A vintage train operator that normally runs journeys for enthusiasts has stepped in to provide rail services to the Lake District after the operator Northern cancelled all of its trains following a timetabling fiasco.

West Coast Railways, which runs charter trains along some of the UK’s most scenic routes, formally launched its first service on the Lakes line on Monday, two weeks after Northern suspended all journeys and introduced a replacement bus service.

A 40-year-old diesel engine and carriages will carry passengers free of charge along the 10-mile route from Oxenholme to Windermere six times a day, from 9.25am to 7pm. It is understood that the Department for Transport will meet the £5,500 daily cost of running the service.

Passengers across the north of England have faced thousands of cancellations and delays on services run by Northern, a subsidiary of Arriva UK trains, since a new timetable was introduced in May. The train firm has blamed delayed engineering works and a shortage of trained drivers for the disruption.

The suspension of Northern services on the Lakes line – which first opened in 1847 – is expected to last until 2 July. The operator will then introduce a shuttle rail service, with 12 trains a day between 6.30am and around 8pm. Rail replacement buses will still cover the remaining gaps in the timetable.



The 925 to Windermere leaves Oxenholme on time! For the first time in more than 2 weeks, we have a timetabled train on the Lakes Line. Thank you to everyone who helped make this happen. pic.twitter.com/fH7I9mHbDz — Tim Farron (@timfarron) June 18, 2018

Tim Farron, the MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, worked with a local passenger group to arrange for West Coast Railways to run services on the line. “We’re nine hours into the service and we’ve been on time throughout the day,” he said.

“It’s a victory for the can-do over the can’t-do. We’ve shamed the Department for Transport and Northern rail by making something happen. We are doing them reputational damage every time we run a train and they don’t.”

He added: “Let’s be honest, Northern rail run trains that are a bit less old, but a lot less nice. Northern rail run Pacers, which are a bit less elderly but without the charm.”

Farron said the service provided by West Coast Railways – which runs a steam train along the line from Mallaig to Fort William made famous by the Harry Potter films – would still not meet the needs of locals. “We need a comprehensive and reliable service so that people can start building their lives around it.”

A DfT spokesperson said: “As an open-access operator, West Coast Railways have agreed access with Network Rail and hold a valid safety certificate with the Office of Rail and Road, permitting them to run services.

“We have been clear that there must be a full resumption of services on this line as soon as possible to give passengers a reliable service and we will continue to work with Northern to achieve this.”