FOR six months an unusual train has been running from York to Carlisle over the famous Settle & Carlisle line.

The train uses two powerful British-built locomotives from the 1950s and refurbished coaches from the 1980s.

Green Express Railtours provide leisure days out by direct train from local stations in the North, including York. From surveys, we have found a third of the passengers we attract rarely use the train.

With the franchise for operating trains both on the Harrogate line and Settle & Carlisle line due to change in October, what does the future hold for this unusual train, which is popular with both the commuter and the leisure traveller, and that has taken pressure off our congested roads?

Nick Harvey,

Proprietor,

Green Express Railtours,

Byram Arcade,

Westgate,

Huddersfield.

Updated: 11:22 Friday, July 30, 2004