The Yorkshire Dales area is served by the Leeds to Lancaster/Morecambe line (also known as the Bentham Line) and the famous Leeds - Settle - Carlisle line, which both have train services running several times daily, operated by Northern.
Click here for timetables of Northern services (the Leeds - Settle - Carlisle and Leeds - Lancaster - Morecambe lines are Route 7). The Yorkshire Dales Explorer train service runs every Saturday from Rochdale via Manchester Victoria, Bolton, Blackburn and Clitheroe to Settle, Horton-in-Ribblesdale and Ribblehead. Timetable details are available here.
Many other access points to the Yorkshire Dales are also well served by rail. The local rail operator in the Yorkshire area is Northern, which provides frequent services to Skipton, Ilkley, Harrogate, Leeds and York.
The Airedale line provides frequent services from Leeds, Bradford and Keighley to Skipton, with some trains continuing to Settle/Carlisle and Lancaster/Morecambe. The Wharfedale line provides frequent services from Leeds and Bradford to Ilkley, for onward connecting buses to Bolton Abbey and Upper Wharfedale. Click here for timetables (routes 39 and 40). Frequent long-distance inter-city trains serve York and Leeds, operated by Cross Country and London North Eastern Railway.
The railway line between Scruton, Leeming Bar, Bedale and Leyburn is now operated by the Wensleydale Railway.
Further details can also be obtained from National Rail Enquiries on 08457 484950.
Additional information is available on the websites of the train operators themselves, links to which are provided below:
Local services throughout the north of England, including the Leeds - Settle - Carlisle Railway, Leeds - Morecambe line, and Yorkshire Dales Explorer service from Manchester.
TransPennine Express services from Liverpool, Manchester, Edinburgh and Newcastle to Northallerton, York and Leeds
InterCity services to Leeds, Harrogate, York and Bradford from London Kings Cross, Newcastle and Scotland (also limited service to Skipton)
InterCity services to Leeds and York from the SouthWest, Birmingham, Newcastle and Scotland
InterCity services to Bradford, York and Northallerton from London Kings Cross
Bus links into the heart of the Yorkshire Dales are available from numerous stations, including Northallerton, Harrogate, Ilkley, Skipton, Settle, Ribblehead, Dent and Garsdale. See map and All Year Bus Services and Extra Summer Bus Services pages for more details.