THE Flying Scotsman will take part in the official re-opening celebrations of the Settle – Carlisle line following its closure for over 12 months.

The heritage locomotive will leave Oxenhope station on the Keighley and Worth Valley line, on Friday, March 31and travel via Haworth, Keighley and Skipton to Carlisle.

The Rail Tour, run and organised by KWVR, will be part of the official reopening of the line after the 500,000 tonne landslip which closed it at Armathwaite, North of Appleby, over a year ago.

In 2015 the last steam engine to travel the Settle-Carlisle was Flying Scotsman which will make the re-opening journey even more significant.

Once the train leaves the Worth Valley branch line - which is celebrating its 150th anniversary in April - it will join the mainline and passengers will travel the Settle-Carlisle line, first opened in 1876.

It takes in 20 viaducts, 14 tunnels and passes through restored Midland stations along the 72 mile track.

Drew Haley, S&C general manager said: "Two great railways in one day the Worth Valley and fully opened Settle and Carlisle line amount to a great day out on the iconic Flying Scotsman, a unique event to witness and be part of.”

Matt Stroh, KWVR chairman, said:“To have Flying Scotsman on the Keighley Worth Valley branch line and depart Oxenhope to continue onto the main line and officially re-open the Settle-Carlisle is a fantastic achievement for our railway.

"We have worked in partnership with Network Rail, Northern and the Friends of Settle–Carlisle (FoSCL) to allow this opportunity to take place.”

FoSCL Chairman Douglas Hodgins said: "2016 has been a difficult year for the Settle-Carlisle line, especially for steam haulage.

"Fixing the landslip at Eden Brows has been an enormous achievement for Network Rail and their contractors. For Flying Scotsman to reopen Britain's third route between England and Scotland is symbolic."

Tickets are £220 with complimentary light refreshments and souvenir programme included. They are available through the KWVR website from Friday, January 13 at 6.00pm or by calling the Haworth office on 01535 645214 from Saturday January 14 between 9.30am and 4.30pm.