Media Centre

National Express provides extra train srvices for 2009 BUPA Great North Run

8 Sep 2009

Train operator National Express East Coast will offer athletes and supporters travelling to Tyneside for the 2009 BUPA Great North Run a helping hand before they begin the challenging course.

National Express East Coast will be running two extra services from stations in South and North Yorkshire plus County Durham to Newcastle on the morning of Sunday 20 September prior to the event, which traditionally helps to raise thousands of pounds for charity.

Fifty two thousand runners are expected to take part in the world’s biggest half-marathon covering the 13.1 mile course from Newcastle to South Shields, with participants hoping to beat 2008’s winner, Ethiopian Tsegaye Kebede, who completed the run in 59 minutes 45 seconds.

National Express East Coast sales and marketing director Rachel Dawson said: “Not only is the BUPA Great North Run a much loved and highly anticipated event in the sporting year, but it also raises huge sums of money for various charities. As in previous years, we will operate additional morning services into Newcastle to make it easier for both athletes and their supporters to travel to the race without any driving or parking worries.

“National Express East Coast will operate two additional early morning train services to Newcastle on the morning of the race. One service will start at York at 06.56, whilst the second will start at Doncaster at 06.47. Both trains will also call at Darlington and Durham, whilst the Doncaster service will also call at Northallerton.

“We wish everyone taking part in this year’s race the very best of luck.”

BUPA Great North Run communication manager Lynsey Stephenson said: “Thousands of people use the East Coast Mainline every year to get to Newcastle for the BUPA Great North Run. We are delighted that National Express East Coast has put on additional services for runners on the morning of the BUPA Great North Run, it’s great that runners have more options when travelling to the North East.”

The two additional National Express East Coast services will operate to the following timings:

York to Newcastle

York (departs 06.56), Darlington (departs 07.26), Durham (departs 07.44) arriving into Newcastle at 07.59.

Doncaster to Newcastle

Doncaster (departs 06.47), York (departs 07.11), Northallerton (departs 07.32), Darlington (departs 07.45), Durham (departs 08.03) arriving into Newcastle at 08.18.

Details of the full National Express East Coast timetable, fares and bookings are available on at www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com, by calling 08457 225 225 or visiting any staffed rail station.

ENDS