May 2026 timetable

[cle]

So does Cambridge now have 2tph to/from Ipswich, and 2tph to Norwich in certain high peak hours? And others too?

 

[The Planner]

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.

WMR/LNWR could have objected to that and also worked with NR to come up with the SRTs. Its one train a day each way. Non story.

 

[Magdalia]

So does Cambridge now have 2tph to/from Ipswich, and 2tph to Norwich in certain high peak hours? And others too?

I think that would be an exaggeration.

What Cambridge gets is the 1tph as before on both routes, but additional trains at peak Cambridge commuting times:

0717 Ipswich-Cambridge (between 0656 and 0819 trains)
0808 Norwich-Cambridge (between 0726 and 0827 trains)
1705 Cambridge-Ipswich (between 1648 and 1744 trains)
1710 Cambridge-Norwich (between 1626 and 1730 trains)

 

[Travelmonkey]

WMR/LNWR could have objected to that and also worked with NR to come up with the SRTs. Its one train a day each way. Non story.

also given Wallsall is cleared for the 350s it'll be less of a issue than the Liverpool south Parkways avanti are struggling with.

 

[Johnny Lewis]

TPE and LNER are live now. Along with Lumo (East Coast) and Hull Trains. Not sure if there are any others now that have not yet been uploaded.

 

[Merle Haggard]

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.

It's an add-on to a current service to Euston via Northampton from New Street which, curiously, is worked by Cl 350s at the moment.

 

[cle]

I think that would be an exaggeration.

What Cambridge gets is the 1tph as before on both routes, but additional trains at peak Cambridge commuting times:

0717 Ipswich-Cambridge (between 0656 and 0819 trains)
0808 Norwich-Cambridge (between 0726 and 0827 trains)
1705 Cambridge-Ipswich (between 1648 and 1744 trains)
1710 Cambridge-Norwich (between 1626 and 1730 trains)

Ok got it. Not a bad service! Quite early though, hopefully the same cam be added in the 5:30-6:30pm window too.

Are all of the Norwich trains Cambridge starters, or Stansted? Thinking about South - which also will have less 9-5 times for commuting no doubt.

 

[Magdalia]

Ok got it. Not a bad service! Quite early though, hopefully the same cam be added in the 5:30-6:30pm window too.

Are all of the Norwich trains Cambridge starters, or Stansted? Thinking about South - which also will have less 9-5 times for commuting no doubt.

It is a big step forward.

Neither of the new Norwich trains go through to/from Stansted, but there are 3 new return trips Cambridge-Stansted early in the morning, 0513/0701/0845 Cambridge-Stansted and 0600/0748/0950 back. The 0950 goes through to Norwich replacing a train that currently starts from Cambridge. It is difficult to path trains through Cambridge to/from Stansted in the peak because of the times of the Liverpool Street trains.

 

[notspy]

Manchester Airport now gets a roughly hourly service through the night, even if most of them are hourly shuttles to piccadilly:

e.g.

Realtime Trains | 1H51 0150 Manchester Airport to Manchester Piccadilly | 20/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 1H51 0150 departure from Manchester Airport to Manchester Piccadilly on 20/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 1H54 0200 Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport | 20/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 1H54 0200 departure from Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport on 20/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[London Trains]

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.

Sadly there still doesn't appear to be any changes to SN/TL services either, unless I've missed something.

 

[PGAT]

Sadly there still doesn't appear to be any changes to SN/TL services either, unless I've missed something.

Indeed nothing exciting that I am aware of although I have noticed all the stations between Victoria and Epsom Downs have had their services retimed to all have 1 minute dwells at least

 

[Stephen42]

Sadly there still doesn't appear to be any changes to SN/TL services either, unless I've missed something.

Doesn't appear to be anything major in terms of new services in the data so far. The extra services at East Grinstead on Thursday/Friday are now scheduled to run on Wednesdays as well.

 

[dk1]

It is a big step forward.

Neither of the new Norwich trains go through to/from Stansted, but there are 3 new return trips Cambridge-Stansted early in the morning, 0513/0701/0845 Cambridge-Stansted and 0600/0748/0950 back. The 0950 goes through to Norwich replacing a train that currently starts from Cambridge. It is difficult to path trains through Cambridge to/from Stansted in the peak because of the times of the Liverpool Street trains.

Yes right from the outset in December 2019 when the Norwich to Cambridge services were combined with the Cambridge to Stansted shuttles GA Train Planning admitted it was almost impossible to amalgamate the two in peak SX hours and correctly predicted this was unlikely to change much as and when the ECML timetable was finally agreed either.

 

[rmHawk765]

Sadly there still doesn't appear to be any changes to SN/TL services either, unless I've missed something.

We'll have to wait until Dec 26 I guess...

 

[87015]

WMR/LNWR could have objected to that and also worked with NR to come up with the SRTs. Its one train a day each way. Non story.

So why do MK demand some operators declare SRTs for stock type but not others?

 

[The Planner]

So why do MK demand some operators declare SRTs for stock type but not others?

No idea. Ask them? But is it unreasonable to do so?

 

[brad465]

The Newquay branch seems to have its hourly service pencilled in, along with the usual summer specials. Okehampton Interchange has also appeared on the relevant services. Beyond this I can't see anything else obvious with GWR, although there could be some notable rolling stock allocation changes across the SW if more 175s are ready.

 

[Bald Rick]

Appears two of the new Euston-Liverpool extras added will be operated by 5 car 805s. Being 1F15/1A37 and 1F21/1A55.

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

The former.

 

[cle]

It is a big step forward.

Neither of the new Norwich trains go through to/from Stansted, but there are 3 new return trips Cambridge-Stansted early in the morning, 0513/0701/0845 Cambridge-Stansted and 0600/0748/0950 back. The 0950 goes through to Norwich replacing a train that currently starts from Cambridge. It is difficult to path trains through Cambridge to/from Stansted in the peak because of the times of the Liverpool Street trains.

It does feel like a concerted effort to bolster and support Cambridge commuting.

2-4 new services each way / in each peak for each of the Norwich, Ipswich and Stansted routes is a material increase. Especially as they are not through services necessarily.

C - P’boro, doesn’t seem to be any gains in that direction?

Any news on South?!

 

[Porty]

It does feel like a concerted effort to bolster and support Cambridge commuting.

2-4 new services each way / in each peak for each of the Norwich, Ipswich and Stansted routes is a material increase. Especially as they are not through services necessarily.

C - P’boro, doesn’t seem to be any gains in that direction?

Any news on South?!

What's the logic of the new 0808 ex Norwich not stopping at Wymondham? Or is it an error? I would have thought that commuter flows towards Cambridge are just as high as from Attenborough. Are there time constraints and one " normal" stop has to be dropped to get the path into Ely/Cambridge.

 

[Magdalia]

C - P’boro, doesn’t seem to be any gains in that direction?

Unfortunately that's Cross Country, who know little about Cambridge and care even less. It is ridiculous that, from Peterborough and March, there is still no train getting into Cambridge before 0800. The mayor should be making noise about that. The main reason why I'm a strong advocate of giving Stansted-Cambridge-Peterborough and Norwich-Peterborough to Greater Anglia is that they wouldn't ignore what needs to be done in the Peterborough direction, but would actually get on and do it, like they have with these May 2026 changes.

Any news on South?!

The timetable is done, the track and signalling are done, but, after one of the subcontractors went into administration, the building isn't done. The official position on the opening date is still June.

What's the logic of the new 0808 ex Norwich not stopping at Wymondham? Or is it an error? I would have thought that commuter flows towards Cambridge are just as high as from Attenborough. Are there time constraints and one " normal" stop has to be dropped to get the path into Ely/Cambridge.

I suspect that it is a pathing constraint. Looking at the origin destination matrix data I would have stopped at Wymondham and missed Attleborough instead.

 

[Phillipimo]

Looking at Ashley Down on weekdays:

There is a new first train from Bristol 1 hour earlier, departing Bristol Temple Meads at 07:07.

There's an additional morning peak train departing Filton Abbey Wood at 08:17. Filling the gap between the 07:48 and 08:47 and giving a convenient 08:31 arrival at Temple Meads.

Weekend service unchanged.

 

[cle]

Unfortunately that's Cross Country, who know little about Cambridge and care even less. It is ridiculous that, from Peterborough and March, there is still no train getting into Cambridge before 0800. The mayor should be making noise about that. The main reason why I'm a strong advocate of giving Stansted-Cambridge-Peterborough and Norwich-Peterborough to Greater Anglia is that they wouldn't ignore what needs to be done in the Peterborough direction, but would actually get on and do it, like they have with these May 2026 changes.

Ideally they could start 2-3 each direction in the peaks regardless of XC. It's more important - IMO - to have 2tph Stansted-Cambridge-P'boro run by Anglia than it is to have 1tph chugging over to Birmingham. And once EWR opens, this will be even less useful. Or HS2.

Equally the P'boro-Leicester stretch also needs a more sturdy 2tph, it has high usage considering non-London service.

 

[Magdalia]

It's more important - IMO - to have 2tph Stansted-Cambridge-P'boro run by Anglia than it is to have 1tph chugging over to Birmingham.

I agree, but it is easy to say and difficult to do!

 

[Porty]

Unfortunately that's Cross Country, who know little about Cambridge and care even less. It is ridiculous that, from Peterborough and March, there is still no train getting into Cambridge before 0800. The mayor should be making noise about that. The main reason why I'm a strong advocate of giving Stansted-Cambridge-Peterborough and Norwich-Peterborough to Greater Anglia is that they wouldn't ignore what needs to be done in the Peterborough direction, but would actually get on and do it, like they have with these May 2026 changes.


The timetable is done, the track and signalling are done, but, after one of the subcontractors went into administration, the building isn't done. The official position on the opening date is still June.


I suspect that it is a pathing constraint. Looking at the origin destination matrix data I would have stopped at Wymondham and missed Attleborough instead.

Thanks. And of course I meant Attleborough in my earlier post. The joys of autocorrect.

 

[Adrian1980uk]

Thanks. And of course I meant Attleborough in my earlier post. The joys of autocorrect.

Well picking up David Attenborough is also important - I didn't spot that until you highlighted it.

GA must be reaching the absolute maximum they can do on most lines now.. No more through Ely area, bittern and wherry lines must be close to full and we already know GE and WA are full.

Before anyone points to the 3rd Norwich train to/from London, that's kinda a non starter as why would anyone pick the slow 720 stopper as opposed to the fast 745 unless you're coming from one of the intermediate stations.

 

[dk1]

I suspect that it is a pathing constraint. Looking at the origin destination matrix data I would have stopped at Wymondham and missed Attleborough instead.

Ironically when the Norwich-Cambridge service was launched in 2002 Anglia Railways initially didn’t wasn’t to call at Attleborough so as to keep the journey total journey time at 70 minutes. Stops were only to be Wymondham, Thetford & Ely.

 

[Magdalia]

GA must be reaching the absolute maximum they can do on most lines now.

If Greater Anglia can do what they have done for May 2026, then I suspect that there are a few other possibilities for marginal improvements too, especially if they could get their hands on Stansted-Cambridge-Peterborough and Norwich-Peterborough.

Ironically when the Norwich-Cambridge service was launched in 2002 Anglia Railways initially didn’t wasn’t to call at Attleborough so as to keep the journey total journey time at 70 minutes. Stops were only to be Wymondham, Thetford & Ely.

I had forgotten that. From the Cambridge perspective, these days the next most important call, after Thetford and Ely, is Brandon. In the 2024/25 station usage data Cambridge overtook Norwich to become Brandon's busiest station pair. The new trains will be good for Brandon-Cambridge commuters.

 

[dk1]

I had forgotten that. From the Cambridge perspective, these days the next most important call, after Thetford and Ely, is Brandon. In the 2024/25 station usage data Cambridge overtook Norwich to become Brandon's busiest station pair. The new trains will be good for Brandon-Cambridge commuters.

Yes and it was a couple of years before Brandon was added to the service and then it was only every other service that called. Before that only Central Trains served Brandon on an approximate two-hourly hit & miss basis. Special Stop Orders (SSOs) became commonplace for Anglia drivers here.

 

[td97]

Manchester Airport now gets a roughly hourly service through the night, even if most of them are hourly shuttles to piccadilly:

Sunday service also improved, with new service
0753 Blackpool North to Manchester Airport

However, it is hugely disappointing to see the £100m Lostock Wigan electrification is to remain wasted, with electric services remaining as the pitiful handful of 769s that make it off the depot each morning. Not to mention the expensive, unused platform extensions.

Also noting no timetabled services at the new Salford Crescent platform, which is surprising given it's now on telecoms fit out.