge, the equivalent of the length of the Settle-Carlisle Railway on a static bike for local charity, Dementia Forward.

Settle Carlisle Railway Development Operational Manage, Susie Payne, started her career in the rail industry as a trolley service operator on the line.

Susie said: “Our trolley service provides a little extra to our customers, and we are very proud of our team. We are improving our service this year, with new trolleys, which will hold even more delicious snacks and drinks which we source from local suppliers from along our line. Our new Settle Carlisle ale has been created and produced by Eden Brewery in Cumbria.

“Our aim is to enhance the journey for local people and tourists using our internationally famous line, and support communities our line service by sourcing local produce benefiting the local economy.

“We are looking forward to our summer for fundraising challenges, which we kicking off with the Whernside walk for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance service one of our chosen charities. This walk is very popular with many of our passengers, starting from Ribblehead Viaduct, and we hope our challenge inspires more to take our train and do the hike themselves.

“Now we are preparing for the 72 mile Virtual Cycle Challenge which will take place in Settle Market Place on Wednesday, July 10 from 10am until 2pm.”

The team at Settle Carlisle Railway Development Company are taking their celebrations into 2025 with a calendar featuring members of the team in a Women’s Institute style, due to be released this summer.

Susie said: “We wanted to do something a little different this year from the usual scenic Settle Carlisle scenic calendar. We took inspiration from Rylstone and District Women's Institute, which is close to our line in North Yorkshire. We still have the backdrop of scenes from the line, with the added attraction of our team members for each month.”

The calendars will be on sale alongside the new beer and local refreshments on the trolley service this summer and available from the Settle Carlisle Development Company online shop at https://settle-carlisle.co.uk/shop/

The public can make donations to the Settle Carlisle Railway CRP’s fundraising for Yorkshire Air Ambulance via Facebook https://www.facebook.com/donate/448707871076779/3825253774468132/