December 2025 East Coast Timetable

[hexagon789]

Can you travel on this service between Glasgow and Edinburgh with a regular ticket?

Hopefully more services are to come and at different times of day.

Yes, ordinary tickets are valid.

Only a couple, at least in the present timetable period.

One additional working from London to Edinburgh is to be extended Glasgow QS, Mon-Fri.

On Sundays - one morning Glasgow QS to London KX and one late evening London KX to Glasgow QS return.

That's all that's still to be introduced; there are no Saturday workings.

 

[Magdalia]

For a day when not much has happened, GTR’s Kings Lynn and Ely services haven’t been great - some noticeable late running on certain service. One thing about this timetable is that issues shouldn’t cross over as much between the Fen Line service and the Cambridge stopping service, but the flip side of this coin is the Kings Lynn service in particular is now even more exposed to delays propagating than it was before, not helped by the way the timetable is now structured for down services between Hitchin and Cambridge.

Between the peaks the Kings Lynn service has a new resilience feature because, when the service switches to 1tph Kings Lynn and 1tph Ely, the spare train now sits at Kings Lynn not Cambridge.

This was used to good effect for the one train that I can find that got delayed between Hitchin and Cambridge, the 1154 down. The 1345 up started on time with the spare train, and the delayed 1154 down was held at Watlington.

 

[little_cant]

Apologies for the basic question (I have tried to look before asking), what’s the easiest way I can find out which KGX-EDI trains are planned to be 10-car sets on the new timetable? I’ve been going far enough through the LNER booking process to see the seat map, but there must be an easier way…

 

[CommuterPigeon]

Apologies for the basic question (I have tried to look before asking), what’s the easiest way I can find out which KGX-EDI trains are planned to be 10-car sets on the new timetable? I’ve been going far enough through the LNER booking process to see the seat map, but there must be an easier way…

No planned 10-cars on Edinburgh services, all planned to be 9-cars. There's a couple of 10s on Leeds/Bradford services. Best best for a 10-car to Edinburgh is during engineering works when unelectrified diversions are required (e.g. Carlisle or Durham Coast) as they couple up 5-car bimodes to 5-car electrics.

 

[Segedunum]

No planned 10-cars on Edinburgh services, all planned to be 9-cars. There's a couple of 10s on Leeds/Bradford services. Best best for a 10-car to Edinburgh is during engineering works when unelectrified diversions are required (e.g. Carlisle or Durham Coast) as they couple up 5-car bimodes to 5-car electrics.

The 1103 Kings Cross-Edinburgh and 1630 Edinburgh-Kings Cross are booked 10-car (2x801) on weekdays.

 

[Siemens Trains]

The 1103 Kings Cross-Edinburgh and 1630 Edinburgh-Kings Cross are booked 10-car (2x801) on weekdays.

That's good to know, thanks. I assumed all Edinburgh trains would be 9-car.

If the 1630 service normally departs from platform 5 or 6 at Waverley, passengers with seats booked at the far end of the train will need to walk quite far down the platform, past the join between 5-car sets. Those in the habit of boarding at the end closest to the station concourse as the doors close (like me) may not be able to find their seat until the train stops at Berwick.

 

[Segedunum]

That's good to know, thanks. I assumed all Edinburgh trains would be 9-car.

If the 1630 service normally departs from platform 5 or 6 at Waverley, passengers with seats booked at the far end of the train will need to walk quite far down the platform, past the join between 5-car sets. Those in the habit of boarding at the end closest to the station concourse as the doors close (like me) may not be able to find their seat until the train stops at Berwick.

No problem. 0930 Kings Cross to Edinburgh and 1430 Edinburgh to Kings Cross are booked for 2x801 on Saturdays too.

No booked 10-cars to Edinburgh on Sundays in the normal base timetable.

 

[MikeWM]

For a day when not much has happened, GTR’s Kings Lynn and Ely services haven’t been great - some noticeable late running on certain service. One thing about this timetable is that issues shouldn’t cross over as much between the Fen Line service and the Cambridge stopping service, but the flip side of this coin is the Kings Lynn service in particular is now even more exposed to delays propagating than it was before, not helped by the way the timetable is now structured for down services between Hitchin and Cambridge.

The evening peak service wasn't great (not that it was on the old timetable either!):

- 1T48 was 7 late into Ely. Would have been quite a bit later if the signaller hadn't held a late-running Brighton to Cambridge (9S42) on the Letchworth flyover and sent 1T48 the old (flat) way to get ahead of it. Fortunately there is a bit of a gap in up services through Hitchin at exactly the right time to allow this.

- 1T50 started 10 late from KGX and was 21 late by Ely.

- 1T52 was cancelled.

- 1T54 did ok until it took 13 minutes to get from Shepreth Branch Jn to Cambridge for some reason, 10 late by Ely.

 

[43 302]

Lots of 10 cars to Edinburgh in weekends in March!

 

[SteveP29]

I have just found out that it seems like an extra train has been added to the timetable by LNER, Newcastle- Edinburgh departing around 11pm (obviously it's made it's way up the country from London)
That will now allow me to attend midweek evening matches at St James' Park without having to take any leave.

The only bad side is that it terminates at 00:38, it could be another hour at that time of night before I get back in the house at Granton Harbour, then I have work to get up for the next morning

 

[43 302]

I have just found out that it seems like an extra train has been added to the timetable by LNER, Newcastle- Edinburgh departing around 11pm (obviously it's made it's way up the country from London)
That will now allow me to attend midweek evening matches at St James' Park without having to take any leave.

The only bad side is that it terminates at 00:38, it could be another hour at that time of night before I get back in the house at Granton Harbour, then I have work to get up for the next morning

That would be 1S32, which, be warned, will terminate at BWK or NCL on Mondays and Tuesdays every three weeks due to a possession north of Berwick. The 17.33 or 19.33 Newcastle will be extended to Edinburgh on those days.

 

[bramling]

Between the peaks the Kings Lynn service has a new resilience feature because, when the service switches to 1tph Kings Lynn and 1tph Ely, the spare train now sits at Kings Lynn not Cambridge.

Interesting observation, I hadn’t noticed this. Hopefully this will make a difference.

The decoupling of Fen Line services from the stopping service does seem to have made a difference so far. I think in hindsight the interworking of those two service groups was a mistake - it was okay as a post-Covid measure, but as time has gone on and things started happening again it just proved too fragile, even if it worked on paper.

I have a feeling the Fen Line performance is not going to improve much though, if anything I suspect it will get worse.

This was used to good effect for the one train that I can find that got delayed between Hitchin and Cambridge, the 1154 down. The 1345 up started on time with the spare train, and the delayed 1154 down was held at Watlington.

That’s exactly what should be happening, though I guess it can only be done when the up train has a fresh driver booked to take over from Kings Lynn. Ten (ish) minute turnrounds at Kings Lynn just aren’t robust enough.

 

[MikeWM]

That’s exactly what should be happening, though I guess it can only be done when the up train has a fresh driver booked to take over from Kings Lynn. Ten (ish) minute turnrounds at Kings Lynn just aren’t robust enough.

Conversely, the turnaround time for the Ely terminators has significantly decreased in the new timetable - which is less problematic than at Kings Lynn, and as a good side-effect means platform 3 at Ely will no longer be occupied for as long each hour - but I'm concerned it will increase the temptation to curtail late-running services at Cambridge and turn them there.

Eg. the stock for the 0946 Ely-KGX now only arrives at Ely at 0935. Previously it arrived 0926, and left 0947 - and even with 21 minutes, it all too often didn't make it to Ely if it had picked up delays earlier. With just 11 minutes to turnaround now, it seems more likely to be a problem. The first two days it has run ok, but let's see over time.

 

[bramling]

Conversely, the turnaround time for the Ely terminators has significantly decreased in the new timetable - which is less problematic than at Kings Lynn, and as a good side-effect means platform 3 at Ely will no longer be occupied for as long each hour - but I'm concerned it will increase the temptation to curtail late-running services at Cambridge and turn them there.

Eg. the stock for the 0946 Ely-KGX now only arrives at Ely at 0935. Previously it arrived 0926, and left 0947 - and even with 21 minutes, it all too often didn't make it to Ely if it had picked up delays earlier. With just 11 minutes to turnaround now, it seems more likely to be a problem. The first two days it has run ok, but let's see over time.

Didn’t notice this. Agree it’s going to be another thing which is not going to help. I definitely think Fen Line performance is going to be very shaky with this timetable, and it was problematic enough with the last timetable.

They *really* need to sort this issue of Letchworth terminators taking 7 minutes to be closed up at Letchworth as well. It just isn’t viable to have the down line blocked at Letchworth for nearly a quarter of each peak hour for this reason, and it’s a pain off-peak as well.

 

[800001]

Big test for LNER service recovery this afternoon, first an incident near Huntingdon and just ending now a trespasser on Durham viaduct.

Quite the queue of trains between Durham and Darlington, the first real test with the increase in services.

 

[takno]

I have just found out that it seems like an extra train has been added to the timetable by LNER, Newcastle- Edinburgh departing around 11pm (obviously it's made it's way up the country from London)
That will now allow me to attend midweek evening matches at St James' Park without having to take any leave.

The only bad side is that it terminates at 00:38, it could be another hour at that time of night before I get back in the house at Granton Harbour, then I have work to get up for the next morning

There was a Lumo in that slot before, wasn't there? Used to run 20:30 off kings cross and then used to get up the country a good bit quicker. Shame that's gone.

 

[35B]

There was a Lumo in that slot before, wasn't there? Used to run 20:30 off kings cross and then used to get up the country a good bit quicker. Shame that's gone.

20:30 off KGX was Hull Trains 1H07. Lumo had the 20:27

 

[D1537]

The 1103 Kings Cross-Edinburgh and 1630 Edinburgh-Kings Cross are booked 10-car (2x801) on weekdays.

Although 1E23 is a 9-car today, as 1S13 hasn't even reached Newcastle yet. Currently 174 late.

The last train from the north calling at Northallerton was the 1427 from Newcastle. If it isn't cancelled, the next one will be the 1527 which won't leave until at least 1745. Looks like a trip via Eaglescliffe for NTR passengers unless a SSO is inserted into one of the Edinburghs.

Luckily I drove to work today!

 

[Segedunum]

There was a Lumo in that slot before, wasn't there? Used to run 20:30 off kings cross and then used to get up the country a good bit quicker. Shame that's gone.

There still is. It isn't running today but usually leaves Kings Cross 20:30 and gets to Edinburgh in 4h12m: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:C08160/2025-12-23/detailed

 

[takno]

There still is. It isn't running today but usually leaves Kings Cross 20:30 and gets to Edinburgh in 4h12m: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:ta/2025-12-23/detailed

Ah yes, excellent, thanks for the link. I usually get it on a Monday so i guess I'll have to watch out for those 3-weekly cancellations

 

[D1537]

In the end, there was no train from Newcastle, Durham or Darlington to Northallerton from 1427 until 1907 today. Apparently staff were telling Northallerton passengers to travel to York and then back north!

 

[800001]

In the end, there was no train from Newcastle, Durham or Darlington to Northallerton from 1427 until 1907 today. Apparently staff were telling Northallerton passengers to travel to York and then back north!

From Darlington id of gone to eaglescliffe and then TPE to Northallerton

 

[D1537]

From Darlington id of gone to eaglescliffe and then TPE to Northallerton

So would I. Though depending on the connections, York and back might well have been quicker (from Newcastle that is, not if you were starting at Darlo obviously).

 

[philjo]

There seems to be a train missing in the GN timetable. After The 08:15 Letchworth to Kings Cross stopper there is a 72 minute gap for direct services to Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield or Potters Bar until the next stopper at 0927 after which the usual off peak half hourly pattern resumes.

Looking in RTT it looks like an 0845 stopper from Letchworth starts running from 9th February.

 

[Magdalia]

There seems to be a train missing in the GN timetable. After The 08:15 Letchworth to Kings Cross stopper there is a 72 minute gap for direct services to Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield or Potters Bar until the next stopper at 0927 after which the usual off peak half hourly pattern resumes.

Looking in RTT it looks like an 0845 stopper from Letchworth starts running from 9th February.

Thanks for finding this. It prompted me to look for other February changes.

2C44 1627 to Cambridge becomes 2L44 1627 to Letchworth, with an additional 1C80 1654 to Cambridge.

But there still seems to be a missing 2L52 1827 to Letchworth.

 

[OneOfThe48]

Thanks for finding this. It prompted me to look for other February changes.

2C44 1627 to Cambridge becomes 2L44 1627 to Letchworth, with an additional 1C80 1654 to Cambridge.

But there still seems to be a missing 2L52 1827 to Letchworth.

It’s all explained on the operators website page on the timetable changes

https://www.greatnorthernrail.com/service-updates/service-updates/east-coast-main-line-improvements

As part of the package of measures being implemented across the industry to support the smooth introduction of the new timetable, which is one of the most significant changes to the wider national network in years, a small number of changes and services are being phased in.

For Thameslink and Great Northern customers, this means that:

A 08:45 from Letchworth to London King’s Cross and a 16:54 service from London King’s Cross to Cambridge are expected to be introduced early next year. The date of their introduction will be confirmed next year.
The 16:27 service to Letchworth will be extended to Cambridge until the 16:54 is introduced to give similar arrival and departure times for stations north of Letchworth.
More information on the reasons for the changes and those being made by other operators is available on the cross-industry website here: https://ecmltimetable.info/

While most services repeat each at an even half-hourly frequency, there will not be an 18:27 departure from London King’s Cross to Letchworth. Unfortunately, we are unable to run a train in that timeslot as it would conflict with long distance services running on the East Coast Main Line at the same time.

 

[MikeWM]

The evening peak service wasn't great (not that it was on the old timetable either!):

...and it wasn't great on day 2 either.

- 1T48 was 10 late at Ely, lost time around Welwyn for whatever reason and then took its time dividing at Cambridge.
- 1T50 was 13 late at Ely, due to exactly the problem that was predicted. The Cambridge stopper (1C82, the 1724 off KGX) was late leaving Hitchin, delaying the Thameslink (9S44) behind it, which delayed 1T50 behind that.
- 1T52 was 21 late at Ely (started from KGX 12 late for some reason, then lost more time).
- 1T54 was 8 late at Ely, lost little bits of time at various places - though if it has been on time at Hitchin it would have then got caught behind another late Cambridge stopper anyway (1C86, the 1824 off KGX).

So of the 8 main evening peak services we've had so far to Ely, 1 was cancelled, and every one of the other 7 was late by *at least* 7 minutes, the mean being 13 minutes late.

It's probably too early to tell, but this is hardly a good start.

 

[bramling]

Thanks for finding this. It prompted me to look for other February changes.

2C44 1627 to Cambridge becomes 2L44 1627 to Letchworth, with an additional 1C80 1654 to Cambridge.

But there still seems to be a missing 2L52 1827 to Letchworth.

Ah I noticed these services had appeared in the timetable when I was putting everything into Simsig, but didn’t notice they started in February. The “model” date I chose was in March, so that explains that…

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Dec 2025 ==

It’s all explained on the operators website page on the timetable changes

https://www.greatnorthernrail.com/service-updates/service-updates/east-coast-main-line-improvements

That is pretty poor to not have a service right in the middle of the evening peak commuter time.

 

[Class 170101]

They *really* need to sort this issue of Letchworth terminators taking 7 minutes to be closed up at Letchworth as well. It just isn’t viable to have the down line blocked at Letchworth for nearly a quarter of each peak hour for this reason, and it’s a pain off-peak as well.

This will be the security check to make sure no one and nothing is there that shouldn't be there. However you are right to raise this as an issue, possibly they would have been better for the 2Ls in the standard hour off peak to carry on as 2C services to Cambridge where there are bay platforms. Standing on running lines and terminating before shunting forward to sidings is always a problem and really should be avoided where possible.

 

[Magdalia]

- 1T48 was 10 late at Ely, lost time around Welwyn for whatever reason and then took its time dividing at Cambridge.
- 1T50 was 13 late at Ely, due to exactly the problem that was predicted. The Cambridge stopper (1C82, the 1724 off KGX) was late leaving Hitchin, delaying the Thameslink (9S44) behind it, which delayed 1T50 behind that.
- 1T52 was 21 late at Ely (started from KGX 12 late for some reason, then lost more time).
- 1T54 was 8 late at Ely, lost little bits of time at various places - though if it has been on time at Hitchin it would have then got caught behind another late Cambridge stopper anyway (1C86, the 1824 off KGX).

This looks like classic ECML disruption delay, something I've experienced hundreds of times, and probably not new timetable related.

It starts at Hitchin on the up at just after 1630 when 1T43 1551 ex Ely can't get out onto the main line because of late running 1A24 from Leeds. 1T43 gets held outside Hitchin, with 9J47 1553 Peterborough-Horsham allowed through first, and is 7 late arriving KX. This isn't good when it has a 10 minute turnround to work 1P84 1712 to Peterborough, so it is 5 late start.

1T48 1718 to Lynn gets an on time departure but it doesn't get a clear run out of KX because of the late 1P84. As a result it ends up behind 9J50 1555 Horsham-Peterborough instead of being in front. Meanwhile, up ahead the late running 1P84 delays the critical 2L46 1657 to Letchworth through the Digswell 2 track section, and the classic queue starts to build, with 1C82 1724 Cambridge following 1T48 following 9J50. There is quite ropey running on the down road through the 2 track section for the rest of the evening peak, even though a few cancellations gave a bit of respite.