Leeds to Edinburgh, need advice please

[jmh59]

So... four of us need to go from Leeds to Edinburgh early April on a Monday. With bags I really want a direct train but that means, shudder, Cross Country. Otherwise it looks like TPE to York and then LNER.

I've traveled with LNER many times but rarely north; our single experience of Cross Country was Leeds <> Bristol and not good on return and reviews suggest they have got worse. Is that true? If it is I might go to York early and give a bit more time in York for a break then LNER north but add quite a bit to the trip time.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

@jmh59. What time do you ideally need to be in Edinburgh for?

 

[Iskra]

There is a single LNER Leeds-Edinburgh service each day that departs around 0710. If you aren't in a rush you could do Leeds-Carlisle and Carlisle-Edinburgh which is a nice scenic route. Those trains are normally fairly quiet.

 

[ainsworth74]

If you're willing to get up early enough there is, until December, one direct LNER service from Leeds to Aberdeen (via Edinburgh) that leaves Leeds at 0708 and arrives into Edinburgh at 1020 which could be worth considering. But it does mean a very early start! Otherwise I'd likely opt for Northern/TPE and then LNER north from York.

 

[Willie Bee]

You could also take TPE to Newcastle, then catch another train from there, to Edinburgh

 

[jmh59]

@jmh59. What time do you ideally need to be in Edinburgh for?

Ideally by 2pm - a 7am start is definitely a non-starter!

You could also take TPE to Newcastle, then catch another train from there, to Edinburgh

I'd not thought of that. So either change in York or Newcastle. I'll probably do York and give enough time to lug bags about the place.

 

[Willie Bee]

Ideally by 2pm - a 7am start is definitely a non-starter!



I'd not thought of that. So either change in York or Newcastle. I'll probably do York and give enough time to lug bags about the place.

There are TPE trains that start at Newcastle .. one at about midday, so would get into Edinburgh just before 14:00

 

[Bald Rick]

Go Cross Country. I used them twice last wee, in one case from Leeds heading north. It was bang on time, plenty of space (two seats to myself) and comfortable.

 

[alistairlees]

So... four of us need to go from Leeds to Edinburgh early April on a Monday. With bags I really want a direct train but that means, shudder, Cross Country. Otherwise it looks like TPE to York and then LNER.

I've traveled with LNER many times but rarely north; our single experience of Cross Country was Leeds <> Bristol and not good on return and reviews suggest they have got worse. Is that true? If it is I might go to York early and give a bit more time in York for a break then LNER north but add quite a bit to the trip time.

The 09.03 XC from Leeds to Edinburgh has reliably been an 8 or 9 car voyager every Monday (and most other weekdays) since the start of January. You should be fine on that and it arrives just after midday.

 

[A S Leib]

I'd not thought of that. So either change in York or Newcastle. I'll probably do York and give enough time to lug bags about the place.

You could also try TPE (or CrossCountry, if you're willing to use it for a shorter time) to Darlington or Durham and have a same-platform change.

 

[jmh59]

Well I was overruled... 75% of 'us' decided to book cross country, so fingers crossed. Rather annoyingly - not me booking (or indeed paying!) - we're not sat together and need to change coach at Berwick due to the split ticketing (Trainline split, seems to save very little for the extra hassle, oh well). I suspect someone will be dispatched to see if there are any unreserved seats together.

At least I get to book coming back...

 

[7522]

Normally the social media team are pretty helpful for booking seat reservations if you ask them you want some together and for the whole trip.

 

[mangyiscute]

Well I was overruled... 75% of 'us' decided to book cross country, so fingers crossed. Rather annoyingly - not me booking (or indeed paying!) - we're not sat together and need to change coach at Berwick due to the split ticketing (Trainline split, seems to save very little for the extra hassle, oh well). I suspect someone will be dispatched to see if there are any unreserved seats together.

At least I get to book coming back...

As long as its not a 4 coach, there will be an unreserved coach (B on a 5, on 8/9 im unsure) so you might be able to get seats together there. Personally I find the majority of Cross Country trains are fine you just get the occasional super busy train but those are at fairly predictable times usually weekends - i think yours will be fine

 

[duffield]

FWIW (based on your arriving in Edinburgh for 2pm ish), XC's busy trains indicator shows the 0908 and 1008 from Leeds on Mondays as not very busy, and this week both were double sets. Should be quite civilised.
If you're on the 1108, may God have mercy on your soul. it might be a bit - err - cosy. Five coach single unit this Monday, and showing as "red" status on the busy trains indicator most of the way from Leeds to Edinburgh.

 

[jmh59]

It was the 10:08, an 8-car (4+4), our seats were split across F and then C, no idea which was the unreserved coach but we found free seats in C and stayed there. So it worked out ok.

I should add - the issue was because I didn't book them myself (!) and it took me ages pushing everyone to even agree on a time!