December Timetable Changes

More frequent trains and better connections across the North East

From Sunday 14 December, we have made important updates to services across the North East as part of a wider East Coast Main Line timetable change. These improvements have brought more frequent trains, faster journeys and better connections on some routes, while others may now require a change of train. Whether you’re a commuter, a weekend day-tripper, or travelling for work or leisure – there’s more opportunity to go do your thing.

What's changing?

• Direct trains to Carlisle now every hour from Middlesbrough - it’s never been easier to visit the great border city!
• Later nights out on the Toon! The last train to Ashington now leaves Newcastle at 23:21 to get you home
• 10 more and faster trains between Newcastle and Middlesbrough daily – getting you there 10 minutes faster with our limited-stop services
• There’s more trains to Newcastle daily from Thornaby, Stockton, Hartlepool and Sunderland Monday to Saturday
• Discover better, faster connections to get you to London or Edinburgh or beyond
  And there’s more trains to into Newcastle from Wetheral, Brampton and Bardon Mill

Newcastle – Morpeth/Chathill 

We'll be doubling the number of Sunday trains to support growing demand in and around Morpeth. This route will also be separated from others and run between Newcastle and Morpeth/Chathill.

If you’re travelling to or from Carlisle, you’ll now need to change at Newcastle.

Hexham – Newcastle

We'll now service all stops between Hexham and Newcastle.

For journeys beyond Newcastle, there are new through trains from Carlisle to Middlesbrough, offering connections from Hexham, Prudhoe and Metrocentre to the Durham Coast.

Carlisle – Newcastle / Middlesbrough 

• Between Carlisle and Newcastle, we'll now run quicker trains calling at key stations along the route with an improved evening timetable, Monday to Saturday.
• Our stopping trains, which call at all or most stations between Carlisle and Newcastle, will now extend to Middlesbrough, calling at Sunderland, Hartlepool, Stockton, Thornaby and Middlesbrough. The extension to Middlesbrough means there will now be trains every hour, rather than every two, creating a through link between Carlisle and Middlesbrough.
• Between Carlisle and Newcastle, more trains will now call at Brampton, Bardon Mill and Wetheral.
• Between Newcastle and Middlesbrough, services will run hourly instead of every two hours, giving better east–west connections.

Newcastle – Ashington (Northumberland Line)

A new late train will depart from Newcastle to Ashington at 23:21. On Sundays, the train will extend to the Metrocentre for added convenience.

During 2026 two new stations will open on the Northumberland Line, Bedlington and Northumberland Park. We'll share details of openings soon. 

Bishop Auckland/Darlington – Saltburn

Some trains have been retimed, with later last departures from Bishop Auckland at 21:53 Monday - Saturday.

Middlesbrough – Whitby

An extra morning train and a retimed last train each day will make it easier to travel for work, leisure, or a day by the coast. Easy connections remain available at Middlesbrough to/from Newcastle.

Changes to other train operators and routes in the area

The biggest timetable change on the East Coast Main Line (ECML) in more than a decade will provide more trains, thousands of extra seats per day and quicker journeys,across the wider rail network.

Launching on Sunday 14 December 2025, the new timetable is the result of £4 billion invested in the ECML over the past decade, including the East Coast Upgrade, and will:

• Improve connectivity between London and Yorkshire, the North East and Scotland, including reductions in journey times to long distance services;
• Bring additional LNER services on Sundays between Bradford Forster Square and London King’s Cross;
• Enable a new hourly fast service with between Leeds and Sheffield, and additional services between Middlesbrough and Newcastle;
• Increase TransPennine Express services between Newcastle and Edinburgh Waverley to eight trains per day in each direction Monday-Saturday and seven trains in each direction on Sundays;
• Deliver more frequent East Midlands Railway services between Nottingham and Lincoln, doubling from one train per hour to two trains per hour Monday to Saturday, providing over 2,000 extra weekday seats and 2,500 extra Saturday seats;

Crucially, the new timetable will grow capacity with more than 60,000 extra seats across the route each week, and deliver better connectivity, including faster services from London to Newcastle and Edinburgh (just over four hours) and London to Leeds (just over two hours).

Find out more about the rest of the UK rail network at NationalRail.co.uk 

From Sunday 14 December, we’ll be introducing a number of exciting improvements across Yorkshire, Humberside and the East Midlands – including new services, more seats, and better weekend travel options.

These changes will make it easier to get around the region, with faster journeys, more consistent timings, and extra capacity on some of our busiest routes.

What’s changing

Leeds – Sheffield (via Wakefield Westgate)

A brand new fast train service launches on 27 December running all week. There will also be extra trains running on 20–21 December on this route for Christmas shoppers.

This adds over 30,000 extra seats each week and helps ease demand on both local stopping and long-distance trains. It will generally run on the opposite half hour to Cross Country trains between Leeds and Sheffield and offer five trains per hour, generally, between the two cities.

York – Harrogate – Leeds

An additional morning peak train has been introduced to replace the LNER service, which will no longer be running. 

Sheffield – Huddersfield

A new late evening train will run at 21:35, Monday to Friday, from Sheffield to Huddersfield, giving you more flexibility for evening travel.

Sheffield – York (via Pontefract)

We’re reinstating the Sunday service, with two trains each way, improving weekend connectivity.

Sheffield – Hull – Scarborough

Sunday trains retimed to provide better onward connections across the route.

Leeds – Lincoln

We'll now offer standardised departure times from Lincoln for a more consistent and reliable timetable.

Sheffield – Doncaster

An additional evening peak train will run Monday to Saturday at 17:32 from Doncaster to Sheffield, and 19:04 from Sheffield to Doncaster, to support busy periods.

Ravensthorpe

Ravensthorpe station will close as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade. A replacement bus service will operate to Dewsbury for onward train connections.

Please note: Some trains will be temporarily adjusted at times to allow for planned Transpennine Route Upgrade works.

Changes to other train operators and routes in the area

The biggest timetable change on the East Coast Main Line (ECML) in more than a decade will provide more trains, thousands of extra seats per day and quicker journeys, across the wider rail network.

Launching on Sunday 14 December 2025, the new timetable is the result of £4billion invested on the ECML over the past decade, including the East Coast Upgrade, and will:

• Improve connectivity between London and Yorkshire, the North East and Scotland, including reductions in journey times to long distance services;
• Bring additional LNER services on Sundays between Bradford Forster Square and London King’s Cross;
• Enable a new hourly fast service with between Leeds and Sheffield, and additional services between Middlesbrough and Newcastle;
• Increase TransPennine Express services between Newcastle and Edinburgh Waverley to eight trains per day in each direction Monday-Saturday and seven trains in each direction on Sundays;
• Deliver more frequent East Midlands Railway services between Nottingham and Lincoln, doubling from one train per hour to two trains per hour Monday to Saturday, providing over 2,000 extra weekday seats and 2,500 extra Saturday seats;

Crucially, the new timetable will grow capacity with more than 60,000 extra seats across the route each week, and deliver better connectivity, including faster services from London to Newcastle and Edinburgh (just over four hours) and London to Leeds (just over two hours).

Find out more about the rest of the UK rail network at NationalRail.co.uk 

Most services across the North West will remain largely the same, with only a few small changes to help improve punctuality and reliability.

What’s changing

Some timetable changes

A small number of trains have been retimed to support better punctuality and improve overall reliability.

Request stops

Stations at Pleasington, Hapton, and Burnley Barracks will no longer operate as request stops – trains will now call automatically at these stations.

Sunday timetable

The reduced Sunday timetable which was introduced on some routes in December 2024 will continue. Click here for further details.

Temporary train length changes

A small number of off-peak trains will run with fewer carriages while we carry out essential maintenance and repairs to our train fleet.

We’ve focused these adjustments on trains that usually have plenty of seats available, to minimise the impact on customers. Routes affected:

• Headbolt Lane – Blackburn
• Southport – Manchester Oxford Road / Stalybridge
• Liverpool – Manchester Oxford Road
• Manchester Piccadilly – Buxton

Changes to other train operators and routes in the area

• Avanti West Coast will be running additional trains between Liverpool and London. There will also be a reduction to some services to Blackpool and from Manchester, Chester and Holyhead.
• East Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway will improve connections at Crewe.
• Transport for Wales will offer more trains across the TFW network.

Find out more about the rest of the UK rail network at NationalRail.co.uk 

New evening train to help you get home

Our recent timetable changes have brought a number of new services on certain routes. Whether you’re a commuter, a day-tripper, or travelling for work or leisure – there’s two new evening services between Sheffield and Doncaster to help you get home.

New services:

• 17:32 Sheffield to Doncaster
• 19:04 Doncaster to Sheffield

These services call at Meadowhall, Rotherham Central, Swinton S Yorks, Mexborough and Conisbrough.