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The Return of the Flying Scotsman Train

Posted by (Lake District, England) on

For some years now the Flying Scotsman train (the scheduled train service, not the steam engine) has barely run- the name had been relegated to one of the breakfast time services from Edinburgh, with no northbound equivalent. LNER had all but abandoned named trains, and the heritage involved.

From the timetable change on 18 May the service is to be restored by LNER- capacity has been created on the line after the December change.

It will be the 1000 from Edinburgh and the 1030 from Kings Cross.

On the inaugural runs both north and southbound there will be a special pre departure performance by the Red Hot Chili Pipers (a crossover Rock Bagpipers band), and a special Scottish themed menu will be served in first class (it isn't clear if that menu is just for the day, or a permanent fixture).

I've booked myself today on the 1000 from Edinburgh. I've never done an inaugural so if I can make it should be something special.

I'm actually pre-booked on another LNER train that day from Newcastle to Bury St Edmunds in East Anglia, so am now double booked, so will have to decide on the day which I actually do.

Posted by
11659 posts

That was my first thought as to how the group can split themselves in two, but I've been told from two different sources that's what's happening (admittedly the secondary source was probably using the same press release).

I'm in Newcastle the previous night, so I either go down to London or up to Edinburgh to pick the train up. Cost wise it doesn't matter as I'm on a rail rover (it's around £69 either way for the day), but if the information is wrong my thought is that the group are more likely to be in Edinburgh than London and more likely to be on the earlier departure, plus it ultimately puts me in the right place for my scheduled evening train back from KC to Newcastle- whichever I've booked- 1700 or 1730.

Waverley has more of a grand sense of occasion than King's Cross to me as well.

Posted by
40 posts

Steven, obviously you know this, but others may be confused....

"Flying Scotsman" is the name of Britian's most hyped steam locomotive, which is still out and about on special excursions and fundraising events at heritage railways. This was in Palin's programme.

"The Flying Scotsman" is the name of a fast train service between Edinburgh and London (and mostly vice versa) which traditionally uses the best train available, although currently all LNER trains on the route are the same standard, so basically this revival is marketing. But I do approve of naming train services because it can help passengers find the one they should be on!

As for station preferences, Edinburgh seems less grand, more Crystal Maze to me!!!

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