A NEW steam rail service to the coast will begin on Monday.

The Optimist will run from Pickering to Whitby, along the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

Services are pre-booked, steam-hauled, with limited capacity. They will depart from Pickering and will travel to Whitby where you will be able to disembark and enjoy two hours, 45 minutes exploring the town before returning back to Pickering. It will not stop at any intermediate stations - Levisham, Goathland and Grosmont.

Tickets will be released in two-week blocks. Passengers can book either a private compartment (maximum six) or travel in a standard TSO Carriage (minimum two/maximum four) with social distancing measures in place. Passengers include children from one years old.

To book, go to nymr.co.uk/new-optimist-service