The Northern Belle is scheduled to stop at Stafford on Saturday 31 October as part of a day excursion to Oxfordshire.
The operator’s current timetable lists a 9.35am departure from Stafford and a 7.50pm return. The route also picks up passengers at Liverpool, Warrington and Crewe before reaching Oxford Parkway.
Two itineraries are advertised for the same departure: a day exploring Oxford and a separate visit to Blenheim Palace, including transfers and admission.
Current availability
When checked on 26 October, both journeys were marked sold out on Northern Belle’s website, with a waiting-list option. Travellers should contact the operator for current availability and follow their own confirmed travel documents.
The excursion includes dining on the outward and return journeys. It is not advertised as a steam special: Northern Belle says its usual departures are hauled by a heritage diesel locomotive.
The photograph supplied with this story is an archive illustration of a steam-hauled Northern Belle journey, rather than a photograph of the forthcoming Stafford departure.
Oxford itinerary: https://northernbelle.co.uk/trip/oxford-at-leisure/1869
Blenheim Palace itinerary: https://northernbelle.co.uk/trip/blenheim-palace/1868