Castle welcome puts Geordie greeting on track

Rail passengers travelling through Newcastle are being treated to a unique new welcome as part of an initiative celebrating the city’s heritage.

Newcastle-based operator Lumo has partnered with Newcastle Castle to launch the ‘Great Geordie Greeting’, which will see the attraction’s volunteer Town Crier greet passing trains every weekday.

The initiative was launched as Lumo’s 13:08 service passed the castle grounds, with Lord Mayor of Newcastle councillor Henry Gallagher joining the celebrations.

Performers from North East Dance Project, which brings together dancers of all ages, also provided a colourful welcome for passengers.

Bosses hope the initiative will highlight to travellers on the East Coast Main Line that their train passes directly through the medieval Newcastle Castle grounds.

Located on the site of Roman fort Pons Aelius, the castle sits at the heart of more than 2000 years of Newcastle’s history and offers medieval chambers and passageways, tours, activities and a Tourist Information Hub.

Mick Wilkes, chief executive of Newcastle Castle, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Lumo on the Great Geordie Greeting and to celebrate the many layers of history that make this site so special. 

“From the Roman fort of Pons Aelius to the Norman Castle and the railway that now passes through the site, each layer tells part of our city’s story.

“Rather than seeing the railway as something that divides our site, we’re pleased to embrace it as another part of our shared history. 

“Partnerships with local organisations like Lumo are a great way for us to celebrate Newcastle’s heritage together and introduce the Castle to new audiences.”

Lumo’s all-electric trains connect Newcastle with destinations including London King’s Cross, Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Queen Street.

The rail operator recently recorded a 90 per cent overall customer satisfaction score in the Rail Customer Experience Survey covering October 2025 to March 2026, placing it among the three highest-performing long-distance operators.

Jen Clare, service delivery director at Lumo, added: “We’re proud of the reputation we’ve built over the years, not only for offering affordable and sustainable travel, but also for doing things a little differently. 

“The greeting will give our customers something extra special to look out for as they make their way towards Edinburgh, with spectacular views of the coast to look forward to as they continue their journey.

“Our East Coast services are proudly based in the North East and championing the best places for people to visit here is incredibly important to us. 

“The team at the Castle share our desire to think differently about partnerships and I’m excited to see how the greeting develops over the coming months. 

“It’s sure to be a real treat for visitors to the castle and our customers.”

The initiative follows another recent collaboration which saw Lumo partner with North East comedy group Felt Nowt to stage an onboard Edinburgh Fringe preview for passengers travelling between London and Edinburgh.

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