Newcastle to Edinburgh .. Why are there very few TransPennine Express trains (in two weeks time)

[Willie Bee]

A friend wants to make a day trip to Edinburgh from Newcastle on 16th, 17th or 18th September.

There seem very few Transpennine Express trains running .. is this a timetable change, or is there a different reason.

thanks !

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I've got Northbound (TPE) trains from Newcastle to Edinburgh on Monday 16SEP2024 / Tuesday 17SEP2024 and Wednesday 18SEP2024 at 0708, 0922, 1206, 1614 and 2101.

Return trains with TPE at 0529, 0934, 1410, 1734 and 1911.

Journey time = an hour and three quarters (each way).

How's that compare with 'normal'?

Obviously, not all of these times are perhaps suitable for a day trip between Newcastle and Edinburgh using just TPE but, unless I'm missing something, a day trip should be 'do-able' on any of the three days youve mentioned.

 

[Willie Bee]

I've got Northbound (TPE) trains from Newcastle to Edinburgh on Monday 16SEP2024 / Tuesday 17SEP2024 and Wednesday 18SEP2024 at 0708, 0922, 1206, 1614 and 2101.

Return trains with TPE at 0529, 0934, 1410, 1734 and 1911.

Journey time = an hour and three quarters (each way).

How's that compare with 'normal'?

Obviously, not all of these times are perhaps suitable for a day trip between Newcastle and Edinburgh using just TPE but, unless I'm missing something, a day trip should be 'do-able' on any of the three days youve mentioned.

Thank you

Maybe I was wrong .. i just thought there were more than that

 

[rg177]

That is pretty much the normal timetable. There was an extremely late departure from Edinburgh during Festival season but that was about it.

They're actually very popular trains now - when they first started many were lightly loaded but their generally lower fares have mopped up a reasonable chunk of the daytripper market. The weekday 0708 is usually lightly loaded out of Newcastle but becomes busy after Dunbar/East Linton with commuters.

 

[swt_passenger]

Thank you

Maybe I was wrong .. i just thought there were more than that

I think there’s been advance notice that it will eventually become about every 2 hours in a future timetable, but that’s dependent on the whole ECML timetable revision. There’s also currently a couple of other trains that only run as far as Berwick.

 

[ainsworth74]

They're actually very popular trains now - when they first started many were lightly loaded but their generally lower fares have mopped up a reasonable chunk of the daytripper market. The weekday 0708 is usually lightly loaded out of Newcastle but becomes busy after Dunbar/East Linton with commuters.

Yes I used a couple last year and was very surprised by quite how busy they were! Which is good to see, even if it feels a bit bizarre for Transpennine Express to be running services between Newcastle and Edinburgh

 

[Farigiraf]

Yes I used a couple last year and was very surprised by quite how busy they were! Which is good to see, even if it feels a bit bizarre for Transpennine Express to be running services between Newcastle and Edinburgh

Should be a ScotRail service tbh... Especially since they did promise an Edinburgh-Berwick service for quite a bit, to serve Reston.

 

[ainsworth74]

Should be a ScotRail service tbh... Especially since they did promise an Edinburgh-Berwick service for quite a bit, to serve Reston.

Yep it's got ScotRail written all over it really.

 

[childwallblues]

I've got Northbound (TPE) trains from Newcastle to Edinburgh on Monday 16SEP2024 / Tuesday 17SEP2024 and Wednesday 18SEP2024 at 0708, 0922, 1206, 1614 and 2101.

Return trains with TPE at 0529, 0934, 1410, 1734 and 1911.

Journey time = an hour and three quarters (each way).

How's that compare with 'normal'?

Obviously, not all of these times are perhaps suitable for a day trip between Newcastle and Edinburgh using just TPE but, unless I'm missing something, a day trip should be 'do-able' on any of the three days youve mentioned.

The 1911 from Edinburgh is a through train to Liverpool Lime Street arriving at 0005.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

The 1911 from Edinburgh is a through train to Liverpool Lime Street arriving at 0005.

If the OP's friend is on that one, hopefully they will remember to alight when they get into Newcastle!

 

[3RDGEN]

Yep it's got ScotRail written all over it really.

It is in effect a ScotRail service as Transport Scotland and Rail North Partnership paid for it, TPE had units and Traincrew available due to their express (Liverpool ) - Newcastle - Edinburgh services been cut so it works for all parties as it allows TPE to get the units to Craigentinny depot. I suspect some services terminate at Berwick as only TS fund them.

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2021/1...passengers-thanks-to-traspennine-express.html - Matthew Golton, Managing Director for TransPennine Express commented: “We are thrilled that Transport Scotland and Rail North Partnership have given us approval to run these additional services which will significantly improve connectivity on this route.