December 2025 Timetable Change - Confirmed changes only

[The exile]

The use of school days / school holidays is already often used by public transport operators, it’s a very common differential used by bus companies.

Buses are the most heavily used form of public transport in UK so if their users can cope I’m sure so can rail users.

Ah - but the critical people are those who would use the bus / train but can’t / don’t because it only runs for part of the year.
It’s all very well to add some holiday extras (which this basically is) but to expect people to memorise University term dates to know whether their bus runs every 20 minutes or every 75 is not the way to encourage them to ditch their cars on a permanent basis.

 

[dk1]

The use of school days / school holidays is already often used by public transport operators, it’s a very common differential used by bus companies.

Buses are the most heavily used form of public transport in UK so if their users can cope I’m sure so can rail users.

We really do not like it in the railway industry. Not something I’ve ever known in my 41 years of employment.

 

[td97]

Actually I think that Liverpool to Stalybridge is only 39.5 miles

Apologies yes - didn't notice that Rail Miles differentiates between high and low levels

 

[hux385]

Not sure if it's already been said, but there's a fun new service by Scotrail, Glasgow Queen Street to Dundee via Falkirk Grahamston and Dunfermline (and a return doing the same). The track access application on Network Rail's website says it's for route knowledge via the Winchburgh Chord

Realtime Trains | 1N79 1910 Glasgow Queen Street to Dundee | 14/01/2026

Real-time train running information for 1N79 1910 departure from Glasgow Queen Street to Dundee on 14/01/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 1N80 1915 Dundee to Glasgow Queen Street | 14/01/2026

Real-time train running information for 1N80 1915 departure from Dundee to Glasgow Queen Street on 14/01/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[sjm77]

Not sure if it's already been said, but there's a fun new service by Scotrail, Glasgow Queen Street to Dundee via Falkirk Grahamston and Dunfermline (and a return doing the same). The track access application on Network Rail's website says it's for route knowledge via the Winchburgh Chord

This used to be a regular peak hour extra, allowing for commuters to travel from the Kingdon of Fife to Glasgow directly. Nice to see it's return if not for the morning commute.

 

[dk1]

Not sure if it's already been said, but there's a fun new service by Scotrail, Glasgow Queen Street to Dundee via Falkirk Grahamston and Dunfermline (and a return doing the same). The track access application on Network Rail's website says it's for route knowledge via the Winchburgh Chord

Realtime Trains | 1N79 1910 Glasgow Queen Street to Dundee | 14/01/2026

Real-time train running information for 1N79 1910 departure from Glasgow Queen Street to Dundee on 14/01/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 1N80 1915 Dundee to Glasgow Queen Street | 14/01/2026

Real-time train running information for 1N80 1915 departure from Dundee to Glasgow Queen Street on 14/01/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

It was mentioned up thread but know it’s a chore to trail through it all as getting a long thread. It is possible to do both directions but rather tight if anything goes wrong.

 

[bobster1001]

Not sure if it's already been said, but there's a fun new service by Scotrail, Glasgow Queen Street to Dundee via Falkirk Grahamston and Dunfermline (and a return doing the same). The track access application on Network Rail's website says it's for route knowledge via the Winchburgh Chord

Realtime Trains | 1N79 1910 Glasgow Queen Street to Dundee | 14/01/2026

Real-time train running information for 1N79 1910 departure from Glasgow Queen Street to Dundee on 14/01/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 1N80 1915 Dundee to Glasgow Queen Street | 14/01/2026

Real-time train running information for 1N80 1915 departure from Dundee to Glasgow Queen Street on 14/01/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Although it's for route learning via Winchburg, it would be nice to have a service doing this via Stirling and Alloa.

 

[XC victim]

Apparently CrossCountry are introducing more services on the Newcastle to Reading route as part of the December 2025 timetable (see below image from the CrossCountry website) but due engineering work the new timetable will not be fully introduced until February 2026. Does anyone know if they are re-introducing an hourly service or will it still be very irregular.

 

[A S Leib]

Apparently CrossCountry are introducing more services on the Newcastle to Reading route as part of the December 2025 timetable, but due engineering work the new timetable will not be fully introduced until February 2026. Does anyone know if they are re-introducing an hourly service or will it still be very irregular.

CrossCountry calls at Doncaster on 15 December are 5 to Newcastle (1 starting from Southampton), 3 to York and 1 to Leeds; 7 to Reading, 1 to Birmingham (1 York – Reading, 1 Newcastle – Birmingham, 5 Newcastle – Reading).

For 23 February, RTT has 6 to Newcastle (1 each from Derby, Birmingham and Southampton, the rest from Reading), 3 to York (all from Reading), with northbound gaps at 10:59, 12:59, 16:59 and 19:59, plus the Plymouth – Doncaster – Leeds service. Southbound, there'll be eight from Newcastle and one from York (all to Reading except the last two Newcastles) with 08:55, 10:59, 12:59, 14:59 and 18:59 missing.

 

[ainsworth74]

Does anyone know if they are re-introducing an hourly service or will it still be very irregular.

It's not a full timetable roughly two-hourly from around 0600 to 1400 (departing origins that is). For instance you can see it here for southbound on a weekday in February:

Realtime Trains | Departures from Newcastle all day on 18/02/2026

Train information at Newcastle all day on 18/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[XC victim]

It's not a full timetable roughly two-hourly from around 0600 to 1400 (departing origins that is). For instance you can see it here for southbound on a weekday in February:

Realtime Trains | Departures from Newcastle all day on 18/02/2026

Train information at Newcastle all day on 18/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Thanks, this is still a very disappointing offering. Pre-Covid these services weren’t too badly loaded but no they always seem to be horrendously overcrowded, I don’t understand why

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

Thanks, this is still a very disappointing offering. Pre-Covid these services weren’t too badly loaded but no they always seem to be horrendously overcrowded, I don’t understand why

Thought that was just the standard XC travel experience! Less seats in a 4-car 22x than a 3-car 158, which puts it into context when one of those things turns up on the Aberdeen-Plymouth on its own

 

[XC victim]

Thought that was just the standard XC travel experience! Less seats in a 4-car 22x than a 3-car 158, which puts it into context when one of those things turns up on the Aberdeen-Plymouth on its own

I realise this is not the place to moan but it is good to know that whilst you are crammed about an overcrowded 4-car service, there are several 5 car voyagers currently not being used in storage.

But to be fair most Bournemouth to Manchester Pic services are now either 5 car units or double voyagers. There are also several double voyagers on the Plymouth to Edinburgh (some of them even have both sets in use). It is good that CrossCountry have managed to alleviate some overcrowding issues, just ashame that they appear to have moved them onto the Reading - Newcastle service

 

[Benjwri]

I notice GWR has dropped all Didcot calls on the Bristols between 2pm and 10pm on a Sunday, absolutely appalling. Will add an hour to my journeys, doubling them, unless I stump up an extra £10 to go via Reading. Will probably push me to the car to be honest.

 

[berneyarms]

I notice GWR has dropped all Didcot calls on the Bristols between 2pm and 10pm on a Sunday, absolutely appalling. Will add an hour to my journeys, doubling them, unless I stump up an extra £10 to go via Reading. Will probably push me to the car to be honest.

For most of those hours there’s a 5-10 minute connection at Swindon - I’m not sure how you make out that it will add an hour?

 

[Benjwri]

For most of those hours there’s a 5-10 minute connection at Swindon - I’m not sure how you make out that it will add an hour?

I'm not sure which ones you see a 10 minute connection at Swindon anyways, the Swindon terminators are usually 30 minutes before, but coming off the Didcot stopper the far worse connection also adds around 30 minutes, every journey is nearly bang on 2 hours, before it was around 1 hour. To give some examples:

- 15:40ish departure - 45 minute wait at Didcot, 30 minute wait at Swindon
- 16:40ish departure - 45 minute wait at Didcot, 30 minute wait at Swindon
- 17:40ish departure - 20 minute wait at Didcot, 1 hour wait at Swindon
- 18:40ish departure - 45 minute wait at Didcot, 30 minute wait at Swindon

Right now the existing timetable has a 20 minute change at Didcot for a direct train for almost every connection.

 

[jfollows]

I notice GWR has dropped all Didcot calls on the Bristols between 2pm and 10pm on a Sunday, absolutely appalling. Will add an hour to my journeys, doubling them, unless I stump up an extra £10 to go via Reading. Will probably push me to the car to be honest.

Not good for split tickets either.

 

[Benjwri]

Not good for split tickets either.

No, a cynical person might suggest that and forcing people from the Oxford direction to buy via Reading tickets is the point

Instead I, and I assume many others who have the privilege to be able to, will just drive, and so they get no money.

 

[MasterPhillips]

More likely due to repeat severe overcrowding on the Bristol services on Sundays. Not saying I agree, but no doubt will be used as the reason.

 

[Tim456]

Which isn’t a surprise when pre Covid the Bristol to London service on a Sunday afternoon and evening was every half an hour and is now hourly.

 

[Benjwri]

More likely due to repeat severe overcrowding on the Bristol services on Sundays. Not saying I agree, but no doubt will be used as the reason.

I do notice they’ve been switch to pick up only at Reading.

Regardless I can’t say the amount of people that get on at Didcot will make a difference, compared to those already onboard.

 

[The exile]

I do notice they’ve been switch to pick up only at Reading.

Regardless I can’t say the amount of people that get on at Didcot will make a difference, compared to those already onboard.

Maybe not - but what about the ones who would be getting off?

 

[DaveHarries]

I'm not sure which ones you see a 10 minute connection at Swindon anyways, the Swindon terminators are usually 30 minutes before, but coming off the Didcot stopper the far worse connection also adds around 30 minutes, every journey is nearly bang on 2 hours, before it was around 1 hour. To give some examples:

- 15:40ish departure - 45 minute wait at Didcot, 30 minute wait at Swindon
- 16:40ish departure - 45 minute wait at Didcot, 30 minute wait at Swindon
- 17:40ish departure - 20 minute wait at Didcot, 1 hour wait at Swindon
- 18:40ish departure - 45 minute wait at Didcot, 30 minute wait at Swindon

Right now the existing timetable has a 20 minute change at Didcot for a direct train for almost every connection.

When my previous job used to give me errands to Oxford I rarely used to bother with the trains: the bus between Swindon and Oxford, via. Farringdon, was much my favourite method of getting between the two because there were plenty of them.

The was cheaper than a train too even if it did take longer and my employer didn't mind either. An enjoyable trip I found.

Dave

 

[berneyarms]

I'm not sure which ones you see a 10 minute connection at Swindon anyways, the Swindon terminators are usually 30 minutes before, but coming off the Didcot stopper the far worse connection also adds around 30 minutes, every journey is nearly bang on 2 hours, before it was around 1 hour. To give some examples:

- 15:40ish departure - 45 minute wait at Didcot, 30 minute wait at Swindon
- 16:40ish departure - 45 minute wait at Didcot, 30 minute wait at Swindon
- 17:40ish departure - 20 minute wait at Didcot, 1 hour wait at Swindon
- 18:40ish departure - 45 minute wait at Didcot, 30 minute wait at Swindon

Right now the existing timetable has a 20 minute change at Didcot for a direct train for almost every connection.

Well from reading your post, I assumed that your journey started at Didcot - you made zero reference to anywhere else.

That's what I based my comment on the examples below:

14:54 ex-Didcot arrives Swindon 15:12 / Departure to Bristol at 15:22
15:54 ex-Didcot arrives Swindon 16:13 / Departure to Bristol at 16:22
16:54 ex-Didcot arrives Swindon 17:12 / Departure to Bristol at 17:22
18:54 ex-Didcot arrives Swindon 19:14 / Departure to Bristol at 19:22

 

[Benjwri]

Maybe not - but what about the ones who would be getting off?

GWR is perfectly happy to make stops pick up only in other situations, why not do that? There are plentiful options for Didcot to Reading.

Well from reading your post, I assumed that your journey started at Didcot - you made zero reference to anywhere else.

Yes that is true, and I had not noticed these extra Swindon services added. It's almost more annoying that they all depart 1 minute to soon to make MCT with the stopper, so it'll be a probably makable connection but without delay repay.

 

[bluesfromagun]

This used to be a regular peak hour extra, allowing for commuters to travel from the Kingdon of Fife to Glasgow directly. Nice to see it's return if not for the morning commute.

It ran via the coast though, the new ones run via Dunfermline and actually call there too. Its a really odd train, to be honest. They will also be "challenging" to staff at times, because it can only possibly be worked by Waverley crews, other than it has a change of crew at Inverkeithing if they're struggling to cover it. Anyone taking bets on the most cancelled service in the new timetable?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Oct 2025 ==

Although it's for route learning via Winchburg, it would be nice to have a service doing this via Stirling and Alloa.

That would be very difficult to staff, it wouldn't be worth doing for just one or two trains a day. I'm sure it'll happen one day but as it is, no SR staff know Dunfermline to Alloa, no SR staff who know Stirling to Alloa know Fife, and no SR staff who know Fife know Stirling to Alloa. I know they're geographically close but they may as well be on a different planet for all the things they have in common, operationally.

 

[Barnsley]

I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but in Yorkshire, the 'ghost stations' at Wressle, Eastrington, Saltmarshe and Broomfleet are getting a Sunday Service! I wonder when they last had one!

 

[nwales58]

Late Cambrian Coast services will run this winter (unlike last), according to local politicians.

This is significant for long distance journeys. Last December to March our last service home from Birmingham was 1622, now it's back to 1922.

 

[Omnishambles]

True, but these journeys are off peak so don't really affect commuters in the traditional sense.

FWIW these days I do look at Realtime Trains to check for short-forms or cancellations before going out just in case those might make me change my plans!

Same here, but have been caught out on the way home twice in the last 2 weeks arriving at Euston to find my train cancelled… only 20mins after a last minute check before leaving the office !!

 

[hexagon789]

From RTT, looks like the 1702 from Euston (10-car 805) will run through to Holyhead, rather than dropping a set at Chester for the 1932 back to Euston as now.
It's hard to see what the WCML capacity problems are in mid-evening, preventing the 1932 running.

I'm not sure exactly what the performance risk or risks Network Rail identified were, but the following five services are withdrawn in December ostensibly for reasons of capcity and performance risk:

0700 Manchester - Euston
1932 Chester - Euston (weekdays)
1753 Holyhead - Euston (Sundays)
0939 Euston - Blackpool Nth (weekdays)
1252 Blackpool Nth - Euston (weekdays)