The Railways of Cumbria and the Lake District

There are several railway preservation societies operating in Cumbria and the Lake District, usually operating steam trains, though sometimes with diesel.

Charter steam trains often run over the Carlisle to Settle main line, and occasionally on the West Coast Main Line, or the West Cumbria Coast line.

Preserved Railways

Lakeside and Haverthwaite
Ravenglass and Eskdale
South Tynedale
Kirkby Stephen East
Eden Valley

Network railways operating in Cumbria

Carlisle and Settle Railway	Carlisle, Armathwaite, Lazonby, Langwathby, Appleby, Kirkby Stephen, Garsdale, Dent, Ribblehead
West Coast Main Line	Carlisle, Penrith, Oxenholme (& to the midlands, the south, & Glasgow)
West Cumbrian Line	All stations from Carlisle to Barrow along the coast via Maryport, Workington, Whitehaven, Sellafield, Ravenglass, Millom and Foxfield, Continues to Carnforth via Ulverston, Grange-Over-Sands and Arnside
The Lakes Line	Oxenholme, Kendal, Burneside, Staveley, Windermere
Carlisle to Newcastle Line	Carlisle, Wetheral, Brampton

See map of all the stations.

Rail Tour Holidays in Cumbria

Steam Specials on the Cumbrian Railway Lines

The Tornado. The Tornado at Ribblehead Viaduct.

Redundant railways now used as footpaths/cyclepaths

History of Railways in Cumbria

While the decline of Cumbria's railway network began long before Beeching, by the 1990s it began an amazing recovery with the reopening of many stations, and the restoration of many freight services. Today, there is an upgraded West Coast main line and much improved, and accelerated services, but once upon a time there was a huge network which operated at a much more relaxed - and refined - pace.

Many of the Cumbrian railway lines closed due to the decline in the industries that they serviced so well during their heyday such as coal mining, iron ore mining, and steelmaking, along with the closures recommended in the Beeching Report in the early 1960s.

In 1974 the County of Cumbria was formed from Cumberland, Westmorland, the detached northern part of Lancashire and parts of the West Riding of Yorkshire.

The following websites give much information about railway companies that have, over the years, served Cumbria and its borders.

On this website :

On external websites :

Wikipedia Links:

Wikipedia Links - History :

Armathwaite Signal Box on the Carlisle to Settle Railway. Pic F100P24.
The restored signal box at Armathwaite Station

Go to Menu :