Major Northern, LNER and TransPennine Express timetable changes
A new hourly fast train between Leeds and Sheffield has been launched in Britain’s biggest timetable shake up since the ill-fated May 2018 changes.
Passengers using the East Coast Main Line, including York and Doncaster, will benefit from more trains and reduced journey times following a £4bn investment over the past decade.
LNER said the “transformational” changes mean it will run nearly 10,000 additional services per year.
There will be a 46 per cent increase in the number of weekday services between London King’s Cross and Newcastle.
Cuts to journey times include 15 minutes between London King’s Cross and Edinburgh, and 10 minutes between Edinburgh and York.
Northern will launch a new hourly fast service between Leeds and Sheffield, and extra trains between Middlesbrough and Newcastle.
There will be more East Midlands Railway services between Nottingham and Lincoln, and an increase in TransPennine Express services running north of Newcastle.
Rail timetables are changed every May and December.
The May 2018 update sparked major disruption across large parts of the network, particularly on the Northern and Govia Thameslink Railway routes.
This led to a government-commissioned review of the network, ultimately resulting in the planned launch of Great British Railways to bring infrastructure management and train operation under a single arms-length public body.
Ellie Burrows, eastern regional managing director for Network Rail, said: “The industry has been preparing for many years for the new timetable, which will unlock thousands more seats, more frequent trains and quicker journeys along the East Coast Main Line.
“Our priority now is to continue working together to deliver the long-term benefits of this timetable change.”
Rail minister Lord Hendy said: “This is the biggest timetable change on the East Coast Main Line in more than a decade, and it marks a major step forward for passengers and communities.
“Thanks to £4bn of investment, we’re delivering faster journeys, thousands of extra seats, more cheap fares and better connections across the country – and it is needed, with the North East seeing the highest growth in rail passenger journeys in the UK last year.
“These improvements won’t just make travel easier – they’ll open up access to jobs, unlock new homes, and create opportunities for growth along the route.”