The TransPennine Railway 200 Ale Trail Day

Raise a drink to 200 years of the modern railway!

2025 marks 200 years of the modern railway and the Railway 200 campaign is a year long celebration with events up and down the country. A great way to celebrate the railway is raise a toast in a railway pub or, even better, in several pubs!

The TransPennine Real Ale Trail is having something of a revival, returning to the kind of event that the real ale lovers intended it to be and was enjoyed by none other than Oz and James in their show, Drink to Britain, back in 2009. A new website is coming soon to help Ale Trailers plan their day out and while you can do the trail any day, we have a special day marked out as a Railway 200 celebration.

Join the trail on 31 October 2025

Railway enthusiasts and real lovers alike are being encouraged to come and do the TransPennine Real Ale Trail on Friday 31 October, where a few special treats have been organised for them:

  • A specially brewed ‘Ale Trail Pale’ brewed by Riverhead will be pouring at Cellar Bar, The West Riding, Riverhead Brewery & Tap, The King’s Head, and The Commercial.
  • A pizza and 2 pints offer for £20 as The West Riding
  • A pulled pork muffin with gravy for £5.95 plus local delicacy, black peas, on the side as an optional extra at Stalybridge Buffet Bar

Plus, of course, the hospitality and cheer you’d expect from the pubs along the trail, which are:

About the TransPennine Ale Trail

The trail is 7 pubs between Batley and Stalybridge. 3 are on the station platforms, and 4 are just a short walk from the station. All are traditional, real ale pubs and for the railway lovers, there’s plenty of railway memorabilia to peruse while you enjoy your ale.

You can start the trail at either end (many prefer to start at the furthest point and work their way back nearer home – can’t think why!).

Following a lengthy period of disrupted service, due to the impressive upgrades of the TransPennine line, it’s time to get back on the trail, enjoy those brilliant pubs and celebrate 200 years of the railway.

Just hop on the train on 31 October (Halloween costumes optional!) at any time, we’ll be celebrating all day (check opening times of course). We hope you can join us!!