Red carpet treatment for rail lovers as luxury train set to visit Black Country

One of the country’s newest railway stations will be welcoming one of Britain’s most luxurious trains this weekend.

The Northern Belle will pay a rare visit to Willenhall on Saturday (September 5) as part of a steam-hauled trip over the picturesque Settle-Carlisle railway line.

A red carpet will be laid across the station platform as the 1930s Pullman-style Northern Belle will pick up passengers there at 7.30am then, after being escorted to their seats by a liveried steward, they will be handed their first glass of champagne before tucking into a slap-up brunch.

The train, once part of the iconic Belmond Orient Express group, was voted the fifth greatest in the world by readers of the prestigious Condé Nast Traveller magazine last year.

Actor Bill Nighy described it as “the Grand Dame of luxury travel” when the same Settle-Carlisle trip featured on a Channel 5 TV documentary.

It even has its own musicians to serenade passengers during a slap-up six-course dinner, while a conjuror wanders from table to table to add an extra touch of magic.

Saturday’s train sets out from Coventry at 6.40am, and also calls at Birmingham International, Stafford and Crewe, and despite fares starting at £595 and ranging up to almost £800, Saturday’s train is completely sold out.

A spokesman said: “It may be worth checking to see if there are any last-minute cancellations.

“If you miss the train, though, we have a trip to Oxford and Blenheim Palace from Stafford on October 31.

“Then we have a wonderful Christmas Lunch journey from Birmingham on Sunday, December 13, with champagne, caviar and lobster, as well as the traditional turkey, pigs in blankets, chestnuts and plum pudding.

“You’d be crackers to miss that.”