Train operator East Coast has launched a special ticket giveaway aimed at attracting new customers to its services between Newcastle and London, following an airline’s decision to scrap its competing flights.

Budget airline easyJet is withdrawing its two daily flights each way between Newcastle and Stansted airports from Sunday (March 27).

The news comes as East Coast prepares to launch its new timetable from Sunday, 22 May, which features three additional services every weekday and 11 extra trains each weekend to and from London. The new timetable also features a prestigious new ‘Flying Scotsman’ non-stop express service from Newcastle to London on weekday mornings, which will take just 2 hours and 37 minutes to reach the capital.

To attract former easyJet customers to its expanded train service, East Coast is giving away a Standard Class return ticket to anyone who can prove they have flown with easyJet from Newcastle to Stansted or Luton airports in the last six months. A total of 1,000 tickets are being made available as part of the offer.

East Coast Commercial Director Peter Williams said: “This amazing offer is an excellent opportunity to sample all the benefits of going by train, such as the convenience of city centre to centre travel, a great choice of food and drink from our cafe-bar, and, from 22 May, faster and more frequent services between Newcastle and London.

“There really has never been a better time to choose the train over the plane. We’re sure that once easyJet’s former passengers sample our service, they’ll become regular travellers with East Coast.”