A TARTAN-clad piper will play a sad lament at Chesterfield station next week when Britain’s poshest train sets off on a Christmas shopping trip to Edinburgh.

Red carpets will be laid across the platform as passengers board the 1930s Pullman-style Northern Belle.

Then liveried stewards will hand them their first glass of champagne before they tuck into a slap-up breakfast during the journey to Scotland.

Full steam ahead ... the Northern Belle thunders over the Settle-Carlisle line | Northern Belle

placeholder image — Full steam ahead ... the Northern Belle thunders over the Settle-Carlisle line | Northern Belle

Tickets for the trip on Thursday, November 19, have almost sold out despite costing almost £500.

A spokesman said: “Edinburgh is always one of our favourite destinations, especially in the run-up to Christmas.

“It’s a marvellous place to do a bit of festive shopping. And there is also the opportunity for passengers to visit the late Queen Elizabeth’s Royal Yacht Britannia at nearby Leith.”

Passengers will be served more champagne during the evening followed by a sumptuous six-course gourmet dinner, with caviar, wine and port.

Music while you dine ... passengers are serenaded during dinner | Northern Belle

And, to add an extra touch of class, they will be serenaded by the train’s resident musicians while they dine.

The spokesman added: “We won’t just be taking them to Edinburgh, we will be transporting them back to the golden days of rail travel when nothing was too good for the pampered passenger.

“We’ve only a few tickets left so try not to miss this train – although, because of the demand, we will be repeating the trip from Chesterfield on Thursday, December 10.”

Actor Bill Nighy described the Northern Belle as “the Grand Dame of luxury travel” when it featured on a Channel 5 documentary.

And last year, it was voted the world’s fifth greatest train by readers of the prestigious Condé Nast Traveller magazine.

For more details about the train and to book see, www.northernbelle.co.uk