Boost in services on UK East Coast route

As part of a £140 million investment in the East Coast route by Virgin Trains, a new timetable will be put in place, which will mean more frequent Saturday services to and from destinations including Leeds, York and Newark Northgate.

“Our new timetable brings new services that we know our customers want as well as thousands of low cost seats,” said David Horne, Virgin Trains Managing Director on the east coast route. “Six days of the week, customers will be able to enjoy the most frequent service we’ve ever seen on the east coast mainline and we’re not stopping there.

“Our £140m investment is about reducing journey times, increasing the frequency of services, and giving customers a great experience on-board with refurbished trains and refreshed on-board catering – for less. We’re confident that these investments will make it easier, cheaper and quicker than many think to travel by train.”

From December, there will be a further 24 Saturday services (which is an increase of 45%) – this will add 12,574 more seats to the existing capacity.

“I’m delighted that after working closely with Virgin Trains we have, together, produced a new timetable which balances the needs of customers with the need to maintain a safe and reliable network for the benefit of the communities and economies our railway serves,” added Rob McIntosh, Route Managing Director at Network Rail.

The new timetable represents the biggest increase in Saturday services since the introduction of Intercity 225 trains back in 1990, following electrification of the East Coast Mainline.