BEER lovers will be putting the 'pub' in public transport this weekend.

Real ale fans will travel by train between Huddersfield and Sheffield from today until Sunday, as part of the Penistone Line Beer Festival.

It will see drinkers travel by train to visit 18 pubs on, or near, the Penistone Line, which runs from Huddersfield to Sheffield.

Tonight, a "folk train" will start the festival, leaving Huddersfield at 8.17pm.

Passengers will be treated to music from The Good Egg Band and can sample two beers from Fernandes Brewery in Wakefield.

The train will call at all stations until it reaches Sheffield.

At each station, passengers will be able to sample a variety of real ales in pubs.

Thirty ales are on offer at the 18 pubs throughout the weekend.

The pubs include these Huddersfield venues: the Head of Steam, near the station; the Albert on Victoria Lane; the Rat and Ratchet on Chapel Hill; the Star and Shoulder of Mutton in Lockwood; the Railway at Berry Brow; the Railway in Honley; the Rock Inn at Brockholes and the White Hart, Denby Dale.

This is the third year the event has been held.

It is organised by the Penistone Line Partnership, a non-profit organisation which helps to looks after the route.

For further details about train times, costs and participating pubs, phone the partnership on 07793235991 or visit www.penline.demon. co.uk