Latest travel updates

Last Updated: Sunday 15 November - 18.22

There is major disruption between Newcastle and Berwick-upon-Tweed due to damage to the overhead electrical wires in this area.

We strongly advise you to avoid travelling north of Newcastle today.

No trains will run direct between these stations for the rest of the day, and you may be heavily delayed and/or experience severe overcrowding on any remaining available services. A limited rail replacement bus service is running between Newcastle and Edinburgh.

Staff have confirmed the damage to the overhead wires at Drem Junction, and that lines in both directions will be blocked until the end of the day.

Trains will be delayed, altered, or cancelled at short notice. The disruption is expected to continue until the end of the day.

Advice for customers who have already commenced their rail journey

• If you are on board an LNER service affected by this disruption, your Train Manager will keep you updated with information about the incident and the impact on your journey today. Our on-board team are working hard to keep you comfortable whilst we get you moving again. If you need any urgent help – onward travel connections / flights, medical needs etc. please speak to a member of the on-train team. 

• If you are currently waiting at a station, please listen out for station announcements or speak to a member of station staff.

• If you have commenced your journey, and you’re unable to complete your journey between Newcastle and Edinburgh today, or disruption causes you to miss your last connection, you can arrange alternate transport or accommodation and claim the cost back from us via our customer services team.

What are your options?

If you must travel today:

If your LNER train has been cancelled, you can use your existing ticket on another LNER service, as well as with a range of alternative train operating companies. Please see our Cancelled Train page

You can use your ticket on the following train companies at no extra cost:

• Avanti West Coast between London Euston, Manchester, Glasgow Central and Edinburgh.

• TransPennine Express between Manchester, Leeds, York and Newcastle.

• ScotRail between Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley.

• Northern between Carlisle and Newcastle.

• CrossCountry between Sheffield, Doncaster, Leeds, York, Newcastle and Edinburgh.

• Great Northern and Thameslink between London Kings Cross, Stevenage and Peterborough.

• LUMO

• Grand Central

Defer your travel to a later date:

If you have a LNER train ticket dated for Sunday 15 November you will be able to use your existing ticket at no extra cost on another LNER service on Monday 16 November. You can make a new seat reservation here

See our alternative route map for guidance on rerouting your journey. Please also be aware that other operators may also be busy.

If you choose to travel on an alternative LNER service. Please speak to station staff if you need further assistance.

Rail replacement transport has been organised to operate between Newcastle and Edinburgh.

Details of Rail Replacements are outlined below

Coaches will be available as both direct services between Newcastle and Edinburgh, and services going via the intermediate stations.

Newcastle

• 3 Northstar Coaches

• Further rail replacement coaches have been sourced and are on their way.

Edinburgh

• 3 Arays Coaches

• 3 McCleans Coaches

• 1 Merlin Coach

You can find the location of the rail replacement bus stops here: https://www.lner.co.uk/travel-information/rail-replacement-stop-locations/


Station specific advice:

If you are currently at Newcastle - Rail replacement is being arranged - 15 Mini buses are on their way to collect passengers. However, customers are encouraged, where possible, to consider booking overnight accommodation.

Travelling from London towards Edinburgh - Please travel from London Euston with Avanti West Coast towards Edinburgh. Your ticket will be accepted on these services at no extra cost. Please check your full journey and the time of the last available train before travelling, as services are limited this evening.

Travelling from York towards Edinburgh - We recommend deferring your journey until tomorrow where possible. Alternative routes towards the West Coast are limited this evening and may involve several changes. If you need to travel, please check your full journey before setting off.

Travelling from Newcastle towards Edinburgh - Rail replacement transport is operating between Newcastle and Edinburgh, although availability is limited. Where possible, we strongly recommend deferring your journey until tomorrow.

Travelling south from Edinburgh - Limited Rail replacement transport is available towards Newcastle. Alternatively, you can travel via the West Coast using Avanti West Coast. Please check train times carefully before travelling, particularly for your last available connection this evening.

Travelling north from Edinburgh towards Aberdeen or Inverness
If you have not already reached Edinburgh, we recommend not travelling this evening, as onward transport will not be in place and would need to be sourced yourself.

For any necessary overnight accommodation, costs can be reimbursed by emailing customers@lner.co.uk with a copy of your hotel receipt.

Compensation/Refunds

• If you are delayed by more than 30+ minutes, compared to your scheduled arrival time, you may be entitled to compensation under the Delay Repay scheme. If you’ve booked with another retailer, or did not opt into One-click Delay Repay, you can submit a claim here. 

• If you purchased your ticket directly with LNER, and opted into One-click Delay Repay, you should receive an email within 48 hours. If you do not receive an email, please submit your claim using the web form here. 

• If you chose not to travel because of this disruption, you are entitled to full refund. Please contact your original point of purchase or if you booked with LNER this can be done via your LNER account. 

Support Channels

• You can now sign up to receive regular travel updates, direct from our Service Delivery Team, via WhatsApp here.  For additional assistance, send us a message using X, Facebook or Instagram. You can also contact our Customer Solutions Team on 0345 722 5333, between 08.00-22.00 or by using the Live Webchat on our website, between 09.00-17.00.  
  
  
  We’re sorry for the inconvenience to your journey today.

Further upgrade work as part of the East Coast Digital Programme means there will be no direct LNER trains to or from London King’s Cross on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November.

On these dates, LNER trains will start and terminate at Peterborough, where rail replacement coaches will operate to and from Bedford for onward connections with Thameslink to London St Pancras. Journey times will be extended and routes to other London stations, especially trains from Sheffield and Chesterfield to London St Pancras with East Midlands Railway, will be busier than usual.

Map of the works

To provide additional capacity and a direct route to and from central London fully by rail while work is carried out, the following LNER services will also be running between Newcastle and Bedford (calling at Durham, Darlington, Northallerton, York and Doncaster) in both directions. These trains also connect with Thameslink services to and from London St Pancras.

Saturday 28 November southbound

• 08.27 Newcastle to Bedford

• 10.27 Newcastle to Bedford

Saturday 28 November northbound

• 12.52 Bedford to Newcastle

• 14.53 Bedford to Newcastle

Sunday 29 November southbound

• 10.27 Newcastle to Bedford

Sunday 29 November northbound

• 14.51 Bedford to Newcastle

For more information about purchasing tickets on these direct services, please see here.

Last Updated: Tuesday 1 September at 15.30

East Midlands Railway (EMR) is currently operating a reduced Intercity timetable to and from London St Pancras. Customers affected by EMR cancellations as a result of this timetable reduction can use their tickets on alternative EMR services or claim a refund from their original point of purchase if they no longer wish to travel.

To further support EMR customers at this time, tickets for cancelled EMR Intercity services can also be used on LNER trains in Standard Class* from either Doncaster or Grantham to London King’s Cross, in both directions.

For EMR Intercity customers booked to start their journey in Sheffield, tickets will be accepted on Northern and TransPennine Express services to Doncaster if your booked EMR service is cancelled. Customers can then use their EMR ticket on LNER services to London King’s Cross.

Travelling with LNER:

• To locate available seating, EMR customers should use the seat reservation display screens inside the train. Seats with a green light marked “Available” are unreserved. Please note, it is possible for LNER customers to book unreserved seats after a train has departed from its origin station. If this occurs, you may be required to find an alternative available seat.

• During busy periods, EMR customers may be advised by LNER colleagues to travel on a later, quieter service for a more comfortable journey.

• *EMR tickets can only be used in LNER Standard Class. This includes EMR First Class tickets.

For the latest advice and updates from EMR regarding their timetable, please visit their website here.