Making the most of Leeds - Settle - Carlisle

[Royston Vasey]

In early July I am booked onto 2H92 15:18 Leeds to Carlisle on a Tuesday afternoon and looking forward to ticking off the S&C line, but I am also looking to maximise the trip.

I have reviewed the closed thread https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/settle-carlisle-line.264982/ but still have some specific questions.

I can see the train always leaves from Platform 2, I know Leeds station well and will have time to get some supplies from Sainsbury's or M&S during my (hopefully on time) 25 minute connection, and be at the platform a bit early.

Just a few questions really, I am planning to take a forward facing window seat in the front coach, on the East side, but bearing in mind the advice given in the aforementioned thread.

- How long before departure can you board the train? I would rather be at the train as early as possible to get a good window seat but should have time to do so.
- How busy do the trains get on summer afternoons? It will be before school holidays.
- I have noticed in the past 8 days (SuX), it's been a 2 car four times and a 4 car three times. Is it booked for 2 or 4 on a Tuesday afternoon? Even if it's a 2-car, is it likely to get very busy throughout?
- Is there a lot of turnover south of Settle, i.e. opportunities to move seats if needed, or do most passengers go all the way?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[Iskra]

Door opening times vary by conductor at Leeds. Sometimes the inbound crew leave the units unlocked. Crew otherwise seem to arrive in good time before departure, but this can’t be relied on.

If you are boarding at Leeds you should get a good pick of seats providing you are reasonably active in doing so (sit on the right) so won’t need to worry about your final point. To get best seats, move down the platform and board at the furthest door from the station buildings.

On a Tuesday afternoon I’d expect loadings to be middling. There is usually a reasonable churn at Settle, often with more joining than alighting although these are often walkers not travelling too far. The biggest churns are usually at Keighley and Skipton so you will have ample opportunity to move if needed. If the weather is bad the train is likely to be quieter and vice versa.

 

[Royston Vasey]

That's great! Elbows out boarding at Leeds

And one other question, I had expected there not to be a trolley on this service (based on SCRDC website) but RTT suggests there is, which is correct?

 

[Iskra]

That's great! Elbows out boarding at Leeds

And one other question, I had expected there not to be a trolley on this service (based on SCRDC website) but RTT suggests there is, which is correct?

I’d suggest the SCRDC website is more likely to be correct. The RTT trolley information (and that displayed on PIS) isn’t correct and I previously pointed this out to Northern, as they were also advertising the late evening Ribblehead terminator as conveying a trolley, which it definitely does not. You never know though for your service. In the event of disruption or it being unable to board an earlier service you could end up with one…

 

[Iskra]

Also, if you are travelling on the 2nd, there are a couple of railtours that may be worth looking out for.

 

[Royston Vasey]

Also, if you are travelling on the 2nd, there are a couple of railtours that may be worth looking out for.

Unfortunately not on 2nd, but I will have RTT and my Track Atlas to hand, should anything be passing!

 

[yorksrob]

I generally aim to be at Leeds around ten minutes before departure. In my experience, they don't usually open them much before then.

 

[boiledbeans2]

I made a trip in 2021. You can find some advice by other forum members and my review of the trip here:

Trip for Settle-Carlisle, Glasgow Subway, Tyne & Wear Metro

I'm planning a trip and I have some questions about it (in bold below). I'm getting a Guildford - Glasgow off-peak ticket for £110 (with railcard), so I'm trying to maximise its use. :D Northbound journey I will leave on a weekday and get the following trains: 1003 KGX - 1216 LDS

www.railforums.co.uk

On my trip in 2021, the train was locked at Leeds. Everyone was standing and waiting on the platform.

 

[30907]

The 1518 is on the same diagram as the 0749 which can be either 2 or 4 during the week. I doubt it needs 4 beyond Skipton.

 

[Royston Vasey]

I made a trip in 2021. You can find some advice by other forum members and my review of the trip here:

Trip for Settle-Carlisle, Glasgow Subway, Tyne & Wear Metro

I'm planning a trip and I have some questions about it (in bold below). I'm getting a Guildford - Glasgow off-peak ticket for £110 (with railcard), so I'm trying to maximise its use. :D Northbound journey I will leave on a weekday and get the following trains: 1003 KGX - 1216 LDS

www.railforums.co.uk

On my trip in 2021, the train was locked at Leeds. Everyone was standing and waiting on the platform.

Thanks for this, I have read your trip report with interest, and sorry it didn't go too well, sounds like there were a lot of those niggly one-off issues that can ruin a journey. Such is life!

 

[Royston Vasey]

The 1518 is on the same diagram as the 0749 which can be either 2 or 4 during the week. I doubt it needs 4 beyond Skipton.

I've noticed the allocation is known from early morning so at least I'll know. Another 2 car today.

 

[Tetchytyke]

The trains are usually locked at Leeds until the guard arrives to set up for service, usually this is 5-10 minutes before departure. Get there early, line up with the door, and get your elbows out. There is quite a bit of churn between Leeds and Skipton though, people on the Aire Valley will use these trains as they're a bit faster than the electrics.

The 2-car is only likely to be a problem if there's a coach trip booked on it, as they get reserved seating. As it's late afternoon when you're travelling, I'd guess it be less likely that a coach trip will be booked. Northern are better than they used to be at strengthening trains which do have group bookings though.

The SCRDC website is correct for the catering provision, as they are the ones who provide the catering. If you do get a train with catering you're in for a treat, the trolley is very well stocked and is reasonably priced. I normally buy plenty, especially as the profits are fed back into the SCRDC/FOSC.

 

[SuspectUsual]

An east side seat is best as far as Blea Moor, but once out of the tunnel the best views of Dentdale etc are to the west so it may be worth seeing if you can move then

 

[Buzby]

I did this yesterday. Doors on the 1518 2-car DMU opened 10 minutes before departure - all was going well to Skipton then the train was initially halted, then cancelled after 5minutes. The points at Settle/Giggleswick Jcn failed. Nothing can pass in either direction until NR evaluate. The DMU was detrained and we all stood on P3 for 90 minutes. The following 5 car set was held up but eventually got clearance, so I made it to Carlisle 2hrs later than planned, so Delay Repay kicked in and the trip was free! No trolley on either train was evident.

 

[yorksrob]

I did this yesterday. Doors on the 1518 2-car DMU opened 10 minutes before departure - all was going well to Skipton then the train was initially halted, then cancelled after 5minutes. The points at Settle/Giggleswick Jcn failed. Nothing can pass in either direction until NR evaluate. The DMU was detrained and we all stood on P3 for 90 minutes. The following 5 car set was held up but eventually got clearance, so I made it to Carlisle 2hrs later than planned, so Delay Repay kicked in and the trip was free! No trolley on either train was evident.

Bad day for points failures yesterday - there was another at Castleford !

 

[Royston Vasey]

I did this yesterday. Doors on the 1518 2-car DMU opened 10 minutes before departure - all was going well to Skipton then the train was initially halted, then cancelled after 5minutes. The points at Settle/Giggleswick Jcn failed. Nothing can pass in either direction until NR evaluate. The DMU was detrained and we all stood on P3 for 90 minutes. The following 5 car set was held up but eventually got clearance, so I made it to Carlisle 2hrs later than planned, so Delay Repay kicked in and the trip was free! No trolley on either train was evident.

I was following your train with interest yesterday and felt your pain! I decided a couple of hours in Skipton (I'd have decamped to a pub!) and full compensation would not have been a terrible result.

 

[Royston Vasey]

An east side seat is best as far as Blea Moor, but once out of the tunnel the best views of Dentdale etc are to the west so it may be worth seeing if you can move then

That sounds like a plan!