Flying Scotsman in Cumbria to celebrate reopening of Settle-Carlisle railway line

It comes as the first passengers to travel the historic line in 14 months enjoyed arriving into Carlisle station at 8.17am.

People are set to flock to Carlisle Railway Station to see The Flying Scotsman arrive at 1.05pm.

They will also have the chance to visit the city's latest pub, 301 Miles From London, which has just opened, transforming one of the Victorian station's waiting rooms.

The line has been closed since February 2016 at Eden Brows, near Armathwaite, following a mammoth drifting landslip which was discovered after weeks of downpours.

The size and scale of the job, coupled with its inaccessible location, has made it the biggest repair challenge Network Rail has ever faced.

The £23m project has included the clearing of a 70m embankment, removal of 16,000 tonnes of spoil, the laying of four kilometres of steel-cased piles, the pouring of 2,500 cubic metres of concrete, the installation of five one metre thick reinforced concrete slabs and landscaping.

Buses replaced Northern Rail services along the affected stretch throughout the works.

Rail minister Paul Maynard has congratulated contractors, including local teams from Story Contracting, train operators and Network Rail on their efforts.

Fred Story, chairman and owner of Story Contracting, said: "To be part of the reopening of the iconic railway, especially being a Cumbrian-based company, is something we can all be really proud of.

"Our project team have been working day and night to ensure passengers can once again travel on this much-loved section of the railway line."

Douglas Hodgins, chairman of the Friends of Settle to Carlisle Line, said: "It is great to be back in business.

"We shall be working tirelessly with the railway industry to ensure the line regains its role as a through route to Carlisle and Scotland as quickly as possible - and to seeing the splendours of the Eden Gorge from the trains again.

"Well done Network Rail and its contractors.”