Record numbers of visitors are travelling to the Lake District by public transport after Avanti West Coast introduced a “virtual railway station” at Keswick, according to newly released figures.
By adding Keswick to national rail journey planners, passengers can now purchase a single, fully integrated ticket covering both train and bus travel. From today (27 April), the ticket will be available year‑round following a successful two‑summer trial.
The initiative allows passengers to travel on Avanti West Coast or TransPennine Express services to Penrith – the gateway to the North Lakes – before continuing to Keswick on Stagecoach’s X4 and X5 bus services, all using one ticket.
Passenger numbers surge across rail and bus operators
The impact has been significant. Over the past year, Avanti West Coast, TransPennine Express and Stagecoach have all reported record-breaking passenger growth, underlining growing demand for seamless, car‑free travel to one of the UK’s most popular visitor destinations.
Collaboration between the rail industry and Stagecoach has been central to delivering the scheme, with strong backing from Cumbria Tourism. The organisation has worked closely with Avanti West Coast, Northern, TransPennine Express and Stagecoach through the joint ‘Let’s Go Car Free’ campaign, promoting sustainable travel across the county.
In 2025, the second year of the integrated ticket’s operation, Avanti West Coast recorded 17 per cent growth in customers travelling to or from Penrith during the summer period (mid‑June to mid‑September). In total, 205,000 journeys were made to the North Lakes station with the operator – 48 per cent higher than 2019, before the Covid pandemic.
Over the same summer months, TransPennine Express saw 11 per cent growth, with 115,000 journeys to and from Penrith – representing a 58 per cent increase compared with 2019.
Bus connectivity plays a key role
Stagecoach has also reported strong growth since the trial launched two years ago, coinciding with a doubling of service frequency between Penrith and Keswick. Across the wider summer season (April to November), nearly 442,000 trips were made on its services – 14 per cent more than in 2023.
Supporting the wider trend, Cumbria Tourism’s visitor research shows the proportion of people travelling to the region by rail rose from 7 per cent to 12 per cent between 2022 and 2025.
Industry reaction
Kathryn O’Brien, Customer Experience Director at Avanti West Coast, said:
“We’re really pleased to be supporting tourism in the Lake District by bringing more visitors to this beautiful part of the world by train, while helping the region grow sustainably.
“It’s been great to see customers choosing public transport for their journeys to the North Lakes and by offering greener travel options all year round we hope to welcome even more people onboard to explore the area.”
Tom Waterhouse, Stagecoach Cumbria and Lancashire Managing Director, said:
“It's extremely encouraging to see such strong growth in customer numbers, which reflects the real appetite for convenient, integrated transport options to access the Lake District.
“We’re making it easier for customers to leave the car behind and enjoy a more sustainable journey into Keswick. The success of the X4 and the Keswick Bus ticket demonstrates the vital role we can play in supporting local tourism while helping to reduce congestion and protect this unique environment.”
Andrew McClements, Customer Experience & Transformation Director at TransPennine Express, said:
“It’s fantastic to see the growing numbers of customers choosing rail as part of their journey to the Lake District.
“By working in partnership with Avanti West Coast and local bus operators, we’re making it easier than ever for people to travel sustainably and enjoy everything the Lakes has to offer without relying on a car.”
Jim Walker, President of Cumbria Tourism, added:
“Seamless options like this convenient integrated ticket to Keswick make it easier than ever to explore the area without a car. We’re thrilled to see it now available all year round, to make low-carbon journeys even easier, more accessible and appealing for both visitors and local residents. Helping people choose more sustainable ways to travel and inspiring longer-term behaviour change is a vital part of the county’s collective Destination Management Plan, as we develop new ways to increase the number of people arriving and moving around Cumbria car free.”
Image credits: Avanti West Coast
