East Lancashire Railway - (Summerseat Station)
WHERE
Bury
What it’s like
Board a heritage steam or diesel train at Summerseat and let the kids spot the countryside from the window, with no facilities at this particular station.
Summerseat is one of the smaller stops on the line, and it shows. There's very limited parking here and the site is upfront that the station itself has no facilities, so this isn't the platform to plan a long wait around. What you're really coming for is the ride itself, watching the Irwell valley go past from a proper old carriage, which is enough to hold most kids' attention without any extra bells and whistles.
Food and drink is where it gets more interesting, just not at Summerseat. Most trains run an on-board buffet, so you can grab something while you're moving rather than waiting to arrive. Once you're off, there's a garden centre nearby doing tea and cakes, two historic pubs for something more filling, and a farm shop for ice cream, so the eating plan is really "wait till you're off the train" rather than "grab something on the platform".
Pushchairs, wheelchairs, mobility scooters and walking frames can't be wheeled into the main carriages, which will catch out anyone assuming they can just fold the buggy at the door. That said, most trains do have dedicated wheelchair spaces in specially adapted compartments, so a full wheelchair user can stay in their chair if it's booked ahead, ramps included, though the on-board toilets aren't built to take a wheelchair. Guide dogs are fine but you do need to flag it when you book.
If you're bringing a scooter or a big pushchair, it's worth thinking about how you'll manage it at a station with no facilities and limited parking. This feels like a stop best suited to families who are happy to travel light and eat their lunch somewhere down the line rather than at Summerseat itself.
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- Very limited parking at Summerseat Station
- Food
- Multiple on-site food options: on-board buffets on most trains, platform cafés including Rawtenstall Café serving fresh sandwiches, pies
- Wheelchairs
- Most trains have wheelchair spaces
- Dogs
- Guide dogs can be accommodated but must be mentioned during booking
- Summerseat Station has no toilets, café or facilities of its own
- Parking at the station is very limited, so plan for that if you're driving
- On-board toilets can't accommodate wheelchairs even in the adapted compartments
- Dining With Distinction carriages don't offer wheelchair spaces
- Book ahead if you need a wheelchair space or are bringing a guide dog
Plan your visit
Is there parking at Summerseat Station?
Very limited, so don't count on finding a space easily if you're driving straight there.
Are there toilets or a café at the station?
No station facilities at Summerseat itself. The nearest food is on board the train or at places nearby like the garden centre, pubs and farm shop.
Can we bring a pushchair or wheelchair onto the train?
Pushchairs, wheelchairs, mobility scooters and walking frames can't go into the main carriages. Most trains do have adapted compartments with dedicated wheelchair spaces, best booked in advance since ramps have a 250kg limit and on-board toilets can't take a wheelchair.
Can we bring a guide dog?
Guide dogs are welcome, just mention it when you book so staff know to expect one.
What food options are there?
Most trains have an on-board buffet, and platform cafés elsewhere on the line like Rawtenstall serve sandwiches, pies and cakes. Near Summerseat there's a garden centre for tea and cakes, two pubs, and a farm shop for ice cream.
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