TransPennine Express announces December timetable boost with more seats and services
TransPennine Express (TPE) is set to introduce a new timetable next month, delivering more services, extra capacity, and greater choice for customers across the North and into Scotland.
Alongside the rest of the rail industry, the train operator will introduce a new timetable from Sunday 14 December.
Key improvements include services between Newcastle and Edinburgh on the East Coast Mainline, increasing from five to eight per day. This change adds 2,000 extra seats daily, with trains running around every two hours and a new early morning commuter option arriving in Edinburgh at 07:20.
The operator has worked with the wider rail industry to support the launch of the new timetable on the East Coast Mainline, which will see more frequent and faster services, as well as extra seats.
On TPE’s South route, which runs between Liverpool Lime Street and Cleethorpes via Manchester and Sheffield, most Sunday services will now operate with six-car carriages, providing greater capacity for weekend travellers.
In addition, the 08:09 Sheffield to Liverpool Lime Street service will now call at Dore and Totley on Sundays, offering more convenient connections for local customers.
Elsewhere, customers will benefit from a new 08:13 Sunday service from Liverpool Lime Street to Cleethorpes, and a new late-night Saturday service to Liverpool Lime Street, departing Manchester Piccadilly at 23:07– offering more flexibility for evening journeys and leisure travel.
TPE is also adding thousands of extra seats between Hull and Liverpool Lime Street as part of the new timetable. The route between Hull and Liverpool Lime Street will see a significant capacity boost, with most services up to 19:00 now formed of five or six carriages. The change will provide around 3,500 additional seats each week and is designed to support demand during busy evening periods.
Andrew McClements, Customer Experience & Transformation Director at TPE, said: “While the majority of our services remain the same, we’d encourage customers to double-check any regular journeys they make.
“We’re pleased to be introducing improvements that offer customers more choice, greater flexibility, and a better experience when travelling with us.”
TPE is also advising customers to check before travelling, as engineering work may affect services in the coming months.
Full details are available at tpexpress.co.uk/travel-updates/timetables