Newcastle to London - 2h34m?

[RJ]

I had an Off Peak ticket for my Newcastle to King’s Cross journey yesterday (Sunday) and thought I’d give the 1221 Lumo service a chance as the journey planner was saying the journey time was just 2 hours and 34 minutes, and reserved seats on it.

This seemed quite ambitious but I wanted to try it. In the event I took the 1158 LNER service because something went wrong with Lumo - the data suggested the train left the depot in Edinburgh 59 minutes late because of delayed traincrew. Still, I was curious as to whether the journey time was achievable. It went from leaving Newcastle 37 minutes late to arriving at King’s Cross 51 minutes late, giving a journey time of 2h 48m.

So my question is, does this service, when it is running to this schedule, reliably do the journey in 2h34m? Also, are there any faster services on this route?

 

[AlexRail575]

So my question is, does this service, when it is running to this schedule, reliably do the journey in 2h34m? Also, are there any faster services on this route?

Based on stats from the 20 times (does not include what look like 7 planned cancellations) this service has run since May of this year (1E82/W28160 10:54 Edinburgh Waverley - Kings Cross):
-Cancelled: 1 time
-Arrived within 10 minutes of scheduled time at Kings Cross: 11 times (on these occasions it does appear able to keep time between Newcastle and Kings)
-Between 10 and 30 minutes delayed at Kings Cross: 5 times
-More than 30 minutes delayed: 3 times

Overall I'd not really say "reliably", but certainly possible if things work out according to plan. In your case, it appears most likely to be a case of compounding delays making matters worse, probably because the train lost its timetable path being so delayed. For what it's worth, on the 31st of August same service departed Newcastle 3 minutes late and arrived at Kings Cross 1 early (for an actual journey time of 2h30).

Considering Newcastle is 268 miles North from Kings Cross along the railway (so even if the train were running at 125 mph all the way, which it certainly isn't as it has to slow down approaching the London terminus, that would still be over 2 hours 8 minutes), I'm not sure you can expect anything much faster.

The opposite journey (1S97/W28162 16:24 Kings Cross to Edinburgh Waverley) appears more punctual (although there are a few more minutes in the timetable between KGX and Newcastle).

 

[Segedunum]

Usually the stickler with approaching London is whether everything is able to get to the two-track section at Woolmer Green in the right slot.

 

[RJ]

Based on stats from the 20 times (does not include what look like 7 planned cancellations) this service has run since May of this year (1E82/W28160 10:54 Edinburgh Waverley - Kings Cross):
-Cancelled: 1 time
-Arrived within 10 minutes of scheduled time at Kings Cross: 11 times (on these occasions it does appear able to keep time between Newcastle and Kings)
-Between 10 and 30 minutes delayed at Kings Cross: 5 times
-More than 30 minutes delayed: 3 times

Overall I'd not really say "reliably", but certainly possible if things work out according to plan. In your case, it appears most likely to be a case of compounding delays making matters worse, probably because the train lost its timetable path being so delayed. For what it's worth, on the 31st of August same service departed Newcastle 3 minutes late and arrived at Kings Cross 1 early (for an actual journey time of 2h30).

Considering Newcastle is 268 miles North from Kings Cross along the railway (so even if the train were running at 125 mph all the way, which it certainly isn't as it has to slow down approaching the London terminus, that would still be over 2 hours 8 minutes), I'm not sure you can expect anything much faster.

The opposite journey (1S97/W28162 16:24 Kings Cross to Edinburgh Waverley) appears more punctual (although there are a few more minutes in the timetable between KGX and Newcastle).

Thanks for that analysis.

I wouldn’t expect anything any faster (seems ambitious!), was just curious if anything was timetabled any faster.

So it would seem it is quite possible, but not a journey time that can be relied on. I note there’s one LNER train on weekdays timetabled for 2h36m but percentage of right time arrivals is in single digits! I'll still keep in my head it's a circa 2h50m journey!

 

[Devils Advocat]

1E01 'The Flying Scotsman' is timed 2h 36 Nc to the cross. Usually does well Woolmer Green where 9J17 Peterboro to Horsham usually gets in its way invariably
resulting in a few minutes late arrival at the Cross. Must be very frustrating for the driver who was close to keeping the 4hr timing from Edinburgh ?

 

[D1537]

The time for most of the hourly fast Kings Cross-Edinburghs in the December timetable is 2h38 or 2h39. Southbound the fastest appears to be 2h43. The Lumos, as far as I can see, are slightly slower (1E82 is now 2h51).

 

[hexagon789]

The time for most of the hourly fast Kings Cross-Edinburghs in the December timetable is 2h38 or 2h39. Southbound the fastest appears to be 2h43. The Lumos, as far as I can see, are slightly slower (1E82 is now 2h51).

Snap!

Was just typing a similar reply as you posted yours.

But yes, new standard timing does seem to be 2h43 south/2h38-39 north.

The fastest one to Edinburgh, the 1630, is Newcastle in 2h38m30s and Edinburgh in 4h03.

 

[Jamesrob637]

Still very respectable though, and I'd rather allow a few minutes' padding than trying to optimistically beat records.