East Coast rail boost: Extra train services approved to improve north-south links
The East Coast rail corridor is set for a significant shake-up this December. Passengers travelling between London, northern England and Scotland can look forward to more travel options, as three rail operators have been given the nod to expand their services.
Open-access companies Lumo, Grand Central, and Hull Trains have each received approval from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) to run extra trains on the East Coast Main Line. The move is aimed at strengthening north-south rail connections and improving passenger choice.
This is a UK-based development, affecting key routes across England and Scotland.
However, the ORR didn’t waive through every proposal. A few plans were shelved due to concerns over network congestion and the potential financial impact on state-supported rail services.
“The additional open access services would increase connectivity on the East Coast Main Line,” said Stephanie Tobyn, ORR’s director of strategy, policy, and reform.
“These approvals are designed to complement major service improvements by other operators scheduled for December 2025.”
The timing aligns with a major timetable revamp by government-owned LNER. The operator, which currently handles a large share of traffic on the East Coast line, is planning what it calls a “transformational” overhaul.
Up to 37 daily services and quicker trips between London King’s Cross and Edinburgh are on the cards.
Open access operators function differently from traditional train firms. They set their own fares, run at their own risk, and don’t rely on taxpayer subsidies. This model keeps them outside of the ongoing nationalisation of the wider British rail network.
Still, not everyone’s convinced. In a letter sent to the ORR earlier this year, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander flagged the risks of the open-access approach.
“Potential congestion” and a risk that taxpayers may have to “fill shortfalls” in maintenance costs were among the issues she highlighted.
She added that “impacts on taxpayers and overall performance should be given primacy” when reviewing new services.
Despite these concerns, the regulator insists it has struck a careful balance. It says the approved additions won’t clash with upcoming improvements elsewhere on the network. Instead, passengers and freight users can expect more options and smoother travel.
Lumo has been granted permission to extend some London–Edinburgh trains all the way to Glasgow. More services between the capital and Newcastle have also been cleared.
Hull Trains will add one extra weekday and Saturday service between London King’s Cross and Hull. Meanwhile, Grand Central is branching out with a new link to Seaham on the County Durham coast.
Not every proposal made the cut. A plan from Hull Trains to launch a new London-Sheffield route was turned down by the regulator.
The challenge, as always, lies in managing limited capacity without derailing existing services. But for now, passengers can look forward to a more connected East Coast rail line, just in time for the December timetable shake-up.
