East Coast Main Line

Avanti West Coast is the principal operator on the West Coast Main Line, and has submitted five different bids for extra train paths as it seeks to return services that were withdrawn during COVID. But it faces competition from a posse of open access operators. AWC 805005 approaches Rugeley Trent Valley on May 10, during a Class 805 ‘Evero’ test run. ALAMY.

Comment

Snap Analysis: It's the end of the open season for open access

The decision from The Office of Rail and Road could spell the end of many open access operators aspirations for expansion as the reality of the ECML and WCML capacity issues begins to bite.

Industry views 3 Jul

News

New technology to scrap mobile signal blackspots due from 2026

New partnership aims to improve 4G/5G connectivity on trains and in stations.

technology 26 Jun

LNER 82205 stands at Leeds on May 22 before departing with the 1245 to London King's Cross. SNAPPITYSNAPS PHOTOGRAPHY.

Feature

“This is the East Coast thoroughbred”

Richard Wilcock is on board for the special 1245 Leeds-London King’s Cross service as LNER celebrates its first 225 Day.

Locomotives 24 Jun

News

Frustrated open access operators criticise Network Rail over track access responses

Wrexham, Shropshire and Midlands Railway and Hull Trains have both written letters outlining their frustrations as part of the track access application process.

Open access 11 Jun

Lumo Class 803 and LNER Azuma unit side by side at London King's Cross. ALAMY.

News

FirstGroup disputes £1bn open access abstraction claim on ECML

Report commissioned by public sector said open access could abstract more than £1bn in revenue over next decade.

FirstGroup 28 May

News

LNER honours the Class 91 with special '225 Day'

In a tribute to one of Britain's most iconic high-speed trains, London North Eastern Railway (LNER) hosted its first-ever 225 Day, celebrating almost 40 years of service by the legendary InterCity 225 fleet along the East Coast Main Line.

LNER 23 May

Comment

Analysis: East Coast Main Line - high demand, not enough space

Philip Haigh looks at the work that has still to be done to accommodate as many trains as possible for the December 2025 timetable

Phil Haigh 14 May

Private operator… and state-owned franchisee. Lumo 803002 (left) with the 1023 London King’s Cross to Edinburgh stands at Newcastle on February 26 2023, alongside LNER 801211 on the competing 1003 King’s Cross-Edinburgh. Despite Labour’s nationalisation plans, the government has been supportive of open access. PAUL BIGGS.

News

Open access to cost LNER £1.1bn over next decade in abstracted revenue, report claims

New report suggests an average of £100 of revenue a year will be abstracted from state-run operator up until 2035.

East Coast Main Line 12 May

Grand Central's 180104 speeds through South Otterington (near Northallerton) on September 12 2024 with the 0853 Sunderland to London King’s Cross. ALEX AYRE.

News

Grand Central Cleethorpes-King's Cross service "would not affect ECML capacity"

Grand Central outlines draft timetable in forms submitted for industry consultation.

Grand Central 29 Apr

LNER 801108 and 801212 line up at London King’s Cross on May 8 2024. TOM MCATEE.

News

Network Rail states objections to Hull Trains' Sheffield plan and proposed extra LNER service

Network Rail raises ECML capacity issues as it says it cannot support either plan.

East Coast Main Line 28 Apr

Grand Central 180110 passes St Neots (Cambridgeshire) on December 6 2023. The company is seeking additional stops at Peterborough and new paths to Yorkshire locations. ALAMY.

News

New Grand Central bid for direct Newcastle-Brighton service submitted

Arriva Group has unveiled plans to introduce the first-ever direct rail service between Newcastle and Brighton, passing through London Gatwick Airport.

Grand Central 25 Apr

LNER Azuma 800203 passes Grantham. ALAMY.

News

Network Rail issues ECML performance warning amid tense exchange over track access requests

Specific feedback is being submitted to ORR after a wider letter about ECML was sent to the regulator.

East Coast Main Line 31 Mar

LNER Azuma 800108 at London St Pancras. LNER.

News

LNER Azuma visits St Pancras as operator plans diversionary route ahead of ECML closures

London North Eastern Railway (LNER) Azuma train has conducted a significant test run between Leeds and London St Pancras during the early hours of March 28.

East Coast Main Line 31 Mar

News

Grand Central secures track access to Bradford and Sunderland until 2038

EXCLUSIVE: ORR approves 11-year extension for existing rights on East Coast Main Line.

Grand Central 28 Mar

Chiltern Railways train on the Oxford - Milton Keynes route

News

Operator for first leg of East West Rail announced

Chiltern Railways has been confirmed as the operator of the first leg of East West Rail by the Rail Minister, Lord Hendy.

East West Rail 25 Mar

News

Grand Central plans new direct Cleethorpes London service

Rail operator Arriva has announced plans to introduce a direct rail service between Cleethorpes, Grimsby, and London.

Open access 21 Mar

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves during a press conference following her statement to the House of Commons on the findings of the Treasury audit into the state of the public finances. Picture date: Monday July 29, 2024. ALAMY

News

Government gives more details on East West Rail and East Coat Main Line interchange station

New station at Tempsford was announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in January.

East West Rail 21 Mar

Cambridge South revisualisation. NETWORK RAIL.

News

Cambridge South station delayed until 2026

The opening of Cambridge South railway station has been delayed until 2026, after originally been scheduled for opening this year.

Network Rail 27 Feb

News

Rachel Reeves announces new East Coast Main Line station during Oxfordshire speech

Chancellor stopped short of confirming it will be on East West Rail, though said customers could reach Cambridge in 'under 30 minutes'.

East Coast Main Line 30 Jan

Comment

Comment: A tough task to tie in train timings on the busy East Coast

Philip Haigh studies the revised East Coast Main Line timetable that will go live in December 2025.

Phil Haigh 30 Jan

East Coast Main Line

Snap Analysis: It's the end of the open season for open access

New technology to scrap mobile signal blackspots due from 2026

“This is the East Coast thoroughbred”

Frustrated open access operators criticise Network Rail over track access responses

FirstGroup disputes £1bn open access abstraction claim on ECML

LNER honours the Class 91 with special '225 Day'

Analysis: East Coast Main Line - high demand, not enough space

Open access to cost LNER £1.1bn over next decade in abstracted revenue, report claims

Grand Central Cleethorpes-King's Cross service "would not affect ECML capacity"

Network Rail states objections to Hull Trains' Sheffield plan and proposed extra LNER service

New Grand Central bid for direct Newcastle-Brighton service submitted

Network Rail issues ECML performance warning amid tense exchange over track access requests

LNER Azuma visits St Pancras as operator plans diversionary route ahead of ECML closures

Grand Central secures track access to Bradford and Sunderland until 2038

Operator for first leg of East West Rail announced

Grand Central plans new direct Cleethorpes London service

Government gives more details on East West Rail and East Coat Main Line interchange station

Cambridge South station delayed until 2026

Rachel Reeves announces new East Coast Main Line station during Oxfordshire speech

Comment: A tough task to tie in train timings on the busy East Coast

Most read

No takers so first DB Cargo UK Class 67 goes for scrap

FirstGroup explains why Class 222s were "only option" for Lumo Euston-Stirling service

HS2 faces £100bn cost and delay until late-2030s, government told

East Coast Main Line

Snap Analysis: It's the end of the open season for open access

New technology to scrap mobile signal blackspots due from 2026

“This is the East Coast thoroughbred”

Frustrated open access operators criticise Network Rail over track access responses

FirstGroup disputes £1bn open access abstraction claim on ECML

LNER honours the Class 91 with special '225 Day'

Analysis: East Coast Main Line - high demand, not enough space

Open access to cost LNER £1.1bn over next decade in abstracted revenue, report claims

Grand Central Cleethorpes-King's Cross service "would not affect ECML capacity"

Network Rail states objections to Hull Trains' Sheffield plan and proposed extra LNER service

New Grand Central bid for direct Newcastle-Brighton service submitted

Network Rail issues ECML performance warning amid tense exchange over track access requests

LNER Azuma visits St Pancras as operator plans diversionary route ahead of ECML closures

Grand Central secures track access to Bradford and Sunderland until 2038

Operator for first leg of East West Rail announced

Grand Central plans new direct Cleethorpes London service

Government gives more details on East West Rail and East Coat Main Line interchange station

Cambridge South station delayed until 2026

Rachel Reeves announces new East Coast Main Line station during Oxfordshire speech

Comment: A tough task to tie in train timings on the busy East Coast

Most read

No takers so first DB Cargo UK Class 67 goes for scrap

FirstGroup explains why Class 222s were "only option" for Lumo Euston-Stirling service

HS2 faces £100bn cost and delay until late-2030s, government told

GB Railfreight planning to repurpose at least 12 more Class 66s for heavy trainloads

DB Cargo UK discussing transferring drivers to rival as it deals with Network Rail contract loss

FirstGroup confirms Class 222s for Euston-Stirling Lumo route

Chiltern Railways on verge of agreeing deal to take ex-TransPennine Express Mk 5s

Why the Class 67s have been running on borrowed time for nearly the whole of their lives

Network Rail begins process to replace rail infrastructure monitoring trains