UK rail company TransPennine Express (TPE) has announced it will add services between Edinburgh
and Newcastle from December 2021.
The firm says it has been working with stakeholder and
industry partners, with Transport Scotland and Rail North Partnership signing
an agreement for TPE to operate up to five trains per day in both directions
stopping at (in most cases) Edinburgh Waverley, Dunbar, Reston (when this
station opens), Berwick-upon-Tweed, Alnmouth, Widdrington, Morpeth, Cramlington
and Newcastle. Additionally, trains will stop at East Linton once the station has
opened. TPE said calls at Widdrington and Cramlington may be introduced after
the start of the December 2021 timetable because they are subject to completion
of industry procedures for operational and safety requirements.
From the May 2022 timetable, TPE will also operate two
additional services between Edinburgh Waverley, Dunbar, Reston and
Berwick-upon-Tweed. All services will be operated by TPE’s five-carriage Nova 1
trains.
Timetables are yet to be confirmed by Network Rail, but TPE’s
draft schedule shows southbound trains will leave Edinburgh Waverley at 0526,
0933, 1411, 1734 and 1912 Monday to Friday; 0523, 0933, 1408, 1734 and 1903 on
Saturday; and 0933, 1425, 1733 and 1920 on Sunday. Meanwhile, northbound trains
depart Newcastle at 0704, 0919, 1206, 1614 and 2101 Monday to Friday; 0704,
0911, 1206, 1614 and 2059 on Saturday; and 0919, 1156, 1712 and 2114 on Sunday.