TransPennine Express (TPE) has introduced a new service between Saltburn and Manchester Airport, providing direct travel between cities including York, Leeds, and Manchester.
In a boost to connectivity for communities across the North East, TPE has extended some services on this route to Saltburn.
Passengers will be able to travel on TPE's modern trains with spacious interiors, free Wi-Fi, and access to TPE's free entertainment system, Exstream.
The first TPE passenger train out of Saltburn ran earlier this week, and was welcomed by representatives from the local community including: Councillor Cliff Foggo, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport for Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council; Councillors Philip Thomson and Sharon Wilson; and Saltburn Town Crier.
The following TPE services run to/from Saltburn on weekdays:
- 05.54 Saltburn to Manchester Airport;
- 2008 and 23.10 Saltburn to York;
- 16.40 and 19.38 Manchester Airport to Saltburn.
Standard Class fares from Saltburn to York are from £12.00, from Leeds £14.60; and from Manchester Airport £20.40. Tickets for Transpennine Express trains can be purchased online via TPE's website or on the TPExpress App using Apple Pay, Google Pay or PayPal. E-tickets are also available instead of paper tickets.
Kathryn O'Brien, Customer Experience Director for TransPennine Express said:
“We are thrilled to have been able to extend our Manchester Airport to Redcar Central service to Saltburn in a boost to connectivity for those travelling to York, Leeds and Manchester.
“While we have been able to extend some of our services through to Saltburn, we have plans to make further improvements to this, later this year.”
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said:
“This is a fantastic result and one I've been campaigning on for years. It's great to hear that this work is paying off and the first train is finally pulling out of the station. This service will help give the people of Saltburn and East Cleveland the direct, reliable connections that they deserve, linking them with York, Leeds and Manchester.
“It's a welcome move now coronavirus restrictions are entirely lifted and people are starting to have the confidence to travel once more. It will help businesses forge new connections, people to easily meet friends and family and drive tourism to our coast.”
Councillor Cliff Foggo, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport for Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, said:
“This is excellent news. Better public transport is crucial not only for the convenience of our residents and visitors but also for our economy as it helps us attract further investment. It also helps the environment as it encourages more people to leave the car behind more often. I would like to thank and congratulate everyone involved.”
Simon Clarke, Conservative MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, added:
“From this Monday, visitors and residents will be able to take advantage of TransPennine Express new services connecting Saltburn to Yarm, Northallerton, Thirsk, York, Leeds, Huddersfield and Manchester. And by December that timetable is planned to be boosted to provide an hourly service to and from Saltburn and Manchester.
“This is great news for Saltburn's tourism sector allowing visitors to come to our region and giving residents direct access to these major towns and cities across the North of England. This is the kind of progress we should all welcome. The better our connections to the rest of the UK, the better the opportunities for our part of the world.”
This is a laugh as TPEXp cancelled 107 trains on Thursday 19th May, 2022 as they are incapable of operating the proper timetable.
I probably would think that TransPennine Express could operate services in the Northeast of England including operating between York-Newcastle-Edinburgh Waverley and to inherit some of the Class 350/2 EMUs from London Northwestern Railway.
With only one train, and that at 0554, not very attractive to tourists.