Keswick has added its rail journey planners so visitors can travel seamlessly to the Lakes by train and bus this summer.
- Avanti West Coast and Stagecoach launch integrated train and bus ticket in Cumbria
- Visitors can travel seamlessly by train and bus with one ticket for the entire journey to Keswick
- Initiative supports Cumbria Tourism’s Go Car Free campaign to make greener journeys
Keswick will become a ‘virtual train station’ this summer, where visitors can enjoy seamless train and bus journeys to the picturesque Lake District town.
Avanti West Coast has added Keswick as a destination to its train journey planners, meaning only one ticket for travel between both modes can be purchased to travel there.
It comes as bus company Stagecoach has doubled the frequency of services between Penrith and Keswick to 30 minutes this summer.
Both transport companies have worked with tourist board Cumbria Tourism on a ‘Go Car Free’ campaign this year, making it easier than ever for visitors to enjoy a more sustainable holiday in the heart of the Lakes, without the need for a car .
By creating a virtual train station, people can view train and bus departure times and book one fully integrated ticket for their entire journey.
The ticket is available for travel on the West Coast Main Line and can be used on Avanti West Coast to Penrith (gateway to the North Lakes) services and Stagecoach’s X4 and X5 bus services to Keswick, eliminating the need for multiple tickets and transactions are necessary.
Tickets are on sale now for travel until early September and further tickets will be released in the coming weeks for travel dates up to November 1 – the end of the scheme. Customers simply select ‘Keswick Bus’ as the destination when booking via the Avanti West Coast website and app or at the ticket offices, to receive one ticket for their entire journey.
After arriving in Penrith by train, visitors traveling on the integrated ticket can board the connecting X4 or train ticket.
By offering improved connectivity to the heart of the Lake District and a seamless travel experience on public transport, the partnership between the train operator, bus operator and Cumbria Tourism hopes to encourage people to leave their cars behind.
With the average journey time from London to the center of the North Lakes being three and a half hours by train and bus, with one-way tickets starting from £33.50, the ticket aims to make it easier for people to choose sustainable travel options.
It follows the launch of Avanti West Coast’s partnership with Cumbrian cycling company Arragon’s Cycles, which offers an electric bicycle (e-bike) rental service with free delivery and collection in Penrith, allowing visitors to seamlessly transfer between trains and two wheels.
Sarah Copley, Executive Director of Commercial at Avanti West Coast, said: “We are proud to serve the gateway to the Lakes and play our part in making it easier for visitors to reach this beautiful part of the world.
“By bringing together train and bus journeys, entire journeys can now be completed with just one ticket – supporting Cumbria Tourism’s car-free campaign. Whether you’re heading to the Lakes for a day or a weekend away, the integrated ticket gives you everything you need for your trip before you board, making it even easier to make greener travel choices. We hope it will inspire more people to ditch the car and take the train and bus before exploring the region’s beautiful countryside on foot or by public transport.”
Gill Haigh, Managing Director at Cumbria Tourism, said: “We are delighted that Avanti West Coast has teamed up with Stagecoach to create this integrated ticket. Keswick is such a wonderful and popular city to visit, so allowing visitors to seamlessly book tickets that take them from their departure point into the heart of the city fits perfectly with our Destination Management Plan Vision for Cumbria to become the Great Britain’s most popular city to become Britain. sustainable rural destination. Providing easy car-free connections not only supports this vision, but also enables even more relaxing, enjoyable, inclusive and welcoming ways to visit and enjoy great Cumbrian experiences and hospitality.”
Tom Waterhouse, Managing Director of Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire, said: “We are delighted to be working together on this joint ticketing initiative. It is a real step forward in helping people visit this beautiful part of the world in a sustainable way and makes travel by bus and train easier than ever before.”
Bookings can be made up to 12 weeks before departure on weekdays, and up to eight weeks for weekends at www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk.
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