New train timetable for North East could cut services

Rail industry chiefs are expected to push ahead with major changes designed to run more and faster trains between Newcastle and London – but local leaders warn that other communities will pay a high price.

A previous shake-up of the East Coast Main Line timetable was shelved in 2021, amid complaints that it would have devastating consequences for passengers who rely on stations such as Berwick and Morpeth. 

But the idea of sacrificing some services in order to add a third train per hour between London and Newcastle has now been revived and is expected to come into force from December 2024.

While the full details of the new timetable have not yet been made public, council chiefs were told on Tuesday (December 19) that its effects on the North East will be broadly similar to the 2021 proposal.

It would mean that, due to tight constraints on the number of trains physically able to run on the network north of York, only one train would be able to run from Newcastle to Manchester every hour rather than two – though this is already the case due to recent cutbacks by TransPennine Express due to staffing issues.

The original plans would have also resulted in a reduction in the number of services stopping at Berwick, Morpeth, Durham and Darlington.

A furious Glen Sanderson, the Conservative leader of Northumberland County Council, called the plans “ridiculous”, “stupid”, and “reprehensible”.

He told a North East Joint Transport Committee (JTC) meeting on Tuesday afternoon: “I just cannot believe that people in the decision-making process have ignored everything we have said. They have ignored the fact that removing commuter trains will damage the environment and damage the whole move towards putting public transport as the logical way forward.

“It ignores the whole makeup of our region, it ignores our views, it ignores the views of the people who use those trains – and all for the sake of a couple of minutes [reduced journey time to London]. How farcical is that?”

Gateshead Council leader Martin Gannon told the JTC that he had received assurances from the Government that investment would be made into increasing the capacity on the East Coast Main Line to mitigate the impact of the new timetable, but that such work would not be completed until the end of 2027 – three years after the new timetable comes into force.

The Labour councillor said: “I welcome the principle of more trains between Newcastle and London, who wouldn’t? But the new timetable comes at a heavy price to our region. If it is implemented in a year’s time fewer trains will call at some of our stations, and there will be a long-term cut to the frequency of trains to Manchester. That’s why – together as a region – we have been fighting these proposals for over the last two years. Now the rail operators have put them back on the table.”

Cllr Gannon added: “The sacrificial lamb is – yet again – the North East. LNER and Transpennine Express have offered lukewarm words saying they will work with us to improve matters in the future – but that is cold comfort to those of us who will experience a reduced train service in a year’s time.”

LNER said its plans for the December 2024 changes were still yet to be confirmed, but admitted that they “may not satisfy everyone”.

A spokesperson said: “The industry is working together on proposals to deliver even more services to and from the North East, that will be worth millions of pounds to the region’s economy. Our plan to increase services will add six million extra seats a year between the North East and York.

“To enable faster trains, increase services and passenger numbers, we recognise our enhancements may not satisfy everyone, but the proposed timetable will be of benefit to the greatest number of customers across the north. LNER services currently deliver in excess of £200m in benefits for the North East each year and the proposed new timetable has potential to add further to this figure.”