Morning peak rail service saved in new timetable

The service is popular with people commuting from Durham to Newcastle

A peak time rail service which was in danger of being scrapped has been saved.

The LNER service to Edinburgh, which calls at Durham at 08:22 and arrives in Newcastle just after 08:30 was in danger of being axed from December 2025 in a timetable shake-up.

This would have left Durham with only two trains to Newcastle between 08:00 and 09:00, with about seven carriages between them.

However, it has now been confirmed LNER will continue to provide a link between the two cities during morning peak times at weekdays, with trains leaving Durham at 08:24 and arriving in Newcastle at 08:44.

The equivalent service was promised back in April amid concern from passengers over proposed timetable changes.

Commuter Matthew Foskett who travels on the current 08:22 service said he was "really pleased".

A spokesperson for LNER said the new timetable will provide 60,000 extra seats every week and faster journeys.

"We have worked closely with the industry to make sure that there is strong local and national connectivity as the East Coast Main Line timetable changes in December 2025," they said.