Rail travel
Getting around Yorkshire by train
Yorkshire is well-connected by train services, easing visits across many parts of the region as well as making Yorkshire a great centre for exploring other parts of Britain.Eight different passenger train operators run on the rail network in Yorkshire (see below), although a common ticketing system operates through National Rail, run by the Association of Train Operating Companies.
National Rail also runs a rail enquiry service and journey planning website covering all its companies' services. A link to this is provided at the foot of the page.
Some operators are now requiring travellers to have a seat reservation and a ticket specific to their service, reducing opportunity for travel flexibility.
Changes in new rail timetables from December 15
New railway timetables come into effect in Yorkshire and across rail operators throughout the country from Sunday December 15.If you are a weekend traveller, however, do not get too comfortable with the new timetable as weekend changes will occur between January and February and again from April, mostly the result of weekend closures of Huddersfield station for improvements as part of work on the Trans-Pennine Upgrade. There will also be engineering work affecting travel in the period between Christmas and New Year.
The new timetables do provide hope of restoration of a better service on the North Trans-Pennine line if that increased level of service can be operated reliably with the upgrade work still in its early stages.
Notable changes include:
• The TransPennnine Express service from
• A
• Very few TransPennnine Express services will operate to
• LNER will operate a new two-hourly service between Newcastle and
Rail travel Rail map
Yorkshire.guide/railmap
Where do trains run in Yorkshire? See our interactive Which are Yorkshire's busiest railway stations? See our Which places in Yorkshire might have saved time with HS2? Archived: 
The Yorkshire region also has a splendid selection of preserved and steam railways. These are not only great for those delighted by a bit of nostalgia, but can be quite useful transport for days out to some of the most scenic parts of Yorkshire which might otherwise lack regular public transport. For more details see our Rail operators in Yorkshire
Cross Country
Britain's longest rail journeys from Plymouth to Aberdeen and Penzance to Glasgow cross Yorkshire together with services from Southampton to Newcastle.Journeys make a detour from their south-west to north-east path between Sheffield and York, usually going via Leeds, but a few trains going via Doncaster. Routes across Yorkshire are
The services do not call at North Yorkshire stations as they head northwards to Darlington, Durham, Newcastle and Scotland. Trains head south from Sheffield through Derby, Birmingham and Bristol towards Plymouth.
Cross Country is part of Arriva - a subsidiary of German state-owned Deutsche Bahn.
East Midlands Railway
Regular services operate betweenEast Midlands Railway is part of Abellio - part of the Dutch state-owned railway company.
Abellio has been awarded the franchise until 2027.
(Before August 18, 2019 the franchise was operated by the Stagecoach Group as East Midlands Trains.)
Grand Central
Two routes connect Yorkshire with London King's Cross. One route from West Yorkshire is
Grand Central was Britain's highest-rated rail company for overall satisfaction with journey in the Spring 2020 Transport Focus National Rail Passenger Survey with a score of 95%.
Grand Central is part of Arriva - a subsidiary of German state-owned Deutsche Bahn.
Hull Trains
Several trains a day operate to London King's Cross on theHull Trains is part of First Group, a public limited company based in Scotland.
London North Eastern Railway
Regular services operate from Yorkshire to London King's Cross station via the East Coast Main Line. Yorkshire stations served by regular trains are
There are also services from
Heading south there are trains stopping at Retford, Newark North Gate, Grantham, Peterborough and Stevenage.
Heading north from Yorkshire there are regular services from
London North Eastern Railway Ltd is a publicly-owned company set up by the UK Government's Department for Transport.
(Previous operator Virgin Trains East Coast was a Stagecoach Group and Virgin joint venture.)
Lumo
Lumo, launched on October 21, 2021, operates on the East Coast Main Line through Yorkshire on journeys between Edinburgh and London without stopping anywhere in Yorkshire.Lumo is operated by First Group, a public limited company based in Scotland.
Northern
Since March 1, 2020 Northern has been operated by Northern Trains Ltd, a company run by the UK Government's Department for Transport
(Before March 1, 2020 the franchise was operated by Arriva Rail North - a subsidiary of German state-owned Deutsche Bahn.)
Transpennine Express
Yorkshire stations served include
Transpennine Express is operated by First Group, a public limited company based in Scotland. After May 28, 2023 this will be taken over by TransPennine Trains Ltd, a company run by the UK Government's Department for Transport
Heritage railways
See our page dedicated to 
More information
Further details of trains on the National Rail network can be found at its enquiry website:
National Rail National Rail Enquiries and journey planner (external link).
Also in Yorkshire.guide