AN extra carriage has been added to a festive steam train amid much demand. 

Starting from Carlisle Citadel railway station, the Santa Special train will pick up passengers at Appleby, Settle and Skipton and arrive in York for the first weekend of the Christmas markets on November 18.

With standard class selling out and only limited seats left in premier dining and first class, organisers at Settle Carlisle Railway Development Company (SCRDC) have arranged for an extra carriage to be added to the steam-hauled train.

SCRDC deputy chair, John Moorhouse, said: "As far as we aware this is only the second time a steam train has been chartered to take passengers from Carlisle to York, giving communities along the Settle to Carlisle line the opportunity to enjoy the journey by steam to one of the country's historic railway cities, York. 

"To give as many people the opportunity to join us and to meet the demand, we have arranged for an extra coach to provide an extra 60 seats. 

"We have requested the steam locomotive Class 7P Scots Guardsman for the journey, and we will take in the Eden Valley, the Yorkshire three peaks - Pen-Y-Ghent, Ingleborough and Whernside - and the iconic Ribblehead Viaduct."

Tickets can be bought at www.settle-carlisle.co.uk