Rail Charter Services’ ‘Staycation Express’ tourist service on the Settle and Carlisle line returned for the 2021 peak summer season from 19 July until 9 September. A dedicated 2+5 HST has operated this year’s services, featuring all First Class accommodation using vehicles previously refurbished by GWR.
Following an assessment of ridership patterns in 2020, the timetable was revised to comprise two return trips between Skipton and Appleby, with one extended in the middle of the day north to Carlisle. Services were scheduled to run on Saturdays to Thursdays, with Fridays used to carry out heavy maintenance and inspections on the HST at Neville Hill depot in Leeds.
However, the service has suffered from lower passenger numbers than during its debut year in 2020. Last year the operation gained national coverage on BBC News, but this year there was not the same level of media coverage, whi…
