Train stations in York

York station is the one to use, just outside the city walls, with LNER, Grand Central, CrossCountry, TransPennine Express and Northern trains.

From the station into the centre

York Minster is a ten-minute walk from the station. The Shambles and the other main sights sit close together, so most visitors never need a bus.

The National Railway Museum is a signposted walk from the station, and entry is free. York is a PlusBus area: an adult day ticket costs £3.50 on First York and other local buses when you add it to a train ticket.

Trains from York

Times apply until 12 December 2026.

• London King's Cross: LNER runs around three trains an hour on weekdays. The fastest take 1 hour 46 minutes from King's Cross and about 1 hour 53 minutes from York. Grand Central runs six trains a day each way Monday to Saturday and five on Sunday, in around 2 hours. The first LNER train to London leaves at 04:40 on weekdays and at 07:58 on Sunday.
• Edinburgh Waverley: LNER runs around 30 direct trains a day each way on weekdays, in 2 hours 18 minutes northbound and 2 hours 14 minutes southbound. CrossCountry takes about 2 hours 30 minutes.
• Newcastle and Durham: LNER takes 49 minutes to Newcastle and about 45 minutes to Durham heading north, and 50 minutes from Newcastle heading south.
• Leeds: TransPennine Express takes around 25 minutes in either direction.
• Manchester Piccadilly and Liverpool Lime Street: TransPennine Express takes 1 hour 30 to 1 hour 40 minutes to Manchester Piccadilly and just under 2 hours to Liverpool Lime Street.
• Scarborough: TransPennine Express takes as little as 48 minutes.
• Birmingham, Bristol and Sheffield: CrossCountry runs direct trains to Birmingham New Street in about 1 hour 50 minutes via Doncaster, or about 2 hours 25 minutes via Leeds, and some continue to Bristol Temple Meads in about 4 hours. Sheffield takes as little as 45 minutes.
• Hull and Harrogate: Northern runs to Hull about once an hour in 1 hour 5 to 1 hour 10 minutes, and to Harrogate every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday in about 35 minutes (about 40 on the way back). LNER also runs some London trains on to Harrogate.

Engineering works and Christmas

On Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November 2026 the only trains from York run to Scarborough. Northern buses replace trains between York and Micklefield, Selby and Poppleton. Buses also replace TransPennine Express between Leeds and York and LNER between Doncaster and Darlington and between Wakefield Westgate and York. CrossCountry buses run directly between Leeds and Darlington without calling at York. Grand Central runs no trains between King's Cross and Sunderland that weekend.

On Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November the line between Leeds and York is closed. TransPennine Express trains run via Castleford instead of Leeds, buses replace Northern trains between York and Leeds and between Leeds and Selby, and CrossCountry trains between Edinburgh and Plymouth run via Doncaster without calling at Leeds.

Huddersfield station, on the Manchester to York line, closes for Transpennine Route Upgrade work on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November and on Sunday 13 and 20 December, then for 38 days from the last train on Thursday 24 December to Sunday 31 January 2027. TransPennine Express trains from York to Manchester and Liverpool run through Huddersfield, so on those dates expect diversions, buses or longer journeys. On Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November no trains run between King's Cross and Peterborough.

At Christmas, no LNER trains run between Retford and York on Thursday 24 December. Coaches link Newark Northgate and York, and the last trains leave much earlier than usual. Most Northern trains are withdrawn by 20:00 on 24 and 31 December, and on Sunday 27 December they may start late until 08:00. No trains run on Christmas Day. Birmingham New Street is closed all day on Thursday 24, Sunday 27 and Monday 28 December, so CrossCountry trains from York do not reach it, and buses link it with Tamworth, Coleshill Parkway and Birmingham International. On Saturday 26 December there are no LNER, CrossCountry, Northern or TransPennine Express trains. The 07:58 York to King's Cross does not run on Sunday 27 December. On 31 December the last LNER train from York to King's Cross leaves at 21:04, and the first LNER and Northern trains on Friday 1 January start later than usual. As of October 2026, Grand Central had not announced its Christmas timetable.

Tickets

Advance tickets are for one named train. LNER puts most of them on sale at least 12 weeks ahead. Off-Peak tickets are valid all day at weekends, and weekday limits vary by route. Anytime tickets are valid on any train on the date shown. A Railcard takes a third off most fares and costs £35 for a year.

Buy before you board. Northern's penalty fare is £100 plus the standard single fare, or £50 plus the fare if paid within 21 days.

Rail passes and reservations

As of October 2026, an Interrail pass is valid on LNER, Grand Central, CrossCountry, TransPennine Express and Northern. None of these trains needs a reservation, though one is recommended on CrossCountry. LNER seat reservations are free with a pass and must match its class.