A fifth of children dream of becoming a train driver when they grow up - while a quarter say train journeys excite them more than car, boat or bus trips, according to research by TransPennine Express (TPE).

One in five children named trains as their favourite way to travel and a quarter of parents say journeys that begin by train often turn into their most memorable family experiences. The study also revealed that looking out of the window tops the list of what children enjoy most, followed by the sense of adventure.

To celebrate how much children love travelling by train, TPE has launched a free children’s activity book onboard its services. 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.

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Designed for children aged between four and 11, it aims to make family journeys more entertaining while also teaching facts about train travel and safety. The booklet also introduces children to destinations throughout the TPE network with interactive games.

Alongside the activity books the train operator is also providing junior travellers with ticket wallets to help keep their tickets safe.

Andrew McClements, Customer Experience and 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 is designed especially for young customers and even road-tested by children to make sure it's fun, engaging and easy to use.

"It's a great way to introduce important safety messages and the excitement of travelling by train."