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The Railway Touring Company · Steam rail day trip
The Coast to Coast Express
Steam day trip from Liverpool to Scarborough crossing the Pennines
The Railway Touring Company's Coast to Coast Express is a single-day steam rail journey linking the Irish Sea at Liverpool to the North Sea at Scarborough. The train, hauled by heritage locomotive Tangmere, departs Liverpool Lime Street and travels via Manchester Victoria onto the scenic Hope Valley line, crossing the Pennines and passing through the 3.5-mile Totley Tunnel (opened in 1892). Passengers may alight at York, a historic cathedral city, or continue to Scarborough, a Victorian spa town on the Yorkshire coast. The return journey follows the same route until Milford Loop, where diesel haulage takes over for the final leg to Liverpool. Three fare tiers offer increasing on-board service: Standard includes a reserved seat at a table for four; First adds morning and afternoon tea with pastries; Premier Dining provides a full English breakfast and four-course dinner freshly prepared on board. This is an all-in-one-day excursion ideal for steam railway enthusiasts and photographers seeking a substantial Pennine crossing in heritage style.
What to know before you look closer
- Only one departure is currently listed: June 2026. Confirm future dates directly with The Railway Touring Company.
- The return leg from Scarborough to Liverpool switches from steam to diesel haulage at Milford Loop.
Day by day
- Day 1
Liverpool to Scarborough (via York) and return
Steam-hauled from Liverpool Lime Street via Manchester Victoria, the Hope Valley line and Meadowhall to York, with the option to alight at York or continue to Scarborough. Return steam-hauled from Scarborough via York, changing to diesel haulage at Milford Loop for the run back to Liverpool.
The moments this trip is built around
- Day 1Steam locomotive Tangmere departs Liverpool Lime Street, crosses Chat Moss and continues via Manchester Victoria onto the Hope Valley line.
- Day 1The train passes through the 3.5-mile Totley Tunnel, opened in 1892, while climbing the Pennines.
- Day 1Passengers may alight at York or continue to Scarborough, where the journey links the Irish Sea with the North Sea.
Questions travellers ask
- Is train travel included in the price?
- Yes. Fares from GBP 120 include rail travel and a reserved seat, usually at a table for four. Premier Dining (GBP 335) adds a full English breakfast and four-course dinner prepared and served on board.
- Which trains and locomotives operate this journey?
- Steam locomotive Tangmere hauls the train from Liverpool Lime Street through Manchester, the Hope Valley line, and York to Scarborough. A diesel locomotive takes over for the return leg from Milford Loop back to Liverpool.
- What is the route and how long is the journey?
- The train departs Liverpool Lime Street, passes through Manchester Victoria, crosses the Pennines via the Hope Valley line and the 3.5-mile Totley Tunnel, reaches York, and optionally continues to Scarborough. It returns the same day, linking the Irish Sea to the North Sea.
- Can I get a table for two in First or Premier Dining?
- Tables for two are available in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of GBP 50 per person, subject to availability.
- Do I have to go all the way to Scarborough?
- No. Passengers may alight at York or continue to Scarborough, returning to Liverpool the same day.
