Britain’s biggest rail timetable shake-up in years comes into force – check your route

Neil Lancefield, Press Association Transport Correspondent

00:00, 14 Dec 2025

File photo dated 29/03/24 of passengers waiting for trains at London King's Cross Station. A cyber attack has hit public wifi at some of the biggest railways stations in the country, and reports say that Manchester Piccadilly, Birmingham New Street and 11 stations in London have all been affected by the attack on Wednesday, which saw passengers trying to log on seeing messages about terror attacks in Europe. Issue date: Thursday September 26, 2024.King’s Cross to get 46% more trains as major timetable change begins(Image: 2024 PA Media, All Rights Reserved)

One of Britain’s most significant train timetable changes since the ill-fated May 2018 revamp comes into effect on Sunday. For Londoners, this means more trains out of King’s Cross, quicker journeys to the North and Scotland; with London–Edinburgh up to 15 minutes faster.

Passengers using the East Coast Main Line will benefit from more trains and reduced journey times following a £4 billion 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% 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. 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 £4 billion 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.”

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.

Elsewhere on the network, Avanti West Coast will run more trains between London Euston and Liverpool, open access companies Grand Central, Hull Trains and Lumo will boost their operations, and Transport for Wales will double the frequency of trains between Chester and Wrexham to two per hour.

Most train operators in Britain are altering train times from Sunday, so passengers are advised to check online journey planners before travelling.

Confirmed timetable changes

  • East Coast Main Line boost : Nearly 10,000 extra LNER services a year 46% more weekday trains between London King’s Cross and Newcastle Faster journeys: up to 15 minutes cut from London–Edinburgh and 10 minutes from Edinburgh–York
  • Regional service increases : New hourly fast trains between Leeds and Sheffield More Northern services between Middlesbrough and Newcastle Extra East Midlands Railway trains between Nottingham and Lincoln More TransPennine Express services north of Newcastle
  • Elsewhere on the network : More Avanti West Coast trains between London Euston and Liverpool Expanded services from Lumo, Hull Trains and Grand Central Transport for Wales doubles trains between Chester and Wrexham to two per hour
  • When it starts : New timetables go live this Sunday – passengers should check journey planners before travelling

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