LNER is stepping up preparations across the East Coast Main Line as it gears up for a major expansion of its timetable in December 2025. The operator is working with Network Rail and industry partners to deliver what it describes as the most significant change to services on the route in more than ten years, with almost 10,000 additional services planned each year.

Customers are being urged to check their journeys ahead of the changes, as many services will see new timings. From 14 December 2025, the updated timetable will introduce more than 60,000 extra seats each week across the LNER network, offering greater capacity and more frequent services for passengers.

To support the transition, LNER has recruited and trained hundreds of additional onboard and station staff. The aim is to ensure customers receive consistent support and to help services run smoothly as the expanded timetable comes into effect.

Newly recruited colleagues say teamwork will be crucial in the months ahead. Eugene Gonsalves, who joined as a Customer Experience Host in August, said:

“I had been working in LNER’s customer service call centre since May last year, before a chance to apply to work onboard our trains came up. There’s a lot of great opportunities here, as more people have been recruited to help deliver the new timetable. On our trains, we’re going to be working more closely with station colleagues, to help us get our trains departing safely and on time.”

Annabell Dillon, who became an Apprentice Train Manager in May, said communication will play a key role:

“Conversations between colleagues will be more important than ever as they’ll help us to keep our trains on time and support our customers when they need it.”

Experienced staff have also welcomed the arrival of new recruits. Elaine Summerill, a train dispatcher at Newcastle Central Station, said:

“I started as an office junior, and now I’ve been here for 36 years! You never know what the next day is going to bring, and I get to meet loads of new people, which is really enjoyable. Changes bring different challenges, but there’s been lots of new people joining us. We’ve got new colleagues working on our platforms, people being trained to dispatch trains, and lots of new people onboard too. I think LNER and the rail industry has an exciting future ahead.”

Image: LNER