TransPennine secures extra Anglo-Scottish services

TRANSPENNINE Express (TPE) has confirmed it will be running additional services between Newcastle and Edinburgh from the December 2021 timetable change. The announcement comes shortly after confirmation from LNER that the rail industry plans to introduce a controversial new timetable on the East Coast Main Line in May 2022 has been deferred. That proposed timetable would have seen a drastic reduction in the number of trains serving Morpeth and Berwick-Upon-Tweed. TPE will be using the bi-mode Hitachi ‘Nova 1’ trains and has confirmed it has signed an agreement with Transport Scotland and Rail North Partnership which will lead to five additional daily services in each direction calling (in most cases) at Cramlington, Morpeth, Widdrington, Alnmouth and Berwick-Upon-Tweed and Dunbar. In addition, calls at Widdrington and Cramlington are subject to completion of operational and safety requirements, meaning these calls are likely to be introduced after the start of the December 2021 timetable. From the May 2022 timetable change, TransPennine Express will introduce two additional services per day operating between Edinburgh Waverley, Dunbar, Reston and Berwickupon-Tweed. All seven of these services will call at Reston in both directions once that station has opened, and TPE adds these services will also call at East Linton, again, once that station opens – see story p85. Tickets for the additional services are now on sale.