London to Edinburgh train to launch that will be 'faster than flying'
A new train service between London and Edinburgh will link the two capitals in four hours but skip a number of stations along the way.
LNER has announced that its long-awaited fast service between the two cities will launch in December 2024 if all goes to plan, four years after it was due to begin. Once an hour the rail company will run a service down the 400-mile line and once up.
The Northbound journey will take four hours and five minutes, while the Southbound trip would be four hours and eight minutes. Once getting to and through the airport is taken into account, that should make the journey quicker than flying - which is 13 times more polluting, a recent study suggested.
The trains are faster as they will only stop in York and Newcastle, meaning those using stations such as Doncaster, Darlington, Peterborough, Durham and Berwick-upon-Tween will not benefit from the new service.
The new service will cut the journey time (Getty Images)A LNER spokesperson said: "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."
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You can get from one city to the other in four hours at the moment, but you’d have to leave the Scottish capital at 5.40am on LNER’s Flying Scotsman, which only stops at Newcastle. The Department for Transport is yet to sign off the plans.
While taking the train may be more relaxing than flying - given there is no need to go through security, passengers can walk around at will and there is free-WiFi onboard for the duration - the higher cost of the journey is one issue potentially holding passengers back.
Next weekend one can fly from London Stansted to Edinburgh for £30 return with Ryanair. Without a railcard, the cheapest journey on the rails that weekend will cost closer to £120.
Part of the disparity in price is due to airlines benefitting from generous rate payer subsidised tax breaks that train firms do not benefit from. Last year the Government halved the air duty airlines pay when running domestic flights, making the routes even more profitable, despite the fact they are far worse for the environment than trains.
If you find yourself on the LNER line and fancy a family day out, then York sits about halfway between London and Edinburgh and is a great place to visit.
If you’ve got a strong stomach, head to the York dungeons for a gripping, immersive and interactive experience showcasing the city’s dark history spanning 2,000 years. History buffs are spoiled for choice, as you can also visit the Jorvic Viking Centre to learn more about the Viking warriors of the past. Experience the sights, sounds and smells of the period first-hand in an experience like no other.
Other highlights include York Castle, the city walls, the National Railway Museum, and The Shambles.
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