Train journeys between London and Edinburgh could be cut to just over four hours under plans to attract more air passengers to the railways.
LNER, which operates the high-speed service between the two capital cities, hopes to cut journey times by about 30 minutes when timetables change in December.
This would be done by introducing a new hourly “stopping service” between London and Newcastle – meaning trains to and from Edinburgh would have fewer stops.
At present only the 5.40am “Flying Scotsman” service from Edinburgh to London can cover the 331 miles in four hours because it only calls at Newcastle.
The new timetable, which would require the co-operation of other train operators, including freight services, was originally due to start in 2019 but was delayed, and then shelved during the pandemic.
The aim is to make the train journey time as fast “door to door” as flying – while being more environmentally friendly. LNER wants to attract 60 per cent of the London to Edinburgh “rail-air” market.
There are two trains an hour between King’s Cross and Edinburgh Waverley at peak times. If approved, the new service would take four hours and five minutes northbound and four hours eight minutes southbound, stopping only in Newcastle and York.
At present, journey times on LNER’s Azuma trains typically range from four hours 22 minutes to four hours 46 minutes.
An LNER spokesperson told the Standard: "Our aspirations remain to run more frequent and faster trains with some services between Edinburgh and London being around four hours in journey time. The timetable for December 2024 is still being finalised and any updates will be shared in due course."
LNER managing director David Horne said the rise in demand for rail travel since the pandemic – LNER has led the industry on increasing its weekend leisure trips – meant it was “bullish” about attracting more air passengers.
He told Scotland on Sunday: "What we're hoping to do, come December, is launch the new east coast timetable, which will give you, on Edinburgh-London, an hourly service taking just over four hours, with two stops en route.
"There's still some work taking place by Network Rail and the [rail] industry to make sure the precise timings of freight trains can still be accommodated."
