December 2025 Timetable Change - Confirmed changes only

[The Planner]

When will it come out? I want to buy tickets on the avanti diversions over settle and Carlisle but don’t know when they will release.

12 weeks before like normal.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

12 weeks before like normal.

Not everyone is going to know that.

 

[lrbvoyager]

Not everyone is going to know that.

Where can I find the diversionary timetable

 

[jamess]

I heard rumour, and have just seen that it is true, that from December TFW are operating a shuttle service between Wrexham & Chester as 2Dxx & 2Jxx with 2J00 0701 CTR - WRX being the first of the day,
I think this is (finally) making use of the re-doubled section between Saltney Jn & Rossett Jn, added in 2018 meaning wrexham now has an 2tph service, something it has not regulalrly had for quite some time (guessing sometime under BR was the last time it might have? as I don't recall anything this regular in my lifetime!)

I've heard rumour too that eventually the 'Crewe Shuttle' will be extended to meet this shuttle eventually forming a Crewe - Wrexham Shuttle, but that hasn't materialised so that's probably just a rumour...

I have seen a PowerPoint presentation that shows the Crewe to Chester shuttle being extended to Wrexham, from the mid 2026 timetable change.

TFW do have desires for the Chester to Shrewsbury section to run twice an hour, but signalling does not allow that yet.

 

[The Planner]

Not everyone is going to know that.

Not sure what you expect me to do about that, I was under the impression that the 12 week ticket release was widely known. its not as though its a new phenomenon?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Sep 2025 ==

Where can I find the diversionary timetable

When it gets uploaded. Its not finalised yet.

 

[A S Leib]

Not sure what you expect me to do about that, I was under the impression that the 12 week ticket release was widely known. its not as though its a new phenomenon?

I thought it went down to eight weeks, at least for some TOCs, during and for a while post-Covid. I'd also guess that most people don't tend to plan events that far in advance to notice the 12-week mark.

 

[Bald Rick]

I thought it went down to eight weeks, at least for some TOCs, during and for a while post-Covid. I'd also guess that most people don't tend to plan events that far in advance to notice the 12-week mark.

It went down to a week during Covid! It’s been back at 12 for a while now though.

 

[cle]

I have seen a PowerPoint presentation that shows the Crewe to Chester shuttle being extended to Wrexham, from the mid 2026 timetable change.

TFW do have desires for the Chester to Shrewsbury section to run twice an hour, but signalling does not allow that yet.

Interesting… will be handy for Wrexham having the direct Crewe link. And this removes the quirk of TfW operating an England-only service

What will use that bay now?

 

[jamess]

Interesting… will be handy for Wrexham having the direct Crewe link. And this removes the quirk of TfW operating an England-only service

What will use that bay now?

Unsure what will use the bay

Crewe to Salop shuttle will still be an all England service

 

[paulmch]

I've just spotted on Realtime Trains that all services south of Cambridge have changed to be listed as passing Cambridge South rather than stopping - an indication that the opening is going to be delayed perhaps?

 

[jammmmmsssssss]

I've just spotted on Realtime Trains that all services south of Cambridge have changed to be listed as passing Cambridge South rather than stopping - an indication that the opening is going to be delayed perhaps?

It isn't due to open on the timetable change
I think I heard elsewhere that it'll open on the 26th of January

 

[moonarrow458]

GWR will introduce an new Paddington to Reading non-stop cl.387 service (1R49) on Saturday nights at 23:45 to relieve overcrowding on the Saturday night 23:30 Pad to Bristol TM service.

As a result on 23:30 Bristol TM service the Reading stop will become Pick up only. No alighting.

It is however a rather inefficient arrangement as the units for this service will run in empty from Reading Depot arriving at Paddington at 21:54 where they stable until the departure at 23:45. Meanwhile at 23:41 there is an ECS move with almost identical class 387s to Reading depot, however these are heathrow express uniits so couldnt possibly be used on GWR services or else the sky might fall in. Never mind that Gatwick Express branded 387s are used on a plethora of Southern services. Still its good to see GWR adding capacity where its needed.

 

[Bayum]

Northern are introducing a new hourly Leeds - Sheffield express service according to this network rail announcement: https://www.networkrailmediacentre....il-industry-announces-december-2025-timetable

Is this just a second service via Westgate and Moorthorpe?

 

[eastwestdivide]

Is this just a second service via Westgate and Moorthorpe?

Yes, only calling at Westgate, eg

Realtime Trains | 1N05 0852 Sheffield to Leeds | 07/01/2026

Real-time train running information for 1N05 0852 departure from Sheffield to Leeds on 07/01/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[bigmanaiq]

Surprised it doesn’t stop at Meadowhall initially considering the crowds the fast services via Kirkgate get for Meadowhall

 

[duffield]

Surprised it doesn’t stop at Meadowhall initially considering the crowds the fast services via Kirkgate get for Meadowhall

Passengers from Sheffield who are not going to Meadowhall will be able to get on the xx52 and probably get a seat straight away. Meanwhile the load on the xx48 stopping at Meadowhall will presumably be reduced considerably, since anyone for Wakefield or Leeds should wait for the xx52, and the xx48 will have more capacity for picking up from Barnsley etc. after unloading at Meadowhall. It seems to me like a reasonable choice to split the longer and shorter journey types in this way.

Of course there may be other considerations; if the xx52 stopped at Meadowhall this would block the main line, there may not even be time to schedule a stop there; the xx48 is stopping on the Barnsley line platforms out of the way.

There is a need to try and steer less well-informed passengers towards the xx52 if they are going from Sheffield to Wakefield or Leeds, otherwise they may board the xx48 just because it leaves first. I'm not sure how this is best achieved though. Ideally the fast service should leave just before, rather than just after the slower service.

 

[Killingworth]

With 6 trains an hour between Sheffield and Leeds there's going to be a very wide choice of options. Those in the South East may marvel that most will only be 2 coach trains but the daily capacity will be improved. Those in Sheffield marvel at the success of the campaign to finally achieve this.

Greater attention to the busiest route from Sheffield may now be due. 443k to Manchester, 321k to Leeds. See passenger numbers for the last 6 years for the top 3 destinations from Sheffield taken from the Railway Data website. Manchester gets 3 trains an hour for significantly greater numbers - and they're above pre-Covid levels too. (London figures are suspect.)

Destination	Region	Group	2018/19	2019/20	2020/21	2021/22	2022/23	2023/24
Manchester Piccadilly	North West	MANCHESTER BR	398,327	437,986	94,905	424,611	441,562	443,018
London St Pancras International	London	LONDON BR	83,375	60,038	7,361	29,358	341,889	383,253
Leeds	Yorkshire and The Humber		390,237	390,721	64,754	262,847	318,293	320,722

 

[YorksLad12]

With 6 trains an hour between Sheffield and Leeds there's going to be a very wide choice of options. Those in the South East may marvel that most will only be 2 coach trains but the daily capacity will be improved. Those in Sheffield marvel at the success of the campaign to finally achieve this.

It was announced nearly 10 years ago! I've worked in Sheffield twice since then, hoping it would start 'soon'.

If Northern, SYMCA and WYCA get their promotional hats on when the service runs in earnest in 2026 we should see better loadings than the semi-fast. Hopefully this will also take the strain off those services for people travelling end to end.

 

[_toommm_]

With 6 trains an hour between Sheffield and Leeds there's going to be a very wide choice of options. Those in the South East may marvel that most will only be 2 coach trains but the daily capacity will be improved. Those in Sheffield marvel at the success of the campaign to finally achieve this.

And hopefully with the work to extend platform 17 we'll finally have four-car trains on the semi-fasts. Two cars has never been, and will continue to be not enough for them.

 

[brad465]

Southeastern have now done an interim briefing on the timetable changes, with a view to updating more nearer the time:

Train Timetables | Southeastern Railway

Check your train times before you travel. Download our timetables for updated routes and times along with helpful information for your journey.

www.southeasternrailway.co.uk

New timetable from December 2025​

We will publish full details shortly for our new timetable that starts on Sunday 14 December. Below is a brief summery by route.

METRO SERVICES​

Bexleyheath Line​

Extra services will run on weekday evenings, increasing the frequency to half-hourly:

• 20.25 and 21.25 from Charing Cross to Dartford.
• 19.23 and 20.23 Dartford to Charing Cross.

On Saturday and Sunday, services between Victoria and Dartford/Gravesend will be lengthened to eight carriages.

Hayes Line​

To improve the interval between trains, services from Charing Cross to Hayes will be retimed.

• Departures at xx18 & xx48 will start later at Charing Cross and the interval from London Bridge will be improved from the current 9/21-minute interval to a 13/17-minute interval.
• An additional service will run at 08.02 from Charing Cross to Hayes calling at Waterloo East and London Bridge.

MAINLINE SERVICES​

Bromley South Line - Victoria to Orpington via Herne Hill​

• The 04.33 service from Swanley to Victoria is an earlier start and it will not stop at the stations between Shortlands and Brixton. The train will now arrive in to Victoria at 05.00 offering an 18-minute earlier arrival for shift workers.
• An additional service will run at 04.35 from Orpington to Victoria calling at all stations via Herne Hill.

Maidstone East Line to Charing Cross – Monday to Friday​

Additional services will run at peak times creating a half-hourly service throughout both the morning and evening peak periods to/from Charing Cross:

• 08.44 Maidstone East to Charing Cross
• 07.57 Charing Cross to Maidstone East.
• 17.44 Maidstone East to Charing Cross
• 18.59 Charing Cross to Maidstone East.

Services will call at Waterloo East, London Bridge, Swanley, Otford, Borough Green and Wrotham, and West Malling.

Maidstone East Line to Victoria – Monday to Friday​

Additional services will run on the Victoria to Ashford route via Maidstone East on Monday to Friday:

• 09.28 Ashford to Victoria
• 21.55 Victoria to Ashford.

Services will call at Bromley South, St Mary Cray, Swanley, Otford, Borough Green & Wrotham, West Malling, East Malling, Barming, Maidstone East, Bearsted, Hollingbourne, Harrietsham, Lenham and Charing.

HIGHSPEED SERVICES​

Monday to Friday​

• Extra weekday services from St Pancras to Faversham at 20.50 and 21.50.
• Extra weekday services from Faversham to St Pancras at 18.30, 19.30 and 20.30.
• These services combined with existing services mean there will be a half-hourly service all day on the St Pancras to Faversham route until late evening.

Saturdays​

There will be additional highspeed services on Saturdays at the busiest times of days increasing the frequency to half-hourly:

• 09.30 Faversham to St Pancras.
• 10.50 St Pancras to Faversham.
• 16.30 Faversham to St Pancras.
• 17.50 St Pancras to Faversham.

 

[Earle Grey]

Northern are introducing a new hourly Leeds - Sheffield express service according to this network rail announcement: https://www.networkrailmediacentre....il-industry-announces-december-2025-timetable

Is this just a second service via Westgate and Moorthorpe?

Another one? or the one previously discussed on Page 7 of this thread #188

 

[YorksLad12]

Another one? or the one previously discussed on Page 7 of this thread #188

Same one.

 

[Kite159]

It does seem a tad odd those new Northern services are not calling at Meadowhall, even if made pick up only away from Sheffield to avoid the trains getting swamped with the shoppers.

At least it does give another option to reach Wakefield Westgate & Leeds from Sheffield. Shame they can't put the same level of resources into restoring the 2tph stopper between Doncaster & Sheffield or bringing back the Gainsborough stopper to allow the Lincoln trains to be sped up again (and giving Worksop/Retford 2tph to Sheffield)

 

[bigmanaiq]

It does seem a tad odd those new Northern services are not calling at Meadowhall, even if made pick up only away from Sheffield to avoid the trains getting swamped with the shoppers.

At least it does give another option to reach Wakefield Westgate & Leeds from Sheffield. Shame they can't put the same level of resources into restoring the 2tph stopper between Doncaster & Sheffield or bringing back the Gainsborough stopper to allow the Lincoln trains to be sped up again (and giving Worksop/Retford 2tph to Sheffield)

Would there not be a good case to have it all the way to Cleethorpes every hour - provided it doesn’t interfere with freight paths because its not impossible to put more trains on the south humberside line (especially considering the 2 hourly leicesters and bartons leave on the same hour)

 

[Galaxy]

DfT have no interest in reinstating the half-hourly stopping service between Sheffield and Doncaster and likewise making the Doncaster to Scunthorpe stopper hourly again.

A shame.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I heard rumour, and have just seen that it is true, that from December TFW are operating a shuttle service between Wrexham & Chester as 2Dxx & 2Jxx with 2J00 0701 CTR - WRX being the first of the day,
I think this is (finally) making use of the re-doubled section between Saltney Jn & Rossett Jn, added in 2018 meaning wrexham now has an 2tph service, something it has not regulalrly had for quite some time (guessing sometime under BR was the last time it might have? as I don't recall anything this regular in my lifetime!)

After the downgrade of the Birkenhead-Chester-Shrewsbury-Birmingham-Paddington service in 1967, Wrexham only had 1tp2h (initially just to Wolverhampton).
There were no through trains beyond Chester until ATW switched the Holyhead-Crewe/Birmingham service to run via Wrexham in 2004, with trains in the opposite hour running to Cardiff to give 1tph Chester-Shrewsbury.

Before 1967, apart from the 2-hourly Paddington through services, there were odd trains from Birkenhead/Chester to Oswestry/Shrewsbury/Bala/Barmouth, but they didn't add up to a regular 1tph, much less 2tph service.
Even pre-BR there were never any through services between Wrexham and the North Wales coast.

The recent TfW plan was to extend the Chester-Runcorn-Liverpool service alternately to Llandudno and Wrexham (originally to Shrewsbury/Cardiff), but the Crewe-Chester-Wrexham shuttle seems to be the current plan.
All part of the North Wales Metro it seems.

 

[Magdalia]

I've just spotted on Realtime Trains that all services south of Cambridge have changed to be listed as passing Cambridge South rather than stopping - an indication that the opening is going to be delayed perhaps?

There has been no announcement of an opening date for Cambridge South.

But it was never going to be before the Christmas/New Year engineering work which includes joining up the track to platforms 1 and 4, and commissioning the new signalling.

It isn't due to open on the timetable change
I think I heard elsewhere that it'll open on the 26th of January

When the December 2025 timetable was first uploaded onto Real Time Trains, Greater Anglia and Cross Country put the WTT times up, which include the Cambridge South stops. But Great Northern/Thameslink only put up the WTT times from 26 January, with VAR schedules, missing the Cambridge South stops, for dates up to 26 January.

There has been a lot of WTT->VAR schedule changes since then.

 

[Goldfish62]

Is that just the suburban or the mainline too? Friends at SWR seem to think different.

Haines and Hendy also seem to think the SWR timetable recast is next year!

I can't get my head around the seeming inability of SWR to do anything with their timetable (except cuts - they seem to find them really easy to do) while all other TOCs go ahead and make improvements. Utterly bizarre.

 

[jammmmmsssssss]

When the December 2025 timetable was first uploaded onto Real Time Trains, Greater Anglia and Cross Country put the WTT times up, which include the Cambridge South stops. But Great Northern/Thameslink only put up the WTT times from 26 January, with VAR schedules, missing the Cambridge South stops, for dates up to 26 January.

There has been a lot of WTT->VAR schedule changes since then.

Yeah exactly. Cross Country have also done similar (making the stops unadvertised) until that date as well so it looks like that could be the opening date

 

[bigmanaiq]

DfT have no interest in reinstating the half-hourly stopping service between Sheffield and Doncaster and likewise making the Doncaster to Scunthorpe stopper hourly again.

A shame.

Id assume a big reason for this is the fact they both use 150s (except the odd 158 on the Adwick stopper) which are quite frankly falling to bits, and stock on lines into Leeds and potentially huddersfield would be more valued than Doncaster (admittedly there would be a big market between the two, however there are the two fast services) and certainly between Doncaster and Scunthorpe