▁season , ▁they ▁ran ▁again ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 2 ▁on ▁two ▁success ive ▁week ends , ▁ 1 5 – 1 6 ▁and ▁ 2 2 – 2 3 ▁December . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 3 ▁Santa ▁trains ▁ran ▁on ▁ 1 4 – 1 5 ▁and ▁ 2 1 – 2 2 ▁December . ▁ ▁At ▁Al ston ▁station ▁there ▁is ▁a ▁ca fe ▁and ▁gift ▁shop ▁both ▁operated ▁by ▁the ▁railway ▁company . ▁ ▁Free ▁car ▁and ▁coach ▁par king ▁is ▁available ▁adjacent ▁to ▁the ▁station ▁which ▁is ▁located ▁about ▁ ▁north ▁of ▁the ▁town ▁on ▁H ex ham ▁road . ▁ ▁The ▁present ▁line ▁is ▁now ▁currently ▁ ▁in ▁length , ▁having ▁extended ▁the ▁line ▁by ▁a ▁further ▁ ▁to ▁S lag gy ford ▁in ▁July ▁ 2 0 1 7 . ▁The ▁STR ▁is ▁built ▁on ▁the ▁southern ▁section ▁of ▁the ▁track ▁bed ▁of ▁the ▁dis used ▁ ▁standard ▁gauge ▁H alt wh ist le ▁to ▁Al ston ▁Branch ▁Line , ▁which ▁formerly ▁connected ▁with ▁the ▁New castle ▁and ▁Carl is le ▁Railway ▁at ▁H alt wh ist le . ▁ ▁The ▁popular ▁South ▁Ty ne ▁Tra il ▁shares ▁the ▁track bed ▁with ▁the ▁railway , ▁f enced ▁off ▁for ▁safety . ▁ ▁It ▁is ▁a ▁walking ▁and ▁cycle ▁trail ▁that ▁provides ▁a ▁cut - off ▁for ▁part ▁of ▁its ▁length ▁for ▁the ▁P enn ine ▁Way ▁national ▁trail . ▁ ▁The ▁standard ▁gauge ▁branch ▁line ▁was ▁closed ▁by ▁British ▁Rail ▁on ▁ 1 ▁May