Keswick “virtual railway station” helps break records in public transport visits to Lakes

Keswick “virtual railway station” helps break records in public transport visits to Lakes

• Integrated ticket allowing seamless travel across rail and bus at Penrith relaunched
• Initiative has helped break records for public transport use to popular visitor spot in Lake District
• Improved connectivity supports sustainable tourism ambitions for region

Record numbers of visitors have travelled to the Lake District by public transport after Avanti West Coast created a “virtual railway station” at Keswick, new figures show.

The addition of Keswick as a destination in rail journey planners means one ticket covering both rail and bus transport can be used to travel to the region. From today (27 April) the integrated ticket will be available all year round following a trial for the past two summers. 

Journeys to the picturesque town can made on both Avanti West Coast and TransPennine Express services to Penrith (gateway to the North Lakes) and Stagecoach’s connecting X4 and X5 bus service to Keswick using a single, fully integrated ticket.

Over the last year, passenger numbers have surged, with train operators Avanti West Coast and TransPennine Express, as well as bus operator, Stagecoach, breaking new records.

Collaboration between the railway and Stagecoach helped deliver the initiative, which has been welcomed by Cumbria Tourism. The organisation has worked closely with Avanti West Coast, Northern, TransPennine Express, and Stagecoach on the joint ‘Let’s Go Car Free’ campaign, which highlights how easy it is to travel to, from and around Cumbria without a car.

In 2025, the second year the integrated ticket was in place, Avanti West Coast saw 17 percent growth in customers travelling to or from Penrith in the summer months (mid-June to mid-September). A total of 205,000 journeys were made with the intercity operator to the North Lakes station – up by 48 percent compared to 2019, prior to Covid.

During the same period, TransPennine Express recorded 11 percent growth in travel to and from Penrith, with 115,000 journeys in the summer months – up 58 percent compared with 2019 before Covid.

Stagecoach has seen similarly strong growth after the trial was launched two years ago to coincide with it doubling the frequency of its services that connect Penrith to Keswick. Over the summer season (April - November), nearly 442,000 trips were made on its services, 14 percent more than in 2023.

Meanwhile, Cumbria Tourism’s extensive visitor research shows the number of people who travelled to the region by rail grew from 7 percent to 12 percent between 2022 and 2025.

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.”

President of Cumbria Tourism, Jim Walker, said: “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.”

ENDS