More scenic, far better for the planet and now quite possibly quicker: there are now even more reasons to take the train between London and Edinburgh.
Earlier this year here at Time Out we reported that LNER was hoping to cut the time it takes to travel between the two UK capital cities, which currently averages four hours and 23 minutes, down to just under four hours. Improvements to the tracks mean Azuma trains operated by LNER will be able to reach their full speed of 125mph for longer periods, cutting the time of the journey by a whole 20 minutes.
And while that’s not quite the four hours hoped for, it’s still a whole lot quicker. Think about what you’d do with all that precious new spare time. That’s 20 more minutes of scrolling on TikTok in your bed, picking out a snack in Pret or dreaming about booking a seat on the most beautiful train rides in the world.
While you can hop on a plane from any of London’s airports over to Edinburgh, if you add the time it takes to actually get yourself there at least 90 minutes ahead of your flight, it’s a bit of a faff. And it certainly beats driving, which you might just manage to do in eight hours if you don’t plan on stopping.
While getting the train is greener, easier and quite possibly quicker, it isn’t always cheaper. We did some calculations, and a flight from London Stansted to Edinburgh in February 2025 averages £20, while getting to and from the airport at both ends can cost another £15 or so (costing £35 overall). In comparison, a LNER train in February starts from £59 – though it does drop you off in the city centre.
A few issues with timetabling means there’s been a slight delay in rolling out the faster new LNER service, but the new and improved service is expected to be in full use by December 2025. The Department for Transport is set to confirm the changes later this month following agreements between the operators and Network Rail.
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Talking of going long distance speedily, the Eurotunnel wants to double the number of high-speed train services through the Channel Tunnel by 2034, while soon you'll be able to get from Cardiff to Edinburgh on the train for the first time ever.
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