Lincoln Christmas Market is an event not to be missed. It's allegedly the biggest in Europe. More a Christmas experience than anything else, a trip to Lincoln is guaranteed to attract the attention of even those who hate shopping!
Imagine a cobbled square overlooked by a floodlit 12th Century Cathedral, a Norman Castle and black and white timber-framed buildings. Brightly coloured stalls decorated with lights, selling every conceivable Christmas gift and the traders in Victorian costume. The smell of chestnuts roasting, mince pies and hot mulled wine. The evocative sound of hand bell ringers or local choirs singing carols by lantern light, street theatre and beautiful services in the majestic Cathedral. This is Christmas!
These are just some of the reasons people flock the Lincoln Christmas at this special time of the year. There is a wealth of over 300 carefully selected stalls, selling everything from hand painted glass Christmas decorations to ironwork created on working forges, hand-made confectionery, jewellery, crafts and much more. It would be virtually impossible not to find gifts at Lincoln Christmas Market for the whole family. If this does not get you into the Christmas spirit, we can't think of anything else that will.
Join us as our special train starts it's journey at Shrewsbury and heads via Crewe, Wilmslow and Stockport to Sheffield via the beautiful Hope Valley route. Watch out for snow on the mountains! We continue via Retford and Gainsborough to Lincoln. On arrival it's just over 10 minutes to walk to the Cathedral Quarter where the Market is staged.
You might want to celebrate the coming festive season with our premier dining option. Enjoy a leisurely full English breakfast as we went our way to Lincoln. After you have soaked up the atmosphere of the Market, return to the train and enjoy a three-course dinner with a Christmas theme.
You may wish to travel in the opulence of our first class saloons and enjoy coffee, tea and biscuits served at your seat. Or a group of you may wish to make a day of it in standard class. The choice is yours.
Finally for those railway enthusiasts amongst you, the train will be hauled by class 40 40145. Apologies to those who booked anticipating 'Deltic' 55022, but we are informed that this locomotive is no longer available due to required engine repairs. Thanks go to the CFPS for offering 40145 as an able substitute.
****UPDATE****
There has been a route change. The train cannot run via Retford from Sheffield due to the engineering blockade at Bradway Tunnel south of Sheffield. The knock-on effect of diverted service trains having to access Sheffield station from the north means there are no paths. Therefore, the train has been diverted to run via Doncaster. To avoid a reversal at Doncaster, the train will run via Mexborough, Hexthorpe Junction, Bridge Junction, Decoy North Junction, Decoy South Junction and Bessacarr Junction to join the Gainsborough route. This should offer the bonus of some freight-only track!
Please note, pick up and set down points are not affected.
CONFIRMED TIMINGS:
Shrewsbury dep 07.00 (back 20.30), Crewe dep 07.53(back 19.44), Wilmslow dep 08.12 (back 19.20), Stockport dep 08.22 (back 19.11), Sheffield dep 10.05 (back 17.48).
We arrive into Lincoln at 11.35 and depart at 16.15.
FARES: ....UPDATE!!!!....
Fares are £119 First Premier dining, £79 first class (children aged 15 and under £59) and £54 standard class (children aged 15 and under £39).
Apologies, but we cannot offer child fares for premier dining.
Group booking for 4 adults can take advantage of a 10% discount.
Part fares are available.
Sheffield - Lincoln. Adult standard class return £20, senior citizens and children - £15. A family of four ticket is £45 is available in standard class. This covers 2 adults and up to 2 children. We can also offer a 1st class group fare for 4 adults for £100 (4 adults of part thereof).
A part fare is also available from Shrewsbury and all pick up points to Sheffield for £30 standard class.
BOOKING:
For booking information or reservation of your seats, please use your preferred method to contact us.
CALL +44 (0)161 850 0559.
Our phone lines are open from Monday to Fridays between 09:30 and 17:00. You can leave a message with your name and contact details and your call will be returned on the next working day.
or book ONLINE 
or send an EMAIL
or book by POST, please print and complete our booking form below and send it to:
Rail-Blue Charters
PO Box 246
Sidcup
DA15 0DX
Please make cheques payable to 'Talisman Rail Ltd'.
MENU:
We offer you a choice of menu before travelling, but we can cater for any special dietary requirements you might have. Please let us know your choice for each course of the menu at the time of booking.
English Breakfast
Orange juice
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Grapefruit or Breakfast cereals
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Grill Tray: Cheshire dry cured bacon, hand made port sausage, Bury black pudding, tomatoes, field mushrooms and scrambled eggs
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Our baker’s basket of toasts and fresh breads
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Coffee or tea
3-course dinner
Starter
Starter A: Smoked salmon mousse with baby herb salad, lemon & dill dressing
or
Starter B: Leek & potato potage (V)
Served with a selection of bread and unsalted butter
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Main
Main A: Confit duck leg, on cassoulet, red wine jus
or
Main B: Wild mushroom risotto, shavings of Parmesan (V)
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Dessert
Christmas pudding, hot rum sauce
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Coffee and tea with minature mince pies
© Rail-Blue Charters 2008