LNER

Dating from 1984, the ‘Highland Chieftain’ service was originally operated by HSTs, with Azumas taking over in 2019. On July 21 2021, 800112 is between Inverness and Aviemore, as it heads over Slochd Viaduct with the ‘Highland Chieftain’ for London. Under the current public (as opposed to working) timetable, northbound trains leave King’s Cross at 1200 and arrive in Inverness at 2007, while southbound trains depart from the Highland city at 0755 and arrive in London at 1549. NIGEL CAPELLE.

Feature

Review: ‘Chieftain’ is a practical long-distance choice

In RAIL’s latest Mystery Shopper, we take LNER’s ‘Highland Chieftain’ to Inverness, boarding at Peterborough. How does it fare against driving or flying?

Reviews 24 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

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

News

Analysis: The verdict on ECML abstraction is still ‘not proven’

It’s said that there are two versions of events, and in the middle - the truth.

News Analysis 2 Jun

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

LNER's 801224 at Bradford Forster Square's new Platform 0. LNER.

News

Bradford Forster Square's Platform 0 officially opened as LNER ups London services

LNER now runs seven return services to London King's Cross compared to the previous two.

LNER 19 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

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

LNER Azuma 800203 passes Grantham. ALAMY.

News

"Strong likelihood" LNER Grantham overspeed echoes similar incidents on ECML, RAIB finds

RAIB issues statement after LNER service went over crossing at more than double the permitted speed.

RAIB 9 Apr

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.

ECML 31 Mar

News

LNER Hull-King's Cross service involved in suspected overspeed incident on East Coast Main Line

RAIB gathering evidence as passenger described incident as "very violent".

LNER 28 Feb

LNER Azuma test train at Cleethorpes station on June 26, 2023. LNER.

News

MP challenges delay to proposed LNER London-Cleethorpes service

It's been more than 30 years since the seaside town last had a direct service to King's Cross.

LNER 25 Feb

Hitachi’s facility near Newton Aycliffe opened in 2015 and has produced hundreds of IEP vehicles - among them the Azumas. LNER 801109 passes Barkston (Lincolnshire) with the 0843 Bradford Forster Square to King’s Cross on September 4 2024. PAUL CLARK.

News

LNER confirms Bradford departure times for additional King's Cross services

Operator will have seven services a day Monday-Saturday from May linking Bradford Forster Square and London King's Cross

LNER 28 Jan

LNER Azuma unit 801207 at York station in its new Darlington livery to celebrate Railway 200. LNER.

News

LNER Azuma unit given unique livery to celebrate Railway 200

Train operator is supporting Railway 200 and the 200th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway

LNER 15 Jan

News

December 2025 ECML timetable approved

Network Rail, Department for Transport and train operators have approved the East Coast main line timetable for 2025.

East Coast Main Line 19 Dec

News

Lord Hendy gives update on long-awaited new East Coast Main Line timetable

Rail minister tells Transport Select Committee he's 'optimistic of a conclusion that will benefit all ECML users'

Peter Hendy 13 Dec

LNER on East Coast mainline service to Leeds

News

2025 ECML timetable agreement reached

A breakthrough in the East Coast Mainline 2025 timetable is close with details expected to be announced later this month by the Department for Transport (DfT).

ECML 4 Dec

News

No plans for LNER to keep King's Cross-Sunderland service after mid-December

LNER's direct service linking London King's Cross and Sunderland is due to stop at the December timetable change

London North Eastern Railway 20 Nov

An Avanti West Coast Pendolino on a London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly service

News

Delay Repay compensation figures explained after train operators pay out £138m in 12 months

Avanti West Coast and LNER have paid the most in delay repay compensation over the past year

Delays 12 Nov

LNER

Review: ‘Chieftain’ is a practical long-distance choice

“This is the East Coast thoroughbred”

Analysis: The verdict on ECML abstraction is still ‘not proven’

FirstGroup disputes £1bn open access abstraction claim on ECML

LNER honours the Class 91 with special '225 Day'

Bradford Forster Square's Platform 0 officially opened as LNER ups London services

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

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

"Strong likelihood" LNER Grantham overspeed echoes similar incidents on ECML, RAIB finds

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

LNER Hull-King's Cross service involved in suspected overspeed incident on East Coast Main Line

MP challenges delay to proposed LNER London-Cleethorpes service

LNER confirms Bradford departure times for additional King's Cross services

LNER Azuma unit given unique livery to celebrate Railway 200

December 2025 ECML timetable approved

Lord Hendy gives update on long-awaited new East Coast Main Line timetable

2025 ECML timetable agreement reached

No plans for LNER to keep King's Cross-Sunderland service after mid-December

Delay Repay compensation figures explained after train operators pay out £138m in 12 months

Most read

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

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

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

LNER

Review: ‘Chieftain’ is a practical long-distance choice

“This is the East Coast thoroughbred”

Analysis: The verdict on ECML abstraction is still ‘not proven’

FirstGroup disputes £1bn open access abstraction claim on ECML

LNER honours the Class 91 with special '225 Day'

Bradford Forster Square's Platform 0 officially opened as LNER ups London services

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

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

"Strong likelihood" LNER Grantham overspeed echoes similar incidents on ECML, RAIB finds

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

LNER Hull-King's Cross service involved in suspected overspeed incident on East Coast Main Line

MP challenges delay to proposed LNER London-Cleethorpes service

LNER confirms Bradford departure times for additional King's Cross services

LNER Azuma unit given unique livery to celebrate Railway 200

December 2025 ECML timetable approved

Lord Hendy gives update on long-awaited new East Coast Main Line timetable

2025 ECML timetable agreement reached

No plans for LNER to keep King's Cross-Sunderland service after mid-December

Delay Repay compensation figures explained after train operators pay out £138m in 12 months

Most read

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

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

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

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