New Services Approved for East Coast Main Line in 2025

The East Coast Main Line will see new rail services introduced from December 2025, enhancing connectivity between London and cities such as Glasgow, Hull, Newcastle, Seaham, and Bradford. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) approved a limited number of additional open access routes on the East Coast Main Line, involving Lumo, Grand Central, and Hull Trains. These expansions are designed to increase competition, improve regional links, and align with upcoming national timetable adjustments.

Lumo and Grand Central Expand on East Coast Main Line

Lumo will operate one extra return trip between London and Newcastle on weekdays, with additional services on weekends. Moreover, several Lumo trains currently terminating in Edinburgh will extend to Glasgow Queen Street.

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The Glasgow extensions include two northbound and one southbound weekday trip, plus one Sunday return. These updates enhance direct options for passengers traveling to and from Scotland.

Grand Central will run two new weekday and Saturday services between Wakefield Kirkgate and Bradford Interchange, and one Sunday service in each direction. Existing services will add stops at Seaham, expanding coverage in northeast England.

Hull Trains will launch one additional northbound service between London and Hull on weekdays and Saturdays. These changes will operate in parallel with service increases from other rail companies.

East Coast Main Line Upgrades Meet Capacity Guidelines

Stephanie Tobyn, ORR’s Director of Strategy, emphasized that the approved East Coast Main Line additions were evaluated carefully for network compatibility. She noted that these services “will increase connectivity… while aligning with major uplifts from other operators.”

However, not all proposals succeeded. The ORR rejected some due to network constraints, potential performance issues, or concerns over impacts on public funds.

Rejected plans included Hull Trains’ bid for London–Sheffield services and Grand Central’s proposed York–London route and additional Bradford trips.

Each application underwent scrutiny based on statutory objectives: fostering competition, protecting public investment, and ensuring commercial certainty.

The East Coast Main Line remains a strategic corridor, and these selective enhancements reflect a balanced approach to growth, benefiting both passengers and the wider rail network.

Source, photo: railwaypro.com

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