Keswick has joined rail journey planners so visitors can travel seamlessly by train and bus to the Lakes this summer.
- Avanti West Coast and Stagecoach are introducing integrated train and bus tickets in Cumbria
- Visitors can travel seamlessly by rail and bus with one ticket covering the whole journey to Keswick
- The initiative supports Cumbria Tourism’s Go Car Free campaign to achieve greener journeys
Keswick is set to become a ‘virtual station’ this summer, allowing visitors to enjoy seamless rail and bus journeys to the picturesque Lake District town.
Avanti West Coast has added Keswick as a destination in rail journey planners, so only one ticket covering both modes can be purchased to travel there.
That’s right, bus company Stagecoach has doubled the frequency of its Penrith and Keswick services to 30 minutes this summer.
Both transport operators have partnered with Cumbria Tourism this year on the ‘Go Car Free’ campaign, 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.
Creating a virtual rail station means people can view train and bus departure times as well as book one fully integrated ticket for their entire journey.
The pass is available for West Coast Main Line travel and can be used on Avanti West Coast services to Penrith (Gateway to the Northern Lakes) and Stagecoach X4 and X5 bus services to Keswick – avoiding the need for multiple tickets and transactions.
Tickets are now on sale for travel until early September and more will be released in the coming weeks for travel dates up to November 1 – the end of the programme. Customers simply select ‘Keswick Bus’ as their destination when booking through the Avanti West Coast website and app or at ticket offices to receive one ticket for the entire journey.
After arriving in Penrith by train, visitors traveling on an integrated ticket can board the X4 or X5 connecting bus to Keswick, which departs from outside Penrith railway station, for just £2 in addition to the cost of the train fare.
By offering better connectivity into the heart of the Lake District and seamless public transport travel, a partnership between a rail company, bus operator and Cumbria Tourism hopes to encourage people to leave their car behind.
With the average journey time from London to the North Lakes center taking three and a half hours by train and bus, and a single fare costing 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 business Arragon’s Cycles, which offers an electric bicycle (e-bike) hire service with free delivery and collection in Penrith – allowing visitors to seamlessly transfer between train and two bikes.
Sarah Copley, Managing Director of Avanti West Coast, said: “We are proud to serve as the gateway to the Lakes and play our part in making it easier for visitors to access this beautiful part of the world.
“By combining train and bus travel, 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, an integrated ticket means you have everything you need for your journey 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, chief executive of Cumbria Tourism, said: “We are delighted that Avanti West Coast has teamed up with Stagecoach to create this integrated ticket. Keswick is such a great and popular town to visit, so if visitors can seamlessly book tickets that take them from their point of origin right into the heart of the town, it fits perfectly with our vision of a destination management plan to make Cumbria the best in Britain. sustainable rural destination. Providing easy car-free connectivity not only supports this vision but also enables even more relaxing, fun, 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’s a real game-changer, helping people visit this beautiful part of the world in a sustainable way and making bus and train travel easier than it used to be.”
Bookings can be made up to 12 weeks before travel on weekdays and up to eight weeks on weekends at www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk.
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