Historic Settle and Carlisle Line Returns to Diversion Duty after Years of Dormancy

The Settle and Carlisle line, one of Britain’s most scenic railways, has resumed its historic role as a diversionary route in January 2026, with Avanti West Coast operating passenger services while the West Coast Main Line (WCML) is closed for major engineering works. The line is being used as an alternative corridor between Preston and Carlisle while Network Rail replaces the Clifton Bridge over the M6 motorway near Penrith, closing the WCML between those points from 1 to 14 January. Avanti’s bi‑mode Class 805 Evero trains are running a shuttle service over the iconic route, keeping passengers on rail rather than on lengthy replacement buses wherever possible.

Historically, the Settle and Carlisle railway has functioned as a valuable diversionary path when the main north–south line has been blocked, though such occasions became less frequent in recent years. During the days of British Rail and later Virgin Trains, the line was periodically used to reroute long‑distance services when the WCML experienced closures or engineering disruption. The use of the route for diversions was more common before modern multiple‑unit electric trains became the norm on the West Coast Main Line, as diesel or locomotive haulage was simpler to arrange on the non‑electrified Settle and Carlisle.

The decline in diversionary use over the past decade was linked to changes in rolling stock and operational practice. The introduction of the Pendolino fleet on the WCML made diversions over a non‑electrified secondary route less straightforward in routine service; bespoke hauling arrangements and additional crew qualifications were often required. Consequently, despite its strategic position, the Settle and Carlisle line saw fewer scheduled reroutings in the era of Virgin Trains and other WCML operators.

The line itself, opened in the 1870s by the Midland Railway to provide a direct connection between Yorkshire and Carlisle, was threatened with closure in the 1980s due to declining use and high maintenance costs. Campaigning by local authorities and railway enthusiasts highlighted not only its value to local communities and tourism, but also its importance as a diversionary link to the West Coast Main Line — a point cited in arguments against closure. The line was ultimately saved in 1989, and since then has continued to carry regular local passenger services alongside occasional freight and special trains.

The 2026 operation marks the first sustained use of the Settle and Carlisle line to carry diverted West Coast passenger services in more than ten years. With the WCML fully blocked for the bridge replacement, and the M6 also closed for part of the works, the railway’s role as an alternate route has proven practical and necessary. The deployment of modern bi‑mode trains, capable of running on both electrified and unelectrified track, has made this use more feasible without extensive locomotive‑change operations, signalling a renewed appreciation of the line’s diversionary potential.