The Anonymous Widower

Trains Ordered For 2021 Launch Of ‘High-Quality, Low Fare’ London – Edinburgh Service

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Railway Gazette.

This is the first paragraph.

FirstGroup has finalised an order for five Hitachi AT300 electric trainsets which it will use to launch a London – Edinburgh open access service in autumn 2021.

The trains appear to be be similar to those used by FirstGroup companies; Hull Trains and Great Western Railway.

These are some points from the article.

• FirstGroup is targeting the two-thirds of passengers, who fly between London and Edinburgh.
• They are also targeting business passengers, as the first train arrives in Edinburgh at 10:00.
• The trains are five-cars.
• The trains are one class with onboard catering, air-conditioning, power sockets and free wi-fi.
• Stops will be five trains per day with stops at Stevenage, Newcastle and Morpeth.
• The trains will take around four hours.
• The service will start in Autumn 2021.

These are my observations.

Earlier Start

I suspect that the service can’t start earlier, due to one of the following.

• The lead time in building the trains.
• Completion of the new Werrington Junction.
• Completion of the sorting of Kings Cross.
• Completion of the works at Stevenage station.

The track works will probably be needed to create the extra paths needed on the East Coast Main Line.

Electric-Only Trains

Most other AT300 trains are bi-mode trains, but will these be electric-only?

Capacity Issues

If the trains prove too small, they can just add extra carriages or two trains can run as a pair.

Timetables

Trains will probably take nine hours for a round-trip, allowing 30 minutes for turnround.

This would mean that two trains leaving London and Edinburgh at six, would arrive back at home after two round trips around midnight.

Conclusion

I think it will be a successful service.

March 22, 2019 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Class 802 Train, East Coast Main Line, East Coast Trains - Lumo, Edinburgh, Kings Cross Station, Newcastle, Werrington Dive Under