May 2026 timetable

[Freemo]

I'm hoping XC 1S31 06.03 from Birmingham to Edinburgh is going to be added later, as adding two standard carriages between Sheffield and Leeds in the morning peak only to remove six to eight would seem perverse!

 

[DDB]

No sign of rumoured return of weekday Mansfield Woodhouse terminators outside the peaks to restore the preCOVID service on EMR

 

[rmHawk765]

Is this due to the Weaver Jn electricity shortage or just a timetabling convenience?

Would be a bit of a joke if it is the former, I was hoping this issue would be limited to one instance (Prestonpans).

 

[cle]

The Liverpool-Wrexham-Shrewsbury-Cardiff has been put on the back burner.
TfW are restricted to 1tph out of both Liverpool and Manchester, so would be a split at Chester if started.
The Crewe-Wrexham is a good way of at least getting 2tph to Wrexham.
Liverpool-Wrexham connecting at Chester (same platform) works quite well, and there's always the 4tph Merseyrail connections.

Got it, thanks.

The Liverpool-Llandudno I think will be very popular, as will the additional frequency along the trunk line.

And Wrexham gains the Chester frequency plus all the connections at Crewe. Good timetable for North Wales!

As for Liverpool - Cardiff, if we are tapped out on Halton capacity, I think the best thing would be an additional Crewe-Cardiff which could cover the local calls and ensure a more limited stop Manchester-Cardiff. Plus frequency on the lower Marches which is needed. Fits in the bays easily there.

 

[Magdalia]

Continuing to peruse the GA Regional services I note that an additional 08:08 (SX) Norwich to Cambridge service runs along with a 17:10 return. These are joined by the aforementioned 21:40 Norwich to Ely & return to keep the hourly pattern running all evening.

On the Ipswich to Cambridge route an additional 07:17 (SX) operates returning ECS. There is then an afternoon ECS back to Cambridge to form a new 17:05 (SX) Cambridge to Ipswich. These should assist the chronic crowding seen on some of these services nowadays especially if a 755/3 is used.

Thanks for finding these. They are very good news for commuting to Cambridge.

The afternoon ecs from Ipswich looks like it forms the 1648 to Ipswich, with the 1520 ex Ipswich making the 1705 back, which should help punctuality.

And at last it looks like the class 755 that currently sits in the sidings at Cambridge until after 1000 gets something to do. There are Cambridge-Stansted trains at 0513/0701/0845, Stansted-Cambridge at 0600/0748, and 0950 Stansted-Norwich.

Another development is the 0633/0726 Norwich-Cambridge shown as through trains starting from Lowestoft at 0538/0634, and the 2046 from Stansted shown going through to Lowestoft.

 

[dk1]

Thanks for finding these. They are very good news for commuting to Cambridge.

The afternoon ecs from Ipswich looks like it forms the 1648 to Ipswich, with the 1520 ex Ipswich making the 1705 back, which should help punctuality.

And at last it looks like the class 755 that currently sits in the sidings at Cambridge until after 1000 gets something to do. There are Cambridge-Stansted trains at 0513/0701/0845, Stansted-Cambridge at 0600/0748, and 0950 Stansted-Norwich.

Another development is the 0633/0726 Norwich-Cambridge shown as through trains starting from Lowestoft at 0538/0634.

All excellent news for East Anglia passengers and builds on the overwhelming success that has been the Stadler fleet since 2019. More to come in future years hopefully.

 

[Sad Sprinter]

Any news for South London?

 

[rmHawk765]

Any news for South London?

For SN/TL, GTR times from May onwards are currently missing completely from RTT, I am guessing adding the new times is in progress.

 

[Adam Williams]

Network Rail have pre-advised that the upload isn't due to be complete until Friday morning so I would suggest caution about missing LTP services at the moment.

I suspect this might be relevant.

 

[rmHawk765]

I suspect this might be relevant.

Thanks for the info.

 

[NCT]

With Manchester, Shrewsbury (alternating between Cardiff and Birmingham) and Liverpool all sending 1tph to Llandudno Junction, and the odd Avanti, the North Wales Coast line is getting 4tph in a lot of hours. That is quite something! Chester kind of works as an xx:20/50 takt node (as good as a Takt node you'll get in Britain). Slight shame the Liverpool path isn't symmetric in both directions. Westbound the Liverpool and Avanti are approximately half an hour apart; eastbound they are next to each other.

 

[SeanM1997]

Lumo West Coast Service Pattern:

Monday-Friday
1A00 0612 Blackpool North - London Euston - PFY, KKM, PRE, CRE, NUN
1M00 0605 Stirling - London Euston - LBT, GRL, WFF, MTH, LOC, CAR, PRE, MKC
1M01 0850 Stirling - London Euston - LBT, GRL, WFF, MTH, LOC, CAR, PRE, CRE, NUN, MKC
1M02 1222 Stirling - London Euston - LBT, GRL, WFF, MTH, LOC, CAR, PRE, NUN, MKC
1M03 1709 Stirling - London Euston - LBT, GRL, WFF, LOC, CAR, PRE, NUN, MKC

1S00 0611 London Euston - Stirling - MKC, PRE, CAR, LOC, MTH, WFF, GRL, LBT
1S01 1019 London Euston - Stirling - MKC, NUN, CRE, PRE, CAR, LOC, MTH, WFF, GRL, LBT
1S02 1319 London Euston - Stirling - MKC, NUN, CRE, PRE, CAR, LOC, MTH, WFF, GRL, LBT
1S03 1636 London Euston - Stirling - CRE, PRE, CAR, LOC, MTH, WFF, GRL, LBT
1P04 1919 London Euston - Blackpool North - MKC, NUN, CRE, PRE, KKM, PFY

Saturday
1A00 0529 Blackpool North - London Euston - PFY, PRE, CRE, NUN, MKC
1M00 0528 Stirling - London Euston - LBT, GRL, WFF, MTH, LOC, CAR, PRE, MKC
1M01 0849 Stirling - London Euston - LBT, GRL, WFF, MTH, LOC, CAR, PRE, CRE, NUN, MKC
1M02 1321 Stirling - London Euston - LBT, GRL, WFF, MTH, LOC, CAR, PRE, CRE, MKC
1M03 1751 Stirling - Crewe - LBT, GRL, WFF, MTH, LOC, CAR, PRE

1S00 0610 London Euston - Stirling - MKC, NUN, CRE, PRE, CAR, LOC, MTH, WFF, GRL, LBT
1S01 1019 London Euston - Stirling - MKC, NUN, CRE, PRE, CAR, LOC, MTH, WFF, GRL, LBT
1S02 1319 London Euston - Stirling - MKC, NUN, CRE, PRE, CAR, LOC, MTH, WFF, GRL, LBT
1S03 1619 London Euston - Stirling - MKC, NUN, CRE, PRE, CAR, LOC, MTH, WFF, GRL, LBT

Sunday
1A00 1040 Preston - London Euston - CRE, NUN
1M00 1006 Stirling - London Euston - LBT, GRL, WFF, MTH, LOC, CAR, PRE, NUN, MKC
1M01 1320 Stirling - London Euston - LBT, GRL, WFF, MTH, LOC, CAR, PRE, NUN, MKC
1M02 1634 Stirling - London Euston - LBT, GRL, WFF, MTH, LOC, CAR, PRE, CRE, NUN, MKC

1S00 0822 London Euston - Stirling - MKC, NUN, CRE, PRE, CAR, LOC, WFF, GRL, LBT
1S01 1418 London Euston - Stirling - MKC, NUN, CRE, PRE, CAR, LOC, MTH, WFF, GRL, LBT
1S02 1718 London Euston - Stirling - MKC, NUN, CRE, PRE, CAR, LOC, MTH, WFF, GRL, LBT
1P03 1935 London Euston - Blackpool North - NUN, CRE, PRE, KKM, PFY, BPN

 

[rmHawk765]

No changes to the GN inners despite ETUG saying this was apparently confirmed. I am hoping this will change by Friday.

Any news for South London?

GTR times are up now, but take them with a grain of salt as I said - nothing appears to have changed on the GN end which is contrary to expected.

 

[PGAT]

No changes to the GN inners despite ETUG saying this was apparently confirmed. I am hoping this will change by Friday.


GTR times are up now, but take them with a grain of salt as I said - nothing appears to have changed on the GN end which is contrary to expected.

Not sure if I am missing anything but the link you sent doesn't explicitly say any changes were pencilled in for the May 26 timetable

 

[Kite159]

Thanks for finding these. They are very good news for commuting to Cambridge.

The afternoon ecs from Ipswich looks like it forms the 1648 to Ipswich, with the 1520 ex Ipswich making the 1705 back, which should help punctuality.

And at last it looks like the class 755 that currently sits in the sidings at Cambridge until after 1000 gets something to do. There are Cambridge-Stansted trains at 0513/0701/0845, Stansted-Cambridge at 0600/0748, and 0950 Stansted-Norwich.

Another development is the 0633/0726 Norwich-Cambridge shown as through trains starting from Lowestoft at 0538/0634, and the 2046 from Stansted shown going through to Lowestoft.

Unless it's to do with staffing*, wouldn't it make more sense to run those ECS services (I presume 5S25 15:11 Ipswich - Cambridge) in service, even if limited stop.

(*Clearly if it's being planned to run with a Cambridge based guard, it would be different, but if's an Ipswich based guard who travels on the ECS seems a bit of a waste during the day)

 

[JonathanH]

Overnight services have appeared on the North Downs Line on Friday night/Saturday morning, calling at Wokingham, Blackwater, North Camp, Guildford, Dorking Deepdene, Reigate and Redhill.

0228 Reading - Gatwick, arriving 0350
0330 Reading - Gatwick, arriving 0455

---

0400 Gatwick - Reading, arriving 0518

Not sure about the other return working.

Summer dated - they run until mid-September. They include the 2236 from Reading running through to Gatwick on Friday night for the summer as well. Full line up therefore is

2236 Reading to Shalford extended to Gatwick Airport 0024
0030 Gatwick Airport to Reading 0149
0228 Reading to Gatwick Airport 0350
0400 Gatwick Airport to Reading 0518

0124 Gatwick Airport to Reading 0243
0330 Reading to Gatwick Airport 0455

This is the unit that otherwise works the last train from Reading and first one back, although it seems there may be swaps at Reading off the depot overnight. It will be interesting to see whether these attract more than just Gatwick Airport passengers, and indeed whether they actually build up custom.

 

[rmHawk765]

Not sure if I am missing anything but the link you sent doesn't explicitly say any changes were pencilled in for the May 26 timetable

The previous meeting I believe stated the changes would be for May 2026 if agreed, but in all honesty I may be wrong. Just had enough of GTR not returning pre COVID service levels

 

[SeanM1997]

London North Western Railway (LNWR) / West Midlands Railway (WMR) now loaded

Darlaston & Willenhall listed as "Service Stop Unadvertised" on the hourly Birmingham - Shrewsbury via Tame Bridge services

Camp Hill Line has two trains an hour each between Birmingham New Street and Kings Norton calling at Moseley Village, Kings Heath and Pineapple Road


On the Northern updates - Sunday services return to hourly on the Manchester Piccadilly - Crewe (via Stockport) line and hourly between Leeds and Chester via Manchester Victoria

 

[cle]

Summer dated - they run until mid-September. They include the 2236 from Reading running through to Gatwick on Friday night for the summer as well. Full line up therefore is

2236 Reading to Shalford extended to Gatwick Airport 0024
0030 Gatwick Airport to Reading 0149
0228 Reading to Gatwick Airport 0350
0400 Gatwick Airport to Reading 0518

0124 Gatwick Airport to Reading 0243
0330 Reading to Gatwick Airport 0455

This is the unit that otherwise works the last train from Reading and first one back, although it seems there may be swaps at Reading off the depot overnight. It will be interesting to see whether these attract more than just Gatwick Airport passengers, and indeed whether they actually build up custom.

Curious what the departure board at 1am or 3am looks like in Reading. As they have the overnight Paddington services too. Anything else?!

 

[JonathanH]

Curious what the departure board at 1am or 3am looks like in Reading. As they have the overnight Paddington services too. Anything else?!

No Paddington service from Reading between 0115 and 0413 on Saturday morning, so Reading will be opened up for the two Gatwick services at 0228 and 0330.

 

[Llandudno]

Most of the Cross Country Reading to Newcastle/York services seem to have been reinstated.

Assuming XC have sufficient staff to operate them…?

 

[Magdalia]

Unless it's to do with staffing*, wouldn't it make more sense to run those ECS services (I presume 5S25 15:11 Ipswich - Cambridge) in service, even if limited stop.

(*Clearly if it's being planned to run with a Cambridge based guard, it would be different, but if's an Ipswich based guard who travels on the ECS seems a bit of a waste during the day)

No, it doesn't make much sense, partly because the timings are constrained by the single line sections. The morning ECS move is only 4 minutes behind the 0848 from Cambridge by the time it gets to Ipswich, and the afternoon ECS train starts from Ipswich only 9 minutes ahead of the following 1520 to Cambridge.

And there could be staffing issues too. It is all a bit more complicated than it looks. In the morning the 0656 from Ipswich has for many years run out of pattern to give an arrival time at Cambridge before 0830, and will continue to form the 0848 departure from Cambridge as now. The new morning 0717 train takes the "proper" hourly path that used to be missing, and returns ECS. There's a different quirk in the evening though: from RTT it looks like the ECS is actually what is currently the 1520 Ipswich-Cambridge unit running early, and forming its usual 1648 departure from Cambridge. The advertised 1520 Ipswich-Cambridge is actually the extra train, forming the new 1705 departure from Cambridge. In the afternoon the new Ipswich-Cambridge is running as a passenger train, but what is currently the passenger train will be the ECS, and has to be to hit its path over the single track sections.

 

[atntotpe]

Is the Lumo Blackpool service an error? I don’t ever remember them ever applying for such a service?

Im guessing its better for stabling and also a northern depot at blackpool that could be contracted for cleaning and tanking a unit at night for the service in the morning.

 

[moonarrow458]

Unless it's to do with staffing*, wouldn't it make more sense to run those ECS services (I presume 5S25 15:11 Ipswich - Cambridge) in service, even if limited stop.

(*Clearly if it's being planned to run with a Cambridge based guard, it would be different, but if's an Ipswich based guard who travels on the ECS seems a bit of a waste during the day)

No, it doesn't make much sense, partly because the timings are constrained by the single line sections. The morning ECS move is only 4 minutes behind the 0848 from Cambridge by the time it gets to Ipswich, and the afternoon ECS train starts from Ipswich only 9 minutes ahead of the following 1520 to Cambridge.

And there could be staffing issues too. It is all a bit more complicated than it looks. In the morning the 0656 from Ipswich has for many years run out of pattern to give an arrival time at Cambridge before 0830, and will continue to form the 0848 departure from Cambridge as now. The new morning 0717 train takes the "proper" hourly path that used to be missing, and returns ECS. There's a different quirk in the evening though: from RTT it looks like the ECS is actually what is currently the 1520 Ipswich-Cambridge unit running early, and forming its usual 1648 departure from Cambridge. The advertised 1520 Ipswich-Cambridge is actually the extra train, forming the new 1705 departure from Cambridge. In the afternoon the new Ipswich-Cambridge is running as a passenger train, but what is currently the passenger train will be the ECS, and has to be to hit its path over the single track sections.

I mean if one looks at the path for 5S25 the 15:11 ECS from Ipswich to Cambridge, it is booked to stop at Stowmarket for 1 minute for the diesel changeover, 4 minutes at Bury St Edmunds and 3 minutes at Dullingham. The stop at Dullingham is because it meets 2W23 there so it has to arrive at Dullingham at that specific time. But as noted above, IF that ECS is booked to have a guard on it, then it would appear to be possible to run it in service as an express to Cambridge calling at Stowmarket, Bury St Edmunds, Dullingham and Cambridge which would be possible without altering the timings of the ECS whatsoever. If the Bury St Edmunds stop was reduced from 4 minutes to 1 minute it would also be possible to squeeze in a Newmarket stop whilst still reaching Dullingham at the same time to allow 2W23 to pass. And whilst it would only be 9 minutes ahead of 2W20 departing Ipswich, by the time it reaches Cambridge that gap has widened to 20 minutes so such an express service instead of 5S25 would cut 10 minutes off the regular Ipswich to Cambridge journey time. But if the return working is booked for a Cambridge guard then it would not make sense.

The morning ECS 5W91 from Cambridge sits in a loop at Bury St Edmunds for 35 minutes and runs directly into the sidings at Ipswich without passing through the station so that could not easily be converted to passenger service even if it had a guard on it.

 

[Travelmonkey]

Lumo West Coast are in.

Apparently they will be running trains between London Euston and Blackpool North!

Monday to Friday:
1A00 06.12 Blackpool North to London Euston
1P04 19.12 London Euston to Blackpool North

Saturday:
1A00 05.29 Blackpool North to London Euston

Sunday:
1P03 19.35 London Euston to Blackpool North

I wonder if they're genuine planned services?

how similar is this to the GC plans that died in covid?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Annoyingly, 1V84 (0950 Derby-Reading) seems to be planned to non-stop Banbury on weekdays (but not Saturdays)

Gosh, Birmingham Leamington Oxford Reading. How I wish all XC services did that!

 

[gomango]

Scotrail changes are now up, only thing I've noticed is that the Glasgow-Edinburgh every 15 minute service on a Saturday doesn't start until 10:15, 2 hours later than currently, however it also seems to stay every 15 minutes slightly later into the evening until 18:15

 

[Magdalia]

IF that ECS is booked to have a guard on it, then it would appear to be possible to run it in service as an express to Cambridge calling at Stowmarket, Bury St Edmunds, Dullingham and Cambridge which would be possible without altering the timings of the ECS whatsoever. If the Bury St Edmunds stop was reduced from 4 minutes to 1 minute it would also be possible to squeeze in a Newmarket stop whilst still reaching Dullingham at the same time to allow 2W23 to pass.

You are assuming that the train always gets to start on time from Ipswich. It won't. Running as an ECS it can miss out the Bury St Edmunds and Dullingham stops if required, start late from Ipswich, and still get to Cambridge on time. The Cambridge area is very congested at that time, and it is critical that the ECS clears the single line sections to allow the 1548 Cambridge-Ipswich through to Chippenham Junction without delaying the 1520 ex Ipswich, which needs to arrive Cambridge on time so that the 1648 Cambridge-Ipswich can depart on time, vacating the platform for the new 1710 to Norwich to come in ECS from the sidings. Cambridge is going to be attempting to do 5 moves in and out of the north end bays in less than half an hour (1520 ex Ipswich and an ECS arriving and 3 departures), if the Ipswich ECS arrives late then the whole thing falls down. Running the Ipswich ECS as a passenger train just isn't worth the risk when there is no need for another Ipswich-Cambridge train at that time.

Furthermore, the arrangements in May 2026 may not last forever. The Greater Anglia long term planners have already demonstrated their skills with what's proposed for May 2026, I wouldn't be surprised if, at some time in the future, they come up with a refinement that would remove the need for both ECS moves.

 

[The Planner]

Would be a bit of a joke if it is the former, I was hoping this issue would be limited to one instance (Prestonpans).

Why? Its declared as congested infrastructure, if power modelling says its too risky to run electrics at that point of the day running a 805 still gives a service.

 

[87015]

Walsall regains direct service from Euston

No 730 timing load so the NR double standard of enforcing change on some operators of stock which operates to same timings but not others.