LNER to run new and direct train services from Lincoln to London as of Monday
New direct train services from Lincoln to London, via Newark, come into operation on Monday.
LNER will be running its Azuma trains on the route, increasing the number of services from one each way to six return services.
One in three LNER services calling at Newark — 22 out of 66 a day — are now run with Azuma trains, modelled on Japanese bullet trains.
More trains will continue to be rolled out between November 2019 and summer 2020, by which time time LNER services will be Azuma.
The new services that begin on Monday will run on weekdays in each direction, in addition to existing daily LNER high speed train services.
The managing director of LNER, Mr David Horne, said: “Azuma trains will not only revolutionise the customer experience for those who travel with us between Lincoln and London but open up huge economic benefits for the wider area thanks to the increase of services from one train each way to six return services.”
The Azuma fleet will provide a two-hourly Monday to Friday service departing from London Kings Cross at 10:06am, 12:06pm, 14:06pm and 16:06pm.
Southbound services will depart Lincoln at 11:18am, 13:23pm, 15:26pm and 17:14pm.
The current 7:30am Lincoln to London and return service from London at 19:06pm will be replaced by an Azuma train later in the year as the transformation of LNER services on the route continues.
Full details of the additional train times are already included in the current LNER timetable.
A sixth daily return weekday service will be introduced as part of a December timetable change, with five additional services on Saturdays.
The Saturday Azuma service will be introduced from Saturday, December 7, to provide extra seats for people wanting to visit the Lincoln Christmas markets. From the December timetable change, there will be five services in each direction on Sundays.
The Azuma trains haves good wifi, plug sockets at every seat and more legroom in standard class, plus extra space for bags, ergonomically-designed seats and refreshments served at seats or from the café bar.
The Azuma fleet also offers significant environmental benefits. The trains will run using overhead electric wires between London and Newark North Gate. It will then operate under diesel power for the stretch between Newark and Lincoln. The modern engines will cut harmful emissions by 90% compared to existing diesel-only high speed trains.
A traffic light reservation system above seats in standard and first class will help customers find reserved or available seats on-board.
Communities and customers at stations across the route will benefit from cleaner air and lower noise pollution because Azuma trains are quieter than the existing fleet, which will be fully replaced by June 2020.
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