TransPennine Express (TPE) has launched a free children’s activity book onboard its services, as new research shows a quarter (25%) of young passengers find train journeys more exciting than travelling by car, bus or boat.

The booklet, which has arrived just in time for the Easter holidays, can be requested by parents or children directly from onboard service hosts on all routes.

Designed specifically for children aged between 4 and11, it aims to make family journeys more entertaining while also teaching young passengers’ key facts about train travel and safety.

The new booklet also introduces children to destinations throughout the TPE network with interactive games and friendly characters, including a driver, conductor, host and Nya the train operator’s own Pets as Therapy dog.

Activities range from puzzles and colouring to simple geography and quizzes, helping children learn while they play. The result is a free, hands-on activity book designed to turn every train journey into an adventure while giving families even more reason to choose rail.

Alongside the activity books, the train operator is also providing junior travellers with ticket wallets to help keep their tickets safe. Both the activity books and wallets are now available on services, with customers able to request them from their onboard host.

The launch comes as new research from TPE reveals just how much kids love travelling by train. A quarter (25%) say train journeys excite them more than car, bus or boat trips, while one in five (20%) name trains as their favourite way to travel.

In fact, almost a fifth of children (18%) say they dream of becoming a train driver when they grow up and for parents, the impact is just as strong, with a quarter (25%) saying journeys that begin by train often turn into their most memorable family experiences.

Andrew McClements, Customer Experience & Transformation Director said: “We wanted to create something that makes travelling with us even more enjoyable for families, while also helping children learn along the way.

“The activity book has been designed especially for young customers and even road-tested by children to make sure it’s engaging, fun and easy to use.

“It’s a great way to introduce important safety messages and the excitement of train travel.”

Further findings from TPE’s research reveals that looking out of the window tops the list of what children enjoy most (61%), followed by the sense of adventure (55%).