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Rail Tickets to Keswick

Posted by (Lake District, England) on

Avanti West Coast have announced today that they will now issue through Rail Tickets to Keswick via the bus from Penrith for a £2 add on each way- the same as the bus fare.

So it saves nothing, it is purely for convenience.

Whether it is worth doing depends on your plans when in the Lake District. If using the bus while there to other places then buying a Stagecoach weekly megarider from the bus driver at Penrith may still be the best solution.

But if you are not straying outside Keswick it will be a worthwhile thing to do. Also if the bus is late arriving at Penrith then even on an Advance Ticket you can take the next train. Likewise on a late evening train- if you miss the last bus from Penrith Avanti have to provide a taxi to Keswick.

It is not clear when this is starting, but presumably when it does Keswick will appear as a 'station' on rail ticket planners.

EDIT- I have checked this morning. This scheme has now started and is valid on all operators including Trans Pennine Express to Manchester Airport. So Keswick to Manchester Airport is as low as £12 (under £8 with a railcard).

There are two destinations in the system for Keswick-
Keswick Bus- Station Code- QKD- this is a non functioning dummy code;
Keswick Bus Station- Station Code - KWK- this is the one you want.

Posted by
176 posts

Thanks for the update, Stuart.
We already have our train tix to Penrith but need to buy bus tix on to Keswick.
May we buy them via contactless (Apple Pay) on the stagecoach bus when we arrive? Or online before we get there?

Sitting in STP now, awaiting afternoon train to Broadstairs.

Cheers!

Posted by
8131 posts

Single £2 Stagecoach tickets can be bought by contactless on the bus, but can actually be purchased on the Stagecoach app as well.

I pay by debit/credit card contactless on the bus, but app purchased tickets can be bought via Google/Apple pay so there is no obvious reason why those methods couldn't be used on bus.

Twice recently I have had to pay by cash on the bus when one of my debit cards has failed on the bus- their machines don't seem to like that particular card. it works fine anywhere else!!

Posted by
176 posts

Ah! Thanks for the heads up on the different options to pay for the bus. So far contactless has been a breeze on TFL. We may take that route for Penrith.

Safe travels!

Posted by
8131 posts

PS- I confirmed last week that you can do Apple Pay and Google Pay on the bus- confirmed it then forgot to post!!

Posted by
8131 posts

If @Shawn is reading this you are able to take any train this afternoon from Preston to Penrith, if your booked train is cancelled or heavily delayed due to the severe disruption arising from the Overhead wiring problems.

Posted by
176 posts

Thanks for asking Stuart! You’re so kind to check in. Our Northern train from York to Preston, then Avanti to Penrith worked out just fine. Although a bit late into Penrith.

We didn’t care for the claustrophobic feeling -(like an airplane?) and broken ac in our car on Avanti but that was the shorter part of the route.

The bus in Penrith was very late, then the driver pulled in and told us all she had to go to bus station first then back around. So after a long morning and a hot (ish) wait, and the growing crowd at the bus stop, we hopped in a taxi to Keswick. Costs more than our train tix from York, but sometimes “you pays your money” and you’re happy to be on your way. Nice chat with the driver.

A lovely afternoon and a great day today … out on Derwentwater and surroundings. Wednesday down to Ambleside, giving stagecoach bus another try.

Then Thursday Keswick bus to Penrith (fingers crossed) for the 1:30 ish train to Liverpool on TP express.

Hope your travels haven’t been impacted!!!

Take care
Shawn

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