York is on the East Coast Main Line. It takes less than two hours to get to York from London by rail. Trains depart every half-hour with at least 25 direct trains each weekday.  

Direct rail services run from York to many of the UK's regional centres. York can be reached the same morning from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Liverpool. There is also a direct hourly link to Manchester International Airport.

York railway station is situated to the west of the city centre, just outside the city walls.

Poppleton railway station is served by direct trains to York, Harrogate and Leeds.