Wensleydale Railway Park and Ride Service for 2026 Tour of Britain Cycle Race

Wensleydale Railway announces special park and ride train service for 2026 Tour of Britain Cycle Race finish in Leyburn

Wensleydale Railway has announced that it will operate a special park and ride train service on Saturday 5th September 2026 to transport cycling fans to the finish of Stage 4 of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Men's Cycle Race.

The Yorkshire stage of the annual race, organised by British Cycling, will finish in Leyburn market place and local roads are expected to face significant closures and heavy traffic. The heritage railway's special service offers spectators and cyclists a stress-free travel alternative, allowing passengers to park outside congested areas and take the train directly to and from the race finish line.

The railway will operate 5 trains throughout the day between Leeming Bar, Bedale and Leyburn. To ensure spectators can enjoy the post-race celebrations in town without feeling rushed, the final train of the day will depart Leyburn at 6.30pm and return to Bedale and Leeming Bar.

In a special collaboration, Wensleydale Railway has partnered with the Little White Bus, a community transport service that provides scheduled travel to the residents of, and visitors to, Upper Wensleydale and Swaledale in North Yorkshire. The Little White Bus team will be providing a free special shuttle bus service for train passengers from Leyburn Station to and from Leyburn town’s market place. Donations to support the community bus service will be greatly appreciated on the day

In addition to providing transport, the railway will have a presence at the race finish line. Wensleydale Railway's volunteers will be staffing a promotional stall in the market place in conjunction with several other local heritage and cultural attractions. The collaborative stall will showcase some of the amazing history and activities that the area has to offer.

To accommodate the anticipated influx of visitors, the railway is introducing longer trains with increased bike-carrying capacity. Cyclists traveling to the Dales will benefit from a seamless journey, as there is no requirement to dismantle bike frames before boarding.

The railway’s station cafes will be open throughout the day serving a selection of hot and cold drinks, snacks, craft beer, ice cream, cakes and light refreshments.

Nick Keegan, Marketing and Fundraising Manager at Wensleydale Railway said: “If you’re heading to the race - with or without a bike - why not let our trains take the strain! Leave the car behind, sit back and enjoy a relaxing scenic train journey with us. With 5 trains to choose from, you have plenty of time to spend the day in and around Leyburn before enjoying the race finish!

Families can take advantage of our kids for a quid travel offer, which allows children aged 3-15 to travel for only £1 on our trains with a full-paying adult. We have also added an additional train to our scheduled services and dedicated bike carrying capacity will also be available for customers travelling by bike. It’s free to bring your bike onboard our trains, with a valid travel ticket. Please speak to the train guard and they will ensure that your bike is correctly loaded into our separate storage coach.

The Lloyds Tour of Britain 5-stage men’s race begins in Lincoln on 2 September, and the world’s best riders will face 565 miles of challenging riding around Lincolnshire, through East and North Yorkshire, and finish in Earlston in the Scottish Borders.

For more information on the special train timetable and to buy tickets, visit the Wensleydale Railway website: https://wensleydale-railway.co.uk/running-days-2026/

Cycle race information, and a route map, can be on the official British Cycling website: https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/tourofbritain/men/stagefour