Harrogate to welcome new LNER Azuma services

LNER is proud to announce the introduction of new Azuma services between Harrogate and London King’s Cross.

The Yorkshire spa town will benefit from an extra five LNER services, providing a daily two-hourly service to and from the capital from mid-December.

To mark this important moment for Harrogate and the region, invited guests and media will board a special preview service to Leeds later today, Tuesday 3 December. David Horne, Managing Director at LNER, said: “Harrogate is an incredibly important destination for LNER. We hope that our new Azuma services will not only revolutionise the customer experience for those who travel with us but also open up huge economic benefits for the area thanks to the increase of services from one train each way to six.”

“With these new regular services in both directions, it offers significantly more opportunities for business travel, tourists and international visitors wanting to experience the many cultural attractions the famous spa town offers, including the Convention Centre, Royal Pump Rooms, Turkish Baths and ever-popular tea rooms, as well as the stunning surrounding countryside.”

New Azuma services will officially begin operating from Harrogate on Sunday 15 December. The following day, five new weekday departures to and from London King’s Cross will begin.

The current 07:34 Harrogate to London and return service from London at 17:33 will continue to operate.

Trains will call at Leeds, Wakefield Westgate, Doncaster, Grantham, Stevenage and London King’s Cross, with two in each direction serving Horsforth.

From the best ever WiFi, plug sockets at every seat and more legroom in Standard to extra space for bags, ergonomically designed seats and an excellent range of refreshments served at seat or from the Cafe Bar, the new Azuma fleet will transform the journey experience.

The Azuma fleet offers significant environmental benefits. Azuma trains will run using overhead electric wires between London and Leeds. The bi-mode Azuma fleet will then operate under diesel power for the 18 miles between Leeds and Harrogate.

LNER is replacing all 45 of its existing trains in its fleet with 65 Azuma trains, which will be completed by June 2020.