THE Settle-Carlisle railway line is seeking new volunteers to support the growth of local tourism. 

The Settle-Carlisle Railway Trust, its Development Company, and The Friends of the Line are working closely with government-owned Network Rail who own the track, and Northern Rail who run the trains to make the volunteering opportunity possible.

In addition, for the first time, volunteer roles are being made available including on trains and at stations where new visitor centres, café bars, and holiday lets are set to open redundant station buildings.

The first of these new attractions to open this spring is a café bar at Horton in Ribblesdale station along with a one-bedroom short-stay holiday aimed at holidaymakers and 'Three Peaks’'walkers.

Adrian Quine, trustee and CEO of the lines Property Company, masterminded the 'hugely popular' daily Staycation Express’tourist trains which operated along the line from Skipton and Settle to Appleby and Carlisle during the Covid summers of 2020 and 2021.

The venture saw 35,000 new visitors to the area and provided a boost to the local economy, and Adrian called the latest volunteer drive a 'fantastic opportunity' for railway enthusiasts.

He said: "This is a fantastic opportunity to give the local community a real chance to get involved with their own local railway.

“We are working collaboratively to grow passenger numbers while reducing road traffic in the national park and providing new visitor attractions.

"Our new projects will help the local economy and bring much-needed revenue to this heavily subsidised railway which has so much potential."

Prospective volunteers are encouraged can get in touch via email: HCB@settle-carlisle.com