LNER (and other TOC) Named Trains

[Condor7]

In the latest edition of Railway Herald there was a news item regarding the new LNER timetable that stated the named train on all LNER services has been removed and no longer in use. This suprised me as the latest online timetable states quite prominently how proud they are of their named trains followed by a list of those trains.

I therefore contacted Railway Herald and this was there reply……….

“Thanks for your email. The information we had came from an LNER source, and the press office did not respond to a request to confirm or deny, which generally means they cannot comment. We will chase after New Year and seek to clarify the situation, however, if their website is clearly saying the named trains continue, I suspect that will be the official line.”

So make of that what you will. Does anyone know any different?

 

[Jan Mayen]

I wasn't aware LNER, or indeed anyone else on the GB rail network had named trains. Is there a list somewhere, please?

 

[xotGD]

My one-person campaign to have the Skipton - King's Cross named "The Airedale Executive" has yet to succeed.

We do have "The West Riding Limited" from Bradford to King's Cross.

 

[The North Briton]

The Highland Chieftain
The Flying Scotsman
The Northern Lights
The North Briton
The Hull Executive
The Bradford Executive (now apparently The West Riding Limited)
These are the names which have persisted most in the face of corporate indifference!
Do LNER still produce a printed oublic timetable booklet? If not, where are these names going to be seen?

 

[Alfie1014]

The 11:30 Kings Cross to Edinburgh was described on the station CIS at Kings Cross on Christmas Eve as the Carolean Express. It was the 11:00 departure in the previous timetable.

 

[The North Briton]

Precisely. If you’re going to create new named trains, stick with it and remember which ones you named!

 

[sh24]

I wasn't aware LNER, or indeed anyone else on the GB rail network had named trains. Is there a list somewhere, please?

I don't believe I have seen one, but GWR have some e.g the Cornishman is the up evening Pullman dining service from Penzance and Plymouth.

 

[Condor7]

I wasn't aware LNER, or indeed anyone else on the GB rail network had named trains. Is there a list somewhere, please?

Below is a copy of a post from 2023. The only changes I can see is the Transport of Wales ‘The Gerald’ is no longer named, and GWR who back then had temporarily withdrawn their named trains following Covid but have since reinstated them. There are quite a few I will try and find my updated list.

NAMED TRAINS IN THE UK MAY 2023


In 2020 prior to the Covid 19 out break there were 31 named or titled trains in the UK, the Great Western Railway by far had the most with 20. During the Covid 19 period timetables were effectively ripped up or of no use. It was only as 2022 progressed that a certain amount of normalcy returned although the after effects are still having some effect on reliable timetables.

The main difference now the May 2023 timetable are out is GWR’s decision to do away with naming expresses, according to a WhatsApp message sent to me by them in late February regarding named trains, which read in part “we no longer refer to our trains like this”. Certainly from the May 2023 timetable they have stood by this with no named trains listed, however in a surprise announcement on the 5th May to celebrate the Kings Coronation on the 6th they announce that the 08:48 London Paddington to Swansea would be called The Flying Carolean. Locomotive 802103 was also fitted with a transfer logo. Following further communication with GWR they have confirmed that permeance of this name should appear in print later this year, along with a review of reinstating all the previous named trains removed over the Covid period.

As the practice with some train operating companies is to name a train but not include that name in any timetables and in most cases not even mention it in load speaker announcements or the arrival/departure boards and indeed not even making mention to it on the actual train, compiling a definitive list of modern day named trains is very difficult, however below is the list which to the best of my knowledge is accurate.

Currently the only train operating company publishing their named trains in the timetable is East Midlands Railway.

EAST MIDLANDS RAILWAY

The Sheffield Continental. 1C05. 04:48 Sheffield to St.Pancras 07:09. (One way only)
The Master Cutler. 1C20. 07:33 Sheffield to St.Pancras 09:37.
1F60. 17:02 St.Pancras to Sheffield 19:16.
The South Yorkshireman. 1F65. 18:02 St.Pancras to Sheffield 20:02. (One way only)
The Robin Hood. 1B19. 06:40 Lincoln to St.Pancras 09:27.
1D63 17:35 St.Pancras to Nottingham 19:13.

LNER.

Northern Lights. 1W11. 10:00 Kings Cross to Aberdeen 17:07.
1E15. 07:55 Aberdeen to Kings Cross 16:46.
The Carolean Express 1S13. Kings Cross to Edinburgh 15:21. (One way only)
Highland Chieftain. 1W16. 12:00 Kings Cross to Inverness 20:05.
1E13. 07:55 Inverness to Kings Cross 08:59.
West Riding Limited 1A07. 06:30 Bradford Forster Sq. to Kings Cross (One way only)
The Flying Scotsman 1E01. 05:40 Edinburgh to Kings Cross 09:40 (One way only)

TRANSPORT FOR WALES

The Gerald of Wales (Y Gerallt Gymro) 1V91 05:33 Holyhead to Cardiff 09:59
1W96 17:14 Cardiff to Holyhead 21:37

GWR

The Flying Carolean 1B07 Paddington to Swansea 11:31 (One Way Only)

As discussed in similar threads I have only Included trains that run just once a day there (and in most cases) back again. Although there are no hard and fast rules I am regarding other named services as brand names, for instance The Night Caledonian.

My information came from the train operating company themselves and a little help from some associated with The Railway Magazine, and of course some on this forum, for which I am very grateful.

Last edited: 11 May 2023
11 May 2023

 

[62484GlenLyon]

This is the current LNER timetable on their website.

https://assets.ctfassets.net/mxack5k9p2sw/4raBidSw46xiLx10c2ci0S/2b989dafa4d13f9361cec33c2b845068/LNER_Dec_2025_May_2026_Timetable_Guide_Web.pdf

This is a screenshot I have taken of page 4 regarding LNER's named trains. Definitive.

 

[hexagon789]

Below is a copy of a post from 2023. The only changes I can see is the Transport of Wales ‘The Gerald’ is no longer named, and GWR who back then had temporarily withdrawn their named trains following Covid but have since reinstated them. There are quite a few I will try and find my updated list.

NAMED TRAINS IN THE UK MAY 2023


In 2020 prior to the Covid 19 out break there were 31 named or titled trains in the UK, the Great Western Railway by far had the most with 20. During the Covid 19 period timetables were effectively ripped up or of no use. It was only as 2022 progressed that a certain amount of normalcy returned although the after effects are still having some effect on reliable timetables.

The main difference now the May 2023 timetable are out is GWR’s decision to do away with naming expresses, according to a WhatsApp message sent to me by them in late February regarding named trains, which read in part “we no longer refer to our trains like this”. Certainly from the May 2023 timetable they have stood by this with no named trains listed, however in a surprise announcement on the 5th May to celebrate the Kings Coronation on the 6th they announce that the 08:48 London Paddington to Swansea would be called The Flying Carolean. Locomotive 802103 was also fitted with a transfer logo. Following further communication with GWR they have confirmed that permeance of this name should appear in print later this year, along with a review of reinstating all the previous named trains removed over the Covid period.

As the practice with some train operating companies is to name a train but not include that name in any timetables and in most cases not even mention it in load speaker announcements or the arrival/departure boards and indeed not even making mention to it on the actual train, compiling a definitive list of modern day named trains is very difficult, however below is the list which to the best of my knowledge is accurate.

Currently the only train operating company publishing their named trains in the timetable is East Midlands Railway.

EAST MIDLANDS RAILWAY

The Sheffield Continental. 1C05. 04:48 Sheffield to St.Pancras 07:09. (One way only)
The Master Cutler. 1C20. 07:33 Sheffield to St.Pancras 09:37.
1F60. 17:02 St.Pancras to Sheffield 19:16.
The South Yorkshireman. 1F65. 18:02 St.Pancras to Sheffield 20:02. (One way only)
The Robin Hood. 1B19. 06:40 Lincoln to St.Pancras 09:27.
1D63 17:35 St.Pancras to Nottingham 19:13.

LNER.

Northern Lights. 1W11. 10:00 Kings Cross to Aberdeen 17:07.
1E15. 07:55 Aberdeen to Kings Cross 16:46.
The Carolean Express 1S13. Kings Cross to Edinburgh 15:21. (One way only)
Highland Chieftain. 1W16. 12:00 Kings Cross to Inverness 20:05.
1E13. 07:55 Inverness to Kings Cross 08:59.
West Riding Limited 1A07. 06:30 Bradford Forster Sq. to Kings Cross (One way only)
The Flying Scotsman 1E01. 05:40 Edinburgh to Kings Cross 09:40 (One way only)

TRANSPORT FOR WALES

The Gerald of Wales (Y Gerallt Gymro) 1V91 05:33 Holyhead to Cardiff 09:59
1W96 17:14 Cardiff to Holyhead 21:37

GWR

The Flying Carolean 1B07 Paddington to Swansea 11:31 (One Way Only)

As discussed in similar threads I have only Included trains that run just once a day there (and in most cases) back again. Although there are no hard and fast rules I am regarding other named services as brand names, for instance The Night Caledonian.

My information came from the train operating company themselves and a little help from some associated with The Railway Magazine, and of course some on this forum, for which I am very grateful.

Last edited: 11 May 2023
11 May 2023

Seem to have been a few changes since then -

GWR list several named trains in their InterCity route timetables, at least 9.

LNER have now applied "The Carolean Express" to a southbound working as well.

"Gerald of Wales" doesn't seem to be official. Certainly either the National Rail Timetable nor TfW publications refer to it.

EMR don't seem to have any named trains now, least none appear named in their own timetables.

 

[sh24]

Never seen the EMR names anywhere - not onboard, station or any material

 

[AlterEgo]

Carolean Express is a dreadful name for a train because the average punter hasn't a clue what it is and it doesn't reveal anything interesting if you Google it. Unlike say, the Master Cutler.

 

[The North Briton]

This is the current LNER timetable on their website.

https://assets.ctfassets.net/mxack5k9p2sw/4raBidSw46xiLx10c2ci0S/2b989dafa4d13f9361cec33c2b845068/LNER_Dec_2025_May_2026_Timetable_Guide_Web.pdf

This is a screenshot I have taken of page 4 regarding LNER's named trains. Definitive.


View attachment 194772

Thank you, bookmarked! I still can’t find a link to that in LNER’s website.

 

[hexagon789]

Thank you, bookmarked! I still can’t find a link to that in LNER’s website.

Using the drop-down menu on the top-right, it's under 'Travel Information', then 'Travelling Later', then 'Timetables'.

 

[Oxfordblues]

A few freight trains have unofficial names. DB Cargo's 4M60 Southampton-Northampton and 4O56 vice-versa must surely be the "Inter-Amptons"?

 

[Condor7]

Seem to have been a few changes since then -

GWR list several named trains in their InterCity route timetables, at least 9.

LNER have now applied "The Carolean Express" to a southbound working as well.

"Gerald of Wales" doesn't seem to be official. Certainly either the National Rail Timetable nor TfW publications refer to it.

EMR don't seem to have any named trains now, least none appear named in their own timetables.

Thanks for your observations although as you will see I addressed most of these in my post which was from a couple of years ago, I did however mention that I would update the GWR trains, which I will do as soon as I have time. Over the years I have updated this list on here but agree one is overdue.

You make a good point however about EMR, they have always until this December mentioned their named trains but like you I am struggling to find any mention in the latest online timetable other than this brief mention hidden away.
“08:05 – 09:38 – one hour 33 minutes (one hour 31 minutes – when comparing to current Master Cutler service at 0756 from Derby)“. I will get in touch with them and see if I can get some clarification and will report back here, although from previous attempts with various TOC’s the response can take some time.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Dec 2025 ==

A few freight trains have unofficial names. DB Cargo's 4M60 Southampton-Northampton and 4O56 vice-versa must surely be the "Inter-Amptons"?

Yes you are correct, another unofficial freight is the Tesco Express but I don’t think any official freight named trains have happened since The Condor (hence my avatar) in the late 50’s to early 60’s.

 

[xotGD]

When did The Newcastle Executive and The Cleveland Executive disappear from the ECML?

And at the other end of the country, The Atlantic Coast Express?

 

[hexagon789]

Thanks for your observations although as you will see I addressed most of these in my post which was from a couple of years ago, I did however mention that I would update the GWR trains, which I will do as soon as I have time.

My apologies, so you did and I overlooked it.

 

[Iskra]

Never seen the EMR names anywhere - not onboard, station or any material

 

[D1537]

I can confirm that The Northern Lights and Highland Chieftain are definitely displayed as such on platform PIS. I don't think I've been at Waverley or Newcastle early enough to see if the Flying Scotsman is.

 

[Condor7]

When did The Newcastle Executive and The Cleveland Executive disappear from the ECML?

And at the other end of the country, The Atlantic Coast Express?

The Newcastle Executive ceased in in 1986, and The Cleveland Executive in 1990. Up until last year The Atlantic Coast Express ran and I have no reason to believe it has ceased from the December timetable but as I previously said I need to update the GRW details.

 

[D1537]

The Newcastle Executive ceased in in 1986, and The Cleveland Executive in 1990. Up until last year The Atlantic Coast Express ran and I have no reason to believe it has ceased from the December timetable but as I previously said I need to update the GRW details.

I presume there is no Altantic Coast Express because there is no Paddington-Newquay direct service.

As far as I can see the GWR West Country named daytime trains are

• The Armada
• The Cornishman
• The Cornish Riviera
• The Golden Hind
• The Royal Duchy

 

[Segedunum]

I can confirm that The Northern Lights and Highland Chieftain are definitely displayed as such on platform PIS. I don't think I've been at Waverley or Newcastle early enough to see if the Flying Scotsman is.

The Flying Scotsman name continues to be displayed at Newcastle on departure boards post-timetable change.

 

[WAB]

"Gerald of Wales" doesn't seem to be official. Certainly either the National Rail Timetable nor TfW publications refer to it.

The name has featured in press releases as recently as 2023, and still features on some parts of the TfW website. Most of the station and onboard staff still call the service the Gerald, the Prem or the WAG Express...

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Carolean Express is a dreadful name for a train because the average punter hasn't a clue what it is and it doesn't reveal anything interesting if you Google it. Unlike say, the Master Cutler.

Do people really go about Googling their train though...?

 

[sh24]

I presume there is no Altantic Coast Express because there is no Paddington-Newquay direct service.

As far as I can see the GWR West Country named daytime trains are

• The Armada
• The Cornishman
• The Cornish Riviera
• The Golden Hind
• The Royal Duchy

The ACE is summer only, lunchtime Pullman dining on the up service.

 

[aar0]

GWR announces its named expresses in stations in England but for some reason not Wales. I fairly regularly use Captials United both ways (0557 Swansea-London, 1748 London-Swansea, the latter conveying the Pullman).

 

[Parallel]

GWR announces its named expresses in stations in England but for some reason not Wales. I fairly regularly use Captials United both ways (0557 Swansea-London, 1748 London-Swansea, the latter conveying the Pullman).

I think the platform CIS uses the headcode to pull the names through.

Within the last year or so when GWR reintroduced the names, the TfW system started announcing them, but for their services as well as the GWR ones where they shared a common headcode. TfW quickly disabled the feature.

There are quite a few GWR named trains.

- The Capitals United
- The Cathedrals Express
- The Cheltenham Spa Express
- The Atlantic Coast Express (Summer)
- The Pembroke Coast Express (Summer)
- The Red Dragon
- The Bristolian
- The Cornishman
- The Devon Express
- The Golden Hind
- The Royal Duchy
- The Mayflower
- The Saint David
- The Torbay Express
- The Night Riviera

I believe these all get announced by GWR station CIS systems.

They also had ‘The Merchant Venturer’ and ‘The Armada’ but I did read GWR discontinued the use of a couple of the named services in 2024 when they brought the names back following COVID, and it may have been these ones?

They also used to operate the ‘Weymouth Wizard’ on summer Saturdays, but it was never announced at stations. It was the HST round trip to Weymouth.

 

[cduncan]

Named trains on First Great Western. Some of the times have changed for a few services like the Devon Express being the 07:30 Paddington to Paignton via Bristol, Merchant Venturer being the 08:00 Paddington to Bristol, on the 2016 timetable.

Got a few labels with the named services but with GWR mostly dating January 2018. Two shown here as an example.

 

[godfreycomplex]

They also had ‘The Merchant Venturer’ and ‘The Armada’ but I did read GWR discontinued the use of a couple of the named services in 2024 when they brought the names back following COVID, and it may have been these ones?

The Merchant Venturer was quietly discontinued because of the association with the Society of Merchant Venturers, whose strong connection with slavery has become more apparent to the general public in recent years

The Armada was dropped for unknown (but presumably more prosaic) reasons so may return one day (edit - now back in use)