Operator LNER has scheduled five extra trains for Sunday, 8 September, in order to help runners and supporters reach the Great North Run.

The Great North Run is one of the world’s biggest half-marathons and involves competitors running 13.1 miles from Newcastle to South Shields.

The half marathon will start in central Newcastle at 10.55 and LNER has arranged for the additional services to arrive in Newcastle between 07.58 and 08.48

The race will also see rail workers take part in order to raise funds for charity.

One of these is Lucy Kilby, a TransPennine Express conductor from Manchester who is running to commemorate her late TransPennine Express colleague Dominic Johns and her father, and in order to raise much-needed money for the Andy’s Man Club charity.

Last year’s event saw another TransPennine Express colleague, Simon Rashleigh, participate for his fourth time in order to raise awareness of Hodgkin’s lymphoma and help those who are fighting the cancer.

The extra services are planned to operate as outlined below:

• Doncaster (07:00), York (07:23), Northallerton (07:43), Newcastle (08:23)
• Edinburgh Waverley (07:08), Dunbar (07:30), Reston (07:46), Berwick-upon-Tweed (07:58), Alnmouth (08:18), Morpeth (08:33), Newcastle (08:48)
• Leeds (07:25), York (07:55), Newcastle (08:44)
• Darlington (07:25), Durham (07:44), Newcastle (07:58)
• Darlington (07:58), Durham (08:16), Newcastle (08:31)

LNER has reminded passengers that all regular timetabled services will also be operating as usual.

Tickets for the extra services can be bought in the usual way, including through the LNER website, and advance tickets to Newcastle can be found for prices as low as £7.30 from Darlington, £26.90 from York and £33.30 from Edinburgh.

Many thousands of people will be making their way to Newcastle for the Great North Run. Our services will bring people into the heart of the city, and we are delighted to be supporting those taking part and those cheering them on. We encourage customers to plan and book ahead and reserve a seat as trains are likely to be very popular.

David Flesher, Commercial Director at LNER