After more than five years away from regular North East operations, rail passengers are once again seeing the iconic InterCity 225 trains on the East Coast Main Line. London North Eastern Railway (LNER) has officially reintroduced a daily 225‑operated passenger service as part of its major December 2025 timetable transformation.
The InterCity 225 fleet, first introduced in the 1990s, became a much‑loved fixture across the East Coast Main Line for decades. Their presence diminished in September 2020 when LNER transitioned to its modern Azuma fleet, with most 225 operations shifting to West Yorkshire.
Now, following the delivery of 10,000 additional services annually, LNER has reinstated the classic high‑speed sets on key North East journeys.
New 225 Daily Services
From Monday 30 March 2026, an InterCity 225 will operate:
- 14:33 London King’s Cross → Newcastle (weekdays)
- 18:27 Newcastle → London King’s Cross (weekday return service)
At weekends, the trains will also run:
- 12:33 London King’s Cross → Newcastle
- 16:27 Newcastle → London King’s Cross
Broader Timetable Enhancements
Alongside the return of the InterCity 225, LNER’s expanded timetable has also introduced:
- A new weekday London King’s Cross ↔ Harrogate return service
- Additional early‑morning and late‑night trains
- A wider range of enhanced weekend services
These improvements further strengthen LNER’s long‑distance connectivity and increase capacity on some of the network’s busiest routes.
Image credits: LNER
