Train services in the area
St Bees is a mandatory stop on the Cumbrian Coast Line, and since 1849 has been a popular means of travelling to the village.
On Mondays to Saturdays there will be 30 trains a day with 15 in each direction Barrow-Carlisle, with later last trains. For the first time since 1967 there will be scheduled Sunday trains, and this will not just be a token gesture but will be seven trains north, and nine trains south.
The timetable is available electronically.
These improvements are due to the recent franchise award to Northern Railway which said these improvements must be implemented as part of the contract. It also reflects the continual growth in rail passenger traffic.
There are no advance tickets or bookable seats on the Cumbrian Coast. However there is rarely a full train.
Local trains on the Cumbrian Coast line are run by Northern and times and fares are available on 08547 48 49 50 (national phone line) or see National rail timetable online.
A number of trains on the southern route extend direct through to Preston or Lancaster. There are Sunday trains to St Bees from 20th May 2018.
Main Line luxury on several trains each day! The two locomotive train sets are now running on the Coastal line. Travel in MKIII coaching stock luxury and large guards vans for cycles.
National rail enquiries and timetable – Trainline
Community rail cumbria website with video of the line.
St Bees Railway Station
(Station Code SBS on national rail online enquiries)
The station is in the centre of the village and just 15 minutes walk from the beach, there are two platforms.
It is a manned level crossing with an original mechanical signal box dating from 1891. This is now a grade 2 listed building, one of the few “Arts and Crafts” signal boxes in UK.
There has been a station since 1849, and many of the Victorian buildings survive. (see History).
Improvements
Both platforms have new access humps installed. The old waiting shelters have been replaced with attractive new wooden structures. The platforms usable lengths have been extended to cater for the class 37 locos and their four carriages. There are live display screens on both platforms of train times and latest travel information, plus weather forecast and global news.
For more on Cumbrian Coast rail travel see..
Copeland Rail Users Group (CRUG) – useful updates on coast line news.
NOTES:
1. All Carlisle-St Bees trains are direct.
2. Penrith requires road transport to St. Bees
3. Change at Barrow, Preston or Lancaster for St. Bees from the south.
4. Manchester Airport trains go direct to Barrow or Carlisle via Lancaster. Change at any of these for St Bees. Journey times are about the same by north or south route.
Map Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right.