Betcha ... Luxury train is on a fashion winner

Birmingham International Station resembled a fashion parade on Thursday when passengers dressed in their finery boarded a special luxury train for Ladies Day at Royal Ascot.

Women wore expensive designer dresses with fascinators, while several men were resplendent in top hats and tails on the 1930s Pullman-style Northern Belle.

And it was champagne all the way as they were serenaded by the train’s onboard musicians during the journey to the racecourse in Berkshire.

A Northern Belle spokesman said: “It was an absolutely fantastic day out, nothing short of brilliant.

“The atmosphere on board was absolutely buzzing, with everyone dressed to the nines and in high spirits.

“The champagne was flowing like water and, of course, the sun was shining.

“Not everybody won with the bookies, but tucking into a superb six-course banquet during the journey home in the evening, everybody felt like a winner!”

The Northern Belle, once part of the iconic Orient Express organisation, is one of the world’s most famous trains.

Hollywood actor Bill Nighy once described it as "the grand dame of luxury travel”.

It will be back in the Midlands on July 26 for a steam-hauled trip over the spectacular Settle-Carlisle line, leaving from Coventry, Birmingham and Wolverhampton.

Then in August there will be excursions from Birmingham to Royal Sandringham in Norfolk and to Devon.

Fares on the train start at £365. For details and to book, see www.northernbelle.co.uk