This year’s favourite destination for passengers travelling on the luxury Northern Belle train has been named as Edinburgh.

The Northern Belle train is a luxury 1930s Pullman-style train that was once part of the iconic Orient Express group. The company has been stunned by the demand for tickets, as several trips to the Scottish capital sold out within days of this year’s schedule being released.

Last year, the iconic Flying Scotsman included a sell-out Northern Belle trip to Edinburgh as part of its Centenary celebrations.

The company has more steam-hauled trips planned for this year, travelling over the spectacular Settle-Carlisle line and the magnificent 24-arch Ribblehead Viaduct.

A trip to the Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 15 marks the start of this year’s Northern Belle tours, and despite tickets costing between £695 and £895, most of the 250 seats were quickly sold out.

Other tours planned for this year include a Brief Encounter Champagne Lunch trip, where a stop will be made at Carnforth station where the classic wartime movie was filmed, a trip to Royal Ascot for Ladies’ Day, and a visit to the Dartmouth Steam Railway.

Readers of the prestigious Condé Nast Traveller magazine have voted the Northern Belle as one of the world’s most luxurious trains, whilst actor Bill Nighy described it as the “grand dame of luxury travel” during Channel 5’s “The World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys” programme. Fares for a luxury journey on the train start at £295, and more details about upcoming tours can be found at www.northernbelle.co.uk.

A Northern Belle spokesman said: “We are running ten trips to Edinburgh from various towns in England and are wondering whether we should lay on some more.

“It’s by far our number one destination. Many passengers have booked for the Fringe Festival season, but others are drawn by the city’s history and shopping, especially at Christmas.

“The Royal Yacht Britannia at Leith is also a big attraction. In fact, our passengers seem to think Edinburgh is a chuffing lovely place to visit.”

“Cheltenham is always a favourite runner with our passengers.

“We’ve only about 15 places left on board – but it’s a dead cert we’ll have sold those before March!”