Cumbria Tourism’s award winning ‘Let’s Go Car Free’ Campaign is gearing up for a new round of publicity just in time for a month of car free celebrations.
The campaign, which sees Cumbria Tourism partner with Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire, Avanti West Coast and TransPennine Express, has many reasons to celebrate in September with a series of events and anniversaries taking place.
Not only does the month of September mark World Car Free Day but this year also marks the 200th anniversary of the Railways, 100 years of the 555 bus route from Lancaster to Keswick and at the end of the month it’s World Tourism Day.
Visitors can get involved in the various celebrations which amongst them include a rally of historic buses travelling along the famous and picturesque 555 bus route on Sunday 14 September. Tying in with the anniversary, Stagecoach has also worked with Bowness Bay Brewery to create five new beers, which will be sold in five pubs in five towns along the route.
Meanwhile, Railway 200 takes place on 27September, celebrating 200 years of rail travel across the UK. Cumbria’s rail routes take passengers on a journey through some of the most scenic countryside in the UK with Avanti West Coast, TransPennine Express and Northern all servicing stations at Oxenholme: The Lake District, Penrith and Carlisle.
Richard Wareing, Head of Commercial Partnerships at Avanti West Coast said: “We’re delighted to continue working with Cumbria Tourism and other transport operators to encourage car-free travel into, and around, the region.
“It’s an important initiative for us to help challenge perceptions with both first-time, and frequent, visitors that you need a car to truly experience the heart of the Lakes. Instead, you can sit back, relax and enjoy some of the most scenic bus and train routes in the UK to get to your destination”.
Tom Waterhouse, Managing Director for Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire, said: “We’re proud to be part of the award-winning Let’s Go Car Free campaign, especially as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of our iconic 555 route.
“Public transport is at the heart of connecting people with the Lake District in a greener, easier and more enjoyable way. We’re proud to play our part in helping make people’s everyday journeys simpler, greener and more reliable. It’s all part of our promise: we’ve got you.”
Darren Higgins, Commercial Director for TransPennine Express said: “We’re proud to support the ‘Let’s Go Car Free’ campaign, which aligns with our commitment to sustainable travel and enhancing connectivity to the Lake District.
“We’re pleased to work in partnership with Cumbria Tourism, Avanti West Coast, and Stagecoach on this campaign, and our regular services to Oxenholme, Penrith, and Carlisle make it easy for visitors to explore the region by rail travel.”
The joint car free campaign initially launched in 2023 and has seen utilised advertising, marketing and PR to showcase the benefits of travel by train and bus.
Commenting on the car free initiative, Gill Haigh, Managing Director of Cumbria Tourism said: “Encouraging visitors to come to Cumbria via alternative transport means is part of our long-term Destination Management Plan. Thanks to the integrated approach by the rail and bus operators, travel to and around Cumbria has never been easier, even to some of the more remote areas. These anniversaries add additional opportunities for us to remind people of the benefits of public transport.
“Not only is it cost effective and more relaxing, but it eases the worry of where to park, while some attractions further support the campaign by offering discounts on entry to visitors who can prove they have arrived car free. Add to that the opportunities to connect bus and rail travel with cruising on our lakes or historic steam railways and there are so many fun ways in which to explore our beautiful countryside, villages and towns without the need for a car.”
To find out more about car free travel to and around Cumbria visit: visitlakedistrict.com/carfree
