Train operator East Coast has launched a campaign to bring tourists to Yorkshire on the back of the Olympics success of athletes from the region.

Yorkshire successes at the London 2012 games put the county ahead of Russia, South Africa and New Zealand in the medals league table, including golds for triathlon winner Alistair Brownlee of Bingley Harriers; Bradford-trained boxer Nicola Adams and rower Andy Triggs Hodge, from Hebden, near Skipton .

The new promotion has been inspired by the sporting success of ‘Team Yorkshire’ to encourage people to head north by rail and see the White Rose county.

The advertising launch came as tourism agency Welcome to Yorkshire unveiled its ‘star map’ showing home locations for each of the county’s gold medal winners, including where special Royal Mail gold-painted post boxes can be found.

Yorkshire’s other Olympic competitors are also profiled on the infographic map, which can be downloaded through Welcome to Yorkshire’s website yorkshire.com.

Peter Williams, East Coast commercial and customer service director, said: “The success of Yorkshire meant that at one point during the Games, if Yorkshire had been a country, it would have been proudly sitting at seventh place in the medals table.

“That level of success presents us with a great opportunity to shout about the many good reasons to visit Yorkshire by train – such as three national parks, seven great cities, countless heritage attractions and fantastic coast and countryside.”

Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, added: “Yorkshire’s success at the Olympics has really put the county on the map. We are a true sporting county, our landscape lends itself to a life outdoors and so we fully expect people inspired by the achievements of our brilliant athletes to come to the county that has competed like a country in London.”