Coronavirus Travel Information

Please be aware that increased restrictions have been declared for parts of the North East, from Friday 18 September until further notice, for: 

• Alnmouth 
• Berwick 

• Durham 
• Morpeth 
• Newcastle  
• Sunderland

LNER trains will continue to run to these destinations, please only travel if your journey is essential.

Normal ticketing restrictions continue to apply, for information on changing or refunding your tickets tap here.

Read the full Coronavirus travel advice

We're excited to welcome you back onboard our trains. With our Covid Aware safe travel pledge, you can book and travel with confidence, when you're ready.

We know that travelling on long journeys can be overwhelming. We have:

• Made our ticket change policy flexible
• Increased our onboard and station cleaning
• Introduced reservation-only travel so that each customer has a socially distanced seat.

We're here to welcome you onboard, when you're ready to travel.

Our safe travel pledge

The current government guidelines suggest that you may travel by train for non-essential journeys such as staycations and visiting family and friends. We've made our trains and stations as safe as possible so that you can travel in confidence. Please be aware of any local or regional lockdowns that may affect your travel.

We want to give you travel confidence with our safe travel pledge. We're looking forward to welcoming you onboard.

Our safe travel pledge

Yes, we love to be green so you can carry your bike free of charge on LNER trains as long as you have a valid ticket and you have made a reservation for your bike. Spaces are limited and subject to availability.

You can make a reservation at one of our Station Travel Centres, or by calling 03457 225 333.

If you're travelling with another train operator on your journey you'll need to check their own policy too. You can do this by visiting the National Rail website.

Face coverings must be worn in stations and on our trains, unless you are exempt. Otherwise you could be fined £200.

It is important that you sit in your designated coach and seat number shown on your ticket or reservation confirmation email. All seats are socially distanced from other passengers. 

If you have a ticket but need a seat reservation you can make one quickly and easily online using our seat reservation tool. 

•  For how to make a face covering go to the government how to guide.

There are different rules for children depending on where you are travelling for information on face coverings in England click here, and for information in Scotland click here. 

At our biggest stations, National Rail are getting transparent face coverings for people in their mobility teams. Elsewhere, a common-sense approach will be taken. There are more FAQs on National Rail’s Assisted Travel FAQs page.

You can still use public transport. We want you to be able to travel with dignity and our staff will act considerately towards those who cannot wear a face covering due to their disability or medical condition.

See here for exemptions in England.

See here for exemptions in Scotland. 

Yes, if you require assistance for your journey you can book Passenger Assist when you're booking your ticket with LNER.

Alternatively, you can book assistance here. All assistance requests must be made by at least 22:00 the day before travel.

Our station toilets are open for you to wash your hands regularly when travelling.

Each of our trains has toilets with soap, running water and hand dryers so you can travel safely and wash your hands on the go.

Our station Travel Centres are open. Please check the various opening times here.

We are reintroducing ticket checks onboard. Before travelling please ensure you have a valid ticket for the train you are on as well as a seat reservation.

If you've bought a flexible ticket (i.e. Off-Peak or flexible return) and the train you're trying to make a seat reservation for is full, please consider changing your journey time.

If you're at the station and you don't have a seat reservation you must make one before you board. We recommend doing this as soon as possible before you set off to guarantee the time of train you want to travel on.

We're ensuring all customers can travel safely and sit socially distanced when onboard.

Make a seat reservation 

If you’re booked to travel on an LNER train that has been cancelled or changed, your ticket will be valid for travel on the next available LNER train to your destination.

You will need to make a new seat reservation for the next train you'd like to travel on. You can do this for free online or in station Travel Centres.

Alternatively, if you choose not to travel, then you will be entitled to a full refund or credit without any admin charge.

If you are suffering cold or flu-like symptoms or live with someone who does, you should self-isolate for 14 days. During this time, you should avoid the use of public transport and should have minimal contact with others. If you need to use public transport to travel home and self isolate, you should take extra care to keep away from others and catch coughs and sneezes in a tissue. You can find more information about self-isolating on the NHS website.

You should follow NHS advice to reduce the risk of catching Coronavirus:

• wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
• always wash your hands when you get home or into work
• use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
• cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
• put used tissues in the bin straight away and wash your hands afterwards
• try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell
• avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean

No. If you have been asked by 111 or a medical professional to self-isolate you should avoid public places and contact with other people until you are told it is safe to do so. The NHS has more information about how to self-isolate.

No. If you have been diagnosed with Coronavirus or are showing symptoms, you should follow the advice from the NHS.

There are currently no plans to include other routes at this time. 

The easing of restrictions will apply to all LNER journeys to and from London Kings Cross and Stevenage only. The easement will not apply when customers are travelling between London Kings Cross and Stevenage and between Stevenage and London Kings Cross. 

The easing of restrictions is only applicable to Friday services as this is a major pinch point in the week for both business and leisure travellers.  

Customers on a flexible ticket that wish to change their travel plans may do so by requesting a separate reservation here for their desired service.