Coronavirus Travel Information
At LNER, the safety and wellbeing of our customers and staff is our top priority.
That's why we are continuing to follow advice from the NHS and Public Health England to keep our staff and customers safe.
If travel is essential, please practise social distancing during your journey.
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Last updated: 17 May 2020 16:00
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Let's travel together safely
Train travel remains a vital public service, and we're continuing to temporarily run a reduced service for those where travel is essential.
Whilst we usually love having you onboard, social distancing means that there is much less space than usual on our trains, so please don’t travel if your journey is not essential.
Watch our quick guide on how to keep safe and support social distancing on our trains.
If your journey is essential please:
- Ensure you have a reservation for the specific LNER service you wish to travel on – otherwise you won’t be able to board the train
- Practice social distancing during your journey, keeping at least two rows apart from other passengers onboard in Standard and one row in First Class.
- Check your journey before setting off on our live train departures
- Make sure you've read our guide to travelling below
Your guide to travelling during Coronavirus
Before you set off
Train times have changed
From Monday 18 May we will be running a different timetable to usual. You can view this in PDF format below or check our journey planner.
Check you've reserved a seat: reservation only travel
To help keep you safe when you travel with us and to support social distancing, we are working to limit the numbers of customers who can travel on each of our train services.
This means that anyone travelling with LNER will require a seat reservation, before boarding the train.
- The introduction of ‘reservation only’ travel will help us to manage the numbers of people on each train and enable you to sit with sufficient distance during your journey.
- This will ensure a safe environment for both our customers and colleagues which is in line with latest Government guidance.
- Jump to our full guidance on reservations, further down this page
Pack snacks
In line with government guidence we have removed onboard catering from all our trains.
- There will be no First Class complimentary at-seat food & drink, Standard trolley service or food pre-orders and the Café Bar has been closed.
- We are also running an alcohol free train policy, which means that alcohol is currently not allowed onboard any LNER trains.
We encourage you to bring your own refreshments, as many of the food outlets in stations are closed.
Assistance at the station
If you or someone you know is travelling and needs additional support, let us know and we can arrange someone to help. Book assistance here.
FAQs
If you've got questions about your journey you may be able to find the answer here.
At the station
Arrive to the station early
- Please arrive at the station in plenty of time to board your train and follow the directional signage which is in place at our stations.
- Stay 2 metres apart and follow social distancing guidelines whilst moving around the station and platforms.
Station etiquette
- Respect others’ space by maintaining a distance of 2 metres
- Wear a face covering for any times you cannot adhere to social distancing
- Carry hand sanitiser and wash your hands regulary
- Use contactless payment methods, eTickets and real-time alerts with LNER Assistant
The most important thing you can do to protect yourself and others from Coronavirus is to follow the advice from the NHS. That is to:
- 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
Onboard our trains
Boarding a train
Station staff will be on hand to help you board the train.
If your ticket shows a coach or seat number you should ignore this and choose your own seat. Please keep two metres from others where possible by following these tips:
- Sit at a window seat
- Wear a face mask
- In Standard Class, leave at least two rows vacant between yourself and other customers
- In First Class, leave at least one row vacant between yourself and other customers
- Use alternate sides of the train
- Avoid facing other passengers
If you are travelling as a household, you can sit together, but please ensure you maintain a safe distance from other customers who are not in your group.
Catering onboard our trains
We have removed onboard catering from all our trains. We encourage you to bring your own refreshments. Please note that many of the food outlets in stations are closed.
- There will be no First Class complimentary at-seat food & drink, or Standard seat trolley service or food pre-orders and the Café Bar has been closed.
- We have introduced an alcohol free train policy, which means that alcohol is currently not allowed onboard any LNER trains.
Seat reservations
I've already booked
I've NOT reserved a seat with my ticket:
- If you're travelling on an LNER train you will need to make a reservation here. Alternatively, you will be able to do this in our station Travel Centres.
I HAVE reserved a seat with my ticket:
Your existing reservation remains valid but will no longer be linked to a specific seat number. We're asking you to choose your own seat onboard, using our guidance below:
- Sit at a window seat
- One person to every two rows to leave a 2-metre gap (one row in First Class)
- Use alternate sides of the train
- Avoid facing other passengers
If you are travelling as a household, you can sit together, but please ensure you maintain a safe distance from other customers who are not in your group.
I've not booked
I need to book a ticket for travel, what should I do?
When you're booking your ticket we will offer you a reservation for both parts of your journey alongside your ticket. We've explained some of the ticket types below:
- Advance, Off-Peak and Anytime tickets: If you purchase one of these ticket types you will receive a seat reservation, however please ignore the seat number and coach reference as reservations will no longer be linked to a specific seat number from Monday.
- Open return tickets: You can make an outbound reservation as you purchase this ticket on lner.co.uk. For your inbound journey you will need to make a reservation, you will be able to do this online or at the station from Monday.
Reservation only travel will be in place until further notice. During this time we're asking you to choose your own seat onboard. We are working to provide you with an improved solution that will give you a designated seat number, in the coming weeks.
I've got a Season Ticket
I need to travel on an LNER train
- You will need to make a reservation before boarding our trains. You can do this using our quick and easily online tool. Alternatively, you can make a reservation from station Travel Centres.
I booked elsewhere
I am travelling on an LNER train and I haven't reserved a seat yet:
- You will need to make a reservation before boarding our trains. You can do this using our quick and easily online tool. Alternatively, you can make a reservation from station Travel Centres.
Useful links for further informaton
NHS - www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
UK Government - www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public
Keeping checking this page for regular updates.