Take the train for a great day out and raise money for charity at the same time!

Northern Rail and the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway have teamed up to offer a day out that lets the train take the strain, enabling day trippers to travel more sustainably and raise money for a fantastic cause.

Northern Rail’s 8.38am departure from Preston signals the launch of a season-long six-days-a-week service that will enable passengers to travel all the way from Preston, to Dalegarth, in the beautiful Eskdale Valley, which lies in the shadow of England’s highest mountains, in the Western Lake District.

The service runs from Monday to Saturday until 30 October, departing from Preston at 8.38 am and picking up at Lancaster and Carnforth en route.  It then takes passengers on a journey offering spectacular views of Morecambe Bay and the Furness Peninsula, before arriving at Barrow-in-Furness.

From Barrow, passengers continue along the Cumbrian Coast Line to Ravenglass – the Lake District’s only coastal village – where they can board a Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway 15” gauge train that will take them on a seven-mile, magical steam journey, through hidden Miterdale, to Dalegarth.

There, they can explore the visitor centre and local village, enjoy home cooked food in the Fellbites Eatery, let off steam in the children’s play area, or shop in the well stocked gift shop.

The homeward journey starts at 14.50 (or 15.50 Saturdays) at Dalegarth, with passengers back in Preston for 19.30 every day.

The return fare from Preston to Dalegarth is £27.60 for an adult and £13.80 for a child.  The adult return fares will generate a £1 donation to The Railway Children charity thanks to the fundraising efforts of Martin Cookman, assistant general manager at the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway.

Martin is raising funds for this charity, which supports children who are abandoned or have run away from home, for a variety of reasons, and who arrive at railway stations around the world, living in station buildings, on the track, or on trains themselves.  Martin has raised funds for this worthwhile cause for the last two years.

Martin’s 2010 charity efforts will be boosted by his participation in the Three Peaks Challenge, which will see him and a team from the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, tackling ascents of Snowdon, Scafell and Ben Nevis in just three days, with very little sleep in between.

Martin Cookman says: “We hope that this offer will encourage lots of people to experience a car free day out from Lancashire with the thrill of rail travel and the magic of steam whilst also contributing to a very worthwhile cause.

“I am grateful to the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway for its continued support and hope that we can raise sums that will really help some of the UK children who are forced to regard a railway station to be the roof over their head, until The Railway Children charity steps in to help them.”

Matthew Beeton, Area Director, Northern Rail said: “Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway is one of the most popular visitor attractions on our network and it is so easy to get there by train.  What better way to spend a day out and raise money for a great cause at the same time!”