Yorkshire-based East Coast has Advance tickets on sale for travel on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 July, when the Grand Départ of the Tour de France hits the road in the White Rose County.
The train operator is urging to plan and book journeys well in advance as its services are expected to be very busy.
To help those travelling to watch the Grand Départ in Leeds, Harrogate and York, East Coast is running four additional services and three extended journeys on Saturday 5 July, and two additional services and an extended service on Sunday 6 July.
Lowest Advance fares for all East Coast services, including the extra trains, are on sale now at www.eastcoast.co.uk. Standard Advance one-way fares between London and Leeds or York, booked online at www.eastcoast.co.uk, start from £13.
More than a million spectators are expected to line the Yorkshire route of the world’s greatest cycle race on both days. East Coast is working hard with event organisers, other train operators and infrastructure provider Network Rail to ensure everyone has a safe and comfortable rail journey to and from this historic event.
East Coast Managing Director Karen Boswell said: “As a York-based company, we know how important this event is to Yorkshire’s summer. We’re determined to go the extra mile to make sure everyone who travels with us has a weekend to remember for all the right reasons.
“A lot of hard work is going on behind the scenes to make sure our trains and stations are fully prepared to welcome thousands of spectators travelling for this unique event. Additional staff will be on hand on our trains and stations to help customers as they travel.
“Above all, we’re advising everyone planning to visit Yorkshire by train on this momentous weekend to plan ahead. Full details of East Coast travel arrangements, including extra services and our normal arrangements for booking cycles onto our trains are available on a dedicated page on our website, www.eastcoast.co.uk/letour.
“Those planning to travel to, or via, Leeds and York stations on the day, whether they are planning to watch the Grand Départ or not, will also need to think and plan ahead carefully. Both stations will be very busy throughout both days, and road closures for part of the weekend will affect those planning to drive or travel by bus to catch a train at Leeds or York.”
Welcome to Yorkshire Chief Executive Gary Verity said: “The Grand Départ is going to be a huge weekend for Yorkshire. Millions of people will flock to see the champions of cycling, so we would recommend that people plan ahead, book travel in advance and if possible, come early and treat themselves to a long weekend of world class sporting action in a world class county!”
Extra and extended East Coast services will operate as follows:
Saturday 5 July:
06.28 London King’s Cross to Leeds: additional service, calling at Stevenage, Peterborough, Grantham, Newark North Gate, Retford, Doncaster, Wakefield Westgate and arriving in Leeds at 09.00
10.03 London King’s Cross to Leeds: extended to Harrogate, departing Leeds at 12.37 and arriving in Harrogate at 13.07
14.05 Leeds to Harrogate: additional service, arriving in Harrogate at 14.35
19.05 Leeds to London King’s Cross: extended to start from Harrogate at 18.23, arriving in Leeds at 18.49, then normal calling points served to London
19.45 Leeds to London King’s Cross: additional service, calling at Wakefield Westgate, Doncaster, Retford, Newark North Gate, Grantham, Peterborough, Stevenage and arriving in London King’s Cross at 22.22
20.05 Leeds to London King’s Cross: extended to start from Harrogate at 19.23, arriving in Leeds at 19.49, then normal calling points served to London
20.36 Harrogate to Leeds: additional service, arriving in Leeds at 21.13
Sunday 6 July:
06.20 London King’s Cross to Newcastle: additional service, calling at Stevenage, Peterborough, Grantham, Newark North Gate, Retford, Doncaster, and arriving in York at 08.49. This service will then run non-stop from York to Newcastle.
08.00 York to London King’s Cross: extended to start from Newcastle at 06.50, calling at Darlington and Northallerton to pick up only, then normal calling points served to London
13.47 York to London King’s Cross: additional service, calling at Doncaster, Retford, Newark North Gate, Grantham, Peterborough, Stevenage and arriving in London King’s Cross at 16.19
Live travel updates during the event will be available via the East Coast website www.eastcoast.co.uk or by following @eastcoastuk on Twitter. Information will also be available via National Rail Enquiries by calling 08457 48 49 50.
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