December 2026 Timetable Change

[SeanM1997]

Also appears to be some gaps in the CrossCountry Manchester Piccadilly - Bournemouth provision (for instance southbound services at 1125, 1425 and 1725 are missing)

 

[hexagon789]

Much on if LNER 225s will still go to Newcastle once a day?

The current workings certainly still show as timed for E330 (Electric loco hauling 330 tonnes) in December.

 

[JonathanH]

XC are extending their Edinburgh services to Glasgow Central every 2hrs, which includes a direct train from Bournemouth.

The early morning 2A01 dundee to Aberdeen now start from Edinburgh at 0530

1027 from Plymouth diverted to Manchester and 1045 from Bournemouth diverted to Glasgow via Leeds

 

[The Planner]

Interestingly Rail Record shows 2 trains an hour with Northern between Crewe and Manchester Piccadilly (same as today), even though LNWR are suggested to be taking the Manchester Airport path to run a Manchester Airport - Birmingham New Street service

You have answered your comment, its slipped.

 

[A S Leib]

XC are extending their Edinburgh services to Glasgow Central every 2hrs, which includes a direct train from Bournemouth

That makes nine trains per day from Newcastle to Glasgow, but none leaving between 11:40 and 15:08 (northbound) that I can currently see.

 

[Kite159]

Whilst it's good XC are extending back towards Glasgow to provide a direct service, do they have enough units? Or will some services which are currently booked a double voyager get reduced to a single voyager to cater for the additional units required to run Edinburgh - Glasgow?

 

[GoneSouth]

I would imagine the powers that be at Gatwick have been putting on the pressure for full restoration of the GatEx. It’s something that has been very precious to them for as long as I can remember and that walk up 15 minute frequency (same as Heathrow & Stansted) is a huge selling point regardless of the alternative London services every few minutes.

There’s already a walk up < 15 minute frequency. GatEx is pointless and overpriced and if we’re running a railway based on how loudly Gatwick Airport shout rather than what most passengers need it’s a sad state of affairs. So they get their expensive train plus charge anyone 10 quid to drop off at a national rail station even if you’re not using the airport. Thieves

 

[hux385]

I'm really hoping that XC don't pull the plug on these extra Glasgow services. It'll be great for connections down south and also provide more Edinburgh to Motherwell direct services. Fingers crossed!

 

[cle]

Do they all call at Motherwell? Anywhere else (Haymarket aside) ?

 

[agbrs_Jack]

Do they all call at Motherwell? Anywhere else (Haymarket aside) ?

Based on what is showing on charlwood house;
All of them (SX) call Motherwell except for 1S43 as this goes via the Edinburgh sub line and Shotts. (so also skips Haymarket).

1V66 calls Motherwell but not Haymarket as this is also routed via Edinburgh sub.

1S35 also calls at Carstairs

Bearing in mind this is extremely early days so all subject to change.

 

[hexagon789]

Do they all call at Motherwell? Anywhere else (Haymarket aside) ?

One or two don't, some don't even serve Haymarket.

One appears to go east to go west, I.e. it uses the Sub and is non-stop to Glasgow as a result.

 

[dk1]

There’s already a walk up < 15 minute frequency. GatEx is pointless and overpriced and if we’re running a railway based on how loudly Gatwick Airport shout rather than what most passengers need it’s a sad state of affairs. So they get their expensive train plus charge anyone 10 quid to drop off at a national rail station even if you’re not using the airport. Thieves

This is an age old argument but at the end of the day it sells and the airport stakeholders seem to wants it.

 

[NCT]

Having dedicated airport trains on the platforms means Southern services already full from Littlehampton and Eastbourne with 2-minute dwells aren't overwhelmed with suitcases.

 

[bramling]

Having dedicated airport trains on the platforms means Southern services already full from Littlehampton and Eastbourne with 2-minute dwells aren't overwhelmed with suitcases.

… which is very much a good thing as long as airport users are encouraged to actually use these services. The moment premium fares are charged, any benefit goes out the window.

 

[NCT]

… which is very much a good thing as long as airport users are encouraged to actually use these services. The moment premium fares are charged, any benefit goes out the window.

Airport services wouldn't run if they didn't make money, as much as ideologues would like to pretend otherwise.

There IS willingness to pay for dedicated airport services and it would be remiss to not capture it. There is a debate to what the most appropriate level of premium to charge, but the general concept of a premium service is an economically literate one.

 

[Concorde9289]

Also appears to be some gaps in the CrossCountry Manchester Piccadilly - Bournemouth provision (for instance southbound services at 1125, 1425 and 1725 are missing)

Surely must be some sort of error, since if there's no southbound service there'd be no stock to provide the next northbound service, which remains hourly.

 

[Vexed]

Surely must be some sort of error, since if there's no southbound service there'd be no stock to provide the next northbound service, which remains hourly.

Yes, just got to wait for the final ones to come in. Every timetable change there's always some "late" services once the majority have appeared.

 

[trentside]

I’m very pleased to see that EMR are introducing a two hourly Lincoln - Sleaford service on Sundays from December. This area of rural Lincolnshire has had no public transport connections to Lincoln on Sundays for a long time.

 

[yorksrob]

Are there any changes to Leeds - Middlesbrough and Middlesbrough - Whitby services ? It would help to be able to get back without long waits in either Middlesbrough or York for a change.

 

[trentside]

I’m very pleased to see that EMR are introducing a two hourly Lincoln - Sleaford service on Sundays from December. This area of rural Lincolnshire has had no public transport connections to Lincoln on Sundays for a long time.

Another Lincoln area change I’d missed is an additional Lincoln - Doncaster service from Lincoln at 1234 Mon-Sat. Increases the service to 6 trains per day and utilises a unit that otherwise sits idle at Lincoln for 2 hours.

 

[devon_belle]

GTR seems to be in on rail record.

Haven't noticed any changes/improvement on the Mole Valley so far, dissapointingly.

 

[GilfachFargoed]

… which is very much a good thing as long as airport users are encouraged to actually use these services. The moment premium fares are charged, any benefit goes out the window.

I am sure that those at GTR who have been pushing to put these services back in for a long time understand the commercial side of it. Why are premium fares a problem? It is a premium service in the sense that it doesn't call at East Croydon and Clapham Jn and hence does not experience the challenges of the customer churn at those locations. Even when not going to the airport I choose to use it for the more pleasant travelling environment in respect of crowding and the types of customer I am travelling with.

 

[PGAT]

I am sure that those at GTR who have been pushing to put these services back in for a long time understand the commercial side of it. Why are premium fares a problem? It is a premium service in the sense that it doesn't call at East Croydon and Clapham Jn and hence does not experience the challenges of the customer churn at those locations. Even when not going to the airport I choose to use it for the more pleasant travelling environment in respect of crowding and the types of customer I am travelling with.

From a resource distribution perspective it’s ridiculous you have Southern services full and standing while half-empty Gatwick Express but of course that completely carries the appeal and justification for charging the premium in the first place. (Depriving Clapham Junction direct links to Brighton is also unacceptable)

Ultimately while it may make financial sense, as a publicly owned railway the question does need to be asked: do we prioritise the passengers or the bookkeepers?

 

[43074]

Interestingly, Luton to Rainham services are curtailed to Kentish Town during off peak SX and Saturdays, clockwise Sutton loop services are extended to Luton in their place

Trains at Luton on 16/12/2026 | Rail Record

Live Train Times for Luton - Search passenger and freight services at Luton

live.rail-record.co.uk

 

[NCT]

From a resource distribution perspective it’s ridiculous you have Southern services full and standing while half-empty Gatwick Express but of course that completely carries the appeal and justification for charging the premium in the first place. (Depriving Clapham Junction direct links to Brighton is also unacceptable)

Ultimately while it may make financial sense, as a publicly owned railway the question does need to be asked: do we prioritise the passengers or the bookkeepers?

This framing through use of the slightly loaded term 'bookkeepers' trivialises the importance of taxpayers.

 

[PGAT]

This framing through use of the slightly loaded term 'bookkeepers' trivialises the importance of taxpayers.

While that’s true to an extent I am a believer that more decisions should be made from the lens of a passenger, as ultimately they’re the ones that bring in the revenue and mitigate subsidy burden on everyone else.

 

[NCT]

While that’s true to an extent I am a believer that more decisions should be made from the lens of a passenger, as ultimately they’re the ones that bring in the revenue and mitigate subsidy burden on everyone else.

Not all passengers are equal. In the eyes of the Treasury an American tourist paying £24 a pop is worth twice a Season ticket commuter on a yield per journey of £12.

And actually, stratifying rolling stock provision for the two user groups at differential load factors reflecting differential yields is economically efficient.

 

[tram21]

Good to see Derby- Crewe EMR services extended in hours (first train 9am ish in both directions!) and also extended to Nottingham through most the day. Good for Derby - Nottingham connections too!

 

[SeanM1997]

LNWR Crewe - Stafford (via Stoke) appears to be extended to Birmingham New Street, calling additionally at Penkridge, Wolverhampton, Willenhall, Darlaston, Tame Bridge Parkway and Birmingham New Street

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Jun 2026 ==

Good to see Derby- Crewe EMR services extended in hours (first train 9am ish in both directions!) and also extended to Nottingham through most the day. Good for Derby - Nottingham connections too!

Does appear to be only 2-hourly - which is a similar total number of journeys to the hourly PM service as of today. Hopefully it changes soon.


On Sundays, Northern do appear to be returning to Manchester Piccadilly - Stoke, serving the route every 2-3 hours; with Liverpool - Wilmslow returning (currently terminates at Manchester Airport). Manchester Piccadilly - Crewe (via Handforth) goes hourly (from every 2 hours today), as does Manchester Piccadilly - Buxton. Northern also look to be launching Chester - Leeds (via Manchester Victoria) on Sundays with an hourly service

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Jun 2026 ==

LNWR Crewe - Stafford (via Stoke) appears to be extended to Birmingham New Street, calling additionally at Penkridge, Wolverhampton, Willenhall, Darlaston, Tame Bridge Parkway and Birmingham New Street

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Jun 2026 ==


Does appear to be only 2-hourly - which is a similar total number of journeys to the hourly PM service as of today. Hopefully it changes soon.


On Sundays, Northern do appear to be returning to Manchester Piccadilly - Stoke, serving the route every 2-3 hours; with Liverpool - Wilmslow returning (currently terminates at Manchester Airport). Manchester Piccadilly - Crewe (via Handforth) goes hourly (from every 2 hours today), as does Manchester Piccadilly - Buxton. Northern also look to be launching Chester - Leeds (via Manchester Victoria) on Sundays with an hourly service

Interestingly, Bristol Brabazon appears on Real Time Trains (still says "Service stop unadvertised") as an extension to the existing hourly Bristol Temple Meads to Filton Abbey Wood service. If occurs, the first service would be the 0908 Bristol Temple Meads, arriving at 0927 / 1013 Bristol Brabazon arriving at Bristol Temple Meads at 1034

 

[The exile]

Interestingly, Bristol Brabazon appears on Real Time Trains (still says "Service stop unadvertised") as an extension to the existing hourly Bristol Temple Meads to Filton Abbey Wood service. If occurs, the first service would be the 0908 Bristol Temple Meads, arriving at 0927 / 1013 Bristol Brabazon arriving at Bristol Temple Meads at 1034

Think they are aiming for a 2026 launch. (Or should that be take-off?)