LNER
LNER (London North Eastern Railway) is the publicly-owned intercity operator on the East Coast Main Line, running Hitachi Azuma trains at 125 mph from London King's Cross to Leeds, York, Newcastle and Edinburgh.
About LNER
LNER took over after Virgin Trains East Coast collapsed in 2018 and has since been run directly by DfT OLR Holdings (DOHL). It is the model many expect the rest of the network to follow under Great British Railways.
King's Cross is the literary home of Platform 9¾ and the gleaming Harry Potter shop, plus the gateway to Cambridge and the entire north-east.
Headline journeys include King's Cross to Edinburgh in around 4 hours 20 minutes and the long-distance Highland Chieftain to Inverness — at 8 hours, one of the longest direct trains in the UK.
Key LNER routes
- King's Cross → Edinburgh WaverleyAzuma intercity, 4h 20m fastest
- King's Cross → York1h 53m fastest
- King's Cross → Leeds~2h 14m
- King's Cross → InvernessHighland Chieftain — 8 hours direct
Major destinations
- York
- Leeds
- Newcastle
- Edinburgh
- Doncaster
- Lincoln
- Hull
- Aberdeen
- Inverness
FAQs about LNER
How fast is LNER to Edinburgh?
Fastest LNER Azuma services reach Edinburgh Waverley in 4h 20m from London King's Cross. Most services run every 30 minutes throughout the day.
Is LNER nationalised?
Yes — LNER has been run by the UK Department for Transport (DfT Operator) since 2018, after the Virgin Trains East Coast franchise was terminated.
What is the LNER Azuma?
Class 800 and 801 Hitachi Intercity Express trains — the same family as GWR's IETs, branded 'Azuma' (Japanese for 'east') for the East Coast.