December 2025 East Coast Timetable

[sjm77]

No service from the East Coast Mainline to the Thameslink core, so some LNER services have been "flexed" to accommodate additional services using Kings Cross.

Looks like Thameslink have been given Platform 8 all day for this purpose.

Thanks!

 

[dk1]

David Horne has made an announcement about the success of the timetable two months in…

Millions of LNER Customers Reap Benefit of More Choice, More Comfort, and More Great Value Fares | LNER

www.lner.co.uk

 

[Kite159]

More comfort... Have they finally replaced the seat cushions on the Azumas?

 

[DunsBus]

"More frequent trains" - not if you live in or near Berwick-upon-Tweed!

 

[dk1]

More comfort... Have they finally replaced the seat cushions on the Azumas?

Not that I have had a problem with the Azuma seats but aren’t there some remedial works underway?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Feb 2026 ==

"More frequent trains" - not if you live in or near Berwick-upon-Tweed!

28.8% growth year on year from Newcastle is very impressive with its three LNER services each hour to/from Kings Cross.

 

[Fuzzytop]

Clearly some stations have done less well by this timetable - Berwick, Durham, to a certain extent Peterborough.

But I honestly thought it was all going to come crashing down on day 1, like in 2018. As far as I can see it ... hasn't?

 

[dk1]

Clearly some stations have done less well by this timetable - Berwick, Durham, to a certain extent Peterborough.

But I honestly thought it was all going to come crashing down on day 1, like in 2018. As far as I can see it ... hasn't?

It’s been extremely successful performance wise from what I have witnessed. For me connections at Peterborough are much improved and direct services north of Edinburgh are back after being absent for many years.

 

[Bald Rick]

Clearly some stations have done less well by this timetable - Berwick, Durham, to a certain extent Peterborough.

But I honestly thought it was all going to come crashing down on day 1, like in 2018. As far as I can see it ... hasn't?

Have faith! The ECML timetable had more checks, reviews, governing boards, deep dives and assessment, for longer, than any other timetable ever.

 

[Kite159]

...

Clearly some stations have done less well by this timetable - Berwick, Durham, to a certain extent Peterborough.

But I honestly thought it was all going to come crashing down on day 1, like in 2018. As far as I can see it ... hasn't?

I did notice at Peterborough the connection between an EMR arriving from Lincoln via Splading and a fast train to London isn't ideal in the hours the 2 hourly York - London service doesn't run

 

[43074]

Have faith! The ECML timetable had more checks, reviews, governing boards, deep dives and assessment, for longer, than any other timetable ever.

You make that sound like a good thing; said bureaucracy (to call it what it is) probably cost the industry millions in lost revenue had the timetable not been implemented sooner. It was the train planning equivalent of death by committee really.

 

[43 302]

Full timetable not starting until 30th March...

 

[55002]

David Horne has made an announcement about the success of the timetable two months in…

Millions of LNER Customers Reap Benefit of More Choice, More Comfort, and More Great Value Fares | LNER

www.lner.co.uk

When I was recently looking at Newark to London return prices for last week they were outrageously expensive all day.. I wonder if that’s because mainly it’s the already busy Scottish services that stop there..

 

[Twingo37175]

When I was recently looking at Newark to London return prices for last week they were outrageously expensive all day.. I wonder if that’s because mainly it’s the already busy Scottish services that stop there..

One of the 2 Leeds each stops there though as well, although some of them are just 5 carriages.

 

[Bald Rick]

You make that sound like a good thing; said bureaucracy (to call it what it is) probably cost the industry millions in lost revenue had the timetable not been implemented sooner. It was the train planning equivalent of death by committee really.

It was a good thing, as it meant it wasnt implemented until it was ready.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Feb 2026 ==

When I was recently looking at Newark to London return prices for last week they were outrageously expensive all day.. I wonder if that’s because mainly it’s the already busy Scottish services that stop there..

Half term would have had an effect.

 

[Manutd1999]

Have faith! The ECML timetable had more checks, reviews, governing boards, deep dives and assessment, for longer, than any other timetable ever.

It did (far too many!), but there was also a serious amount of doom-mongering from the industry all the way up to implementation, which hasn't been vindicated (yet at least...)

 

[InOban]

"More frequent trains" - not if you live in or near Berwick-upon-Tweed!

Depends where you're going. The most popular journey is to Edinburgh and 3 trains every 2 hours seems reasonable, 1 lner, 1 XC, and 1 TPE.

 

[Farigiraf]

Depends where you're going. The most popular journey is to Edinburgh and 3 trains every 2 hours seems reasonable, 1 lner, 1 XC, and 1 TPE.

Towards Edinburgh, The 2-hourly LNER and TPE trains run within 15-20 minutes of each other so you have intervals of 60/20/20/60 etc. It's gotten marginally worse compared to pre-Dec 25, as it's gone from 2tph (XC+LNER) plus some occasional TPE services, to 1tph (XC) plus two extra services every other hour.

In the Newcastle direction it's even worse, there's an XC train at xx:46, then TPE at xx:00, an LNER at xx:12 then the XC again. Then no trains until the XC an hour later.

 

[Hadders]

Any chance of the pick-up/set down restrictions at Stevenage being removed?

 

[43 302]

Any chance of the pick-up/set down restrictions at Stevenage being removed?

Slim to none.

 

[cambsy]

Having done 2 Kings Cross-Edinburgh returns recently, on the 2 stop fast services, have found the performance and time keeping to be good when they run to their pathing, with Kings Cross-York achieved in 103.41 mins last Mon 23rd Feb, on the 09.30 Kings Cross-Edinburgh and similar a few weeks earlier, then the 49 mins timing to Newcastle seems to be too tight as not achieve this timing yet, being about a minute within timing, then it gained back the time on to Edinburgh, arriving approx 2 mins early, so taking approx 4hrs 05 mins for whole run.

On both return runs, the trains struggled to keep to keep time, with the first suffering 5 mins delay near Drem then loosing time with freight train near Newcastle, then speed restriction around Peterborough, arriving Kings Crossvi 29 mins late, then second run, running well to time most of the way, till Grantham, and a Lincoln to King Cross service running 5 mins late, impeded us and we ended up about 4 mins late, so not bad, but it seems train struggle more Edinburgh-Kings Cross to keep to time than out of London.

I think the fast services are well pathed and seem to run to time pretty well, but as usual they are reliant on everything else around them running to time and not conflicting with them. I think the timetable overall is pretty decent and well executed.

 

[Kite159]

When I was recently looking at Newark to London return prices for last week they were outrageously expensive all day.. I wonder if that’s because mainly it’s the already busy Scottish services that stop there..

Probably down to Newark suffering from lack of competition from those pesky open access operators.

Also the 2 hourly train from Lincoln is 5 coaches so has less seats available

 

[Failed Unit]

Probably down to Newark suffering from lack of competition from those pesky open access operators.

Also the 2 hourly train from Lincoln is 5 coaches so has less seats available

The yield management on that route is interesting.

If I am travelling from Welwyn Garden City - Market Rasen you can normally only get the "super off-peak" - However if you use a site such as train split you often get a competative price with a change at Grantham.

When you look at pre-December Newark was pretty much 2 tph. One of them the Edinburgh (which was always more expensive) and the other the Lincoln / York service. I agree the extra train per every 2 hours has increase the frequency. Although I haven't really looked to see how it has increase in terms of numbers of seats. London - Leeds trains are fairly full with 9 coachs, not had the pleasure using a 5 car yet on the London - Leeds (stopping Newark) route. I thought the short trains were on the Bradford, which will of course increase the price anyway.

On the positive it does generally seem to work well, however we still see stopping trains let out immedaiately ahead of fast trains too oftern.

 

[BrianW]

Have faith! The ECML timetable had more checks, reviews, governing boards, deep dives and assessment, for longer, than any other timetable ever.

How will things be when GBR 'takes control'? Quicker? Simpler? Better? And not just ECML ...

 

[Adrian1980uk]

How will things be when GBR 'takes control'? Quicker? Simpler? Better? And not just ECML ...

It's the same as everything in life, you don't get something for nothing, the time and consultation may seem excessive and expensive but as others have said, it's paid off in the timetable working from day one. If this all hadn't have taken place then the higher risk of it going wrong, public sector have generally lower risk appetite than private sector.

Once GBR takes control I expect something like this to become harder, not easier as although under one banner there will be even harder infighting between departments along with private open access and freight companies.

 

[Bald Rick]

How will things be when GBR 'takes control'? Quicker? Simpler? Better? And not just ECML ...

GBR are effectively in charge now. Process will be the same.

 

[Clarence Yard]

GBR doesn’t exist yet.

 

[Acfb]

Clearly some stations have done less well by this timetable - Berwick, Durham, to a certain extent Peterborough.

But I honestly thought it was all going to come crashing down on day 1, like in 2018. As far as I can see it ... hasn't?

My TPE train (802205) was 43 minutes late from Newcastle to Edinburgh on Sunday although my £5.90 delay repay is being processed now. It was very chaotic with the last minute platform alteration to 4 and everyone stampeding over the bridge.

 

[GuyGibsonVC]

"More frequent trains" - not if you live in or near Berwick-upon-Tweed!

Or Morpeth.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Feb 2026 ==

Clearly some stations have done less well by this timetable - Berwick, Durham, to a certain extent Peterborough.

But I honestly thought it was all going to come crashing down on day 1, like in 2018. As far as I can see it ... hasn't?

Network Rail spent a lot of time and money ensuring it would work.

The amount of briefing, assurance, testing and resilience put into it was massive. From rosters, logistics, track access, asset management etc. it was quite the project.

 

[CapabilityB]

For anyone that's interested in Access Rights, and the Capacity Allocation Process, the ORR have just published their overview of how this worked for Dec25.

Rail access rights planning and use, 14 December 2025 timetable change | Office of Rail and Road

This publication provides management information on access rights planning and use.

www.orr.gov.uk

 

[route101]

Probably down to Newark suffering from lack of competition from those pesky open access operators.

Also the 2 hourly train from Lincoln is 5 coaches so has less seats available

Perhaps the one way fares and no open returns anymore.