News.
New tourism campaign on-track to encourage train travel from Newcastle to Leeds.
24th March 2025
Visit Leeds and TransPennine Express set to launch a joint campaign promoting Leeds as a city-break destination for people travelling from Newcastle.
Launching on 24 March 2025, and running throughout the year, TransPennine Express and Visit Leeds will be working together to inspire even more visitors to explore Leeds. Exclusive content will showcase the city and everything it has to offer as a destination, encouraging visitors to Leeds to travel by train establishing TransPennine Express as the train provider of choice. The campaign will highlight the city’s spring and summer calendar of festivals and major events including Millennium Square Summer Series, Live at Leeds, Leeds Festival, Pride and Leeds Carnival, as well as major sports events at Headingley Stadium. It will also highlight Leeds’ unrivalled independent music and gig scene plus the fantastic food and drink offer.
With hourly services on the TransPennine Express and a journey time of ninety minutes between Newcastle and Leeds, the campaign will focus on how a city-break can begin as soon as your journey does. Passengers on this journey with TransPennine Express can relax on the Nova trains with comfy seats, large tables and complimentary wifi. First Class passengers can enjoy the newly launched TransPennine Kitchen Coast to Coast menu with a range of tasty treats including burgers, sausage rolls and a steak and Newcastle Brown Ale pie. Prices start from £15.50 in standard and £34.50 in First Class, with group discounts for three or more.
Travelling to Leeds by train with TransPennine Express is also ideal for those from the North East interested in exploring more sustainable and green tourism travel options especially for those wishing to extend their stay and explore the region further. Leeds is perfectly positioned as a gateway to Yorkshire and gives visitors a cool urban city-break with breath-taking scenery on the doorstep; encompassing two national parks and two areas of outstanding beauty, as well as a wealth of historic market towns and industrial heritage spots, all of which can be reached using public transport.
Darren Higgins, Commercial Director for TransPennine Express, said: “We’re delighted to partner with Visit Leeds on this exciting campaign, showcasing Leeds as a vibrant city-break destination. With our fast and frequent services, we want to inspire more people to experience everything Leeds has to offer—its incredible events, live music, and outstanding food and drink scene—all while enjoying a comfortable and sustainable journey by rail.”
Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Deputy Leader of Leeds City Council and Executive Member for Economy, Transport and Sustainable Development said: “We’re delighted to be launching this new initiative to encourage even more visitors from Newcastle to experience our brilliant city in a sustainable way.
“This is a fantastic opportunity that will give more opportunities for people in Tyne and Wear to see all the unique experiences Leeds and Yorkshire have to offer. Leeds is a vibrant and diverse, welcoming city with a wealth of cultural events, outstanding museums and galleries and plenty of access to breath-taking countryside without having to use a car. It’s a perfect city-break destination.”
To see the live campaign and find out more visit Newcastle to Leeds City-Break with Transpennine Express – Visit Leeds