HORSERACING fans could be set for the trip of a lifetime with a special luxury train carrying passengers from Manchester to two of the country’s biggest meetings.

The Northern Belle – a vintage locomotive with seven ornately-decorated carriages – will ferry punters to the Epsom Derby on Saturday, June 2, and then Ladies Day at Royal Ascot on Thursday, June 21.

The journey is described by organisers as “recapturing a bygone era of rail travel at its most glamorous”.

General manager Jeanette Snape said: “Places are already booking up fast for the two trains from Manchester. It’s odds-on they will all be gone soon.”

Passengers will board along a red carpet at Victoria Station before being served a Bellini cocktail and a three-course brunch on the journey south.

After spending the afternoon at the races, followed by a champagne reception, they will tuck into a seven-course dinner on the trip home.

Ex-jockey Carrie Ford joined passengers on a recent Aintree trip and other jockeys, as well as musicians, will join the two Manchester trains.

The Northern Belle will also take passengers from Manchester to the Chelsea Flower Show in London on May 24, Durham, Berwick, Alnwick Castle and Lindisfarne on June 9, July 7 and August 4, Bath on June 30, and Edinburgh on August 24 and November 27.

More details are available on northernbelle.co.uk or phone 0844 8404525.