Two weeks ago we brought news that LNER’s Azuma trainsets would soon enter service – months behind schedule.

Yesterday the train operating company (TOC) said that these state-of-the-art Hitachi trainsets would be introduced on the London Kings Cross to Leeds route from May 15.

At the present time LNER is not saying which services the Azuma trains will operate.

But when you consider that LNER runs London-Leeds trains every 30 mins it seems that, initially, the Azumas will only be operating a small proportion of the services.

Currently trains on this route take two hours and 15 mins to complete the trip with several en route stops.

Readers have asked when the Azumas will operate Anglo-Scottish services. Well these are expected to follow in the following months.

A report in The Scotsman refers to LNER saying that Azuma service will be extended to Scotland in the late summer.

But in reality, as The Scotsman notes, the Azumas may not reach Scotland until the end of the year.

When they do, the bi-mode Azuma trainsets will run on electric power to Edinburgh and Glasgow.

In due course it is hoped they will be able to reduce more of the London-Edinburgh timings to four hours.

When they are extended further to Inverness and Aberdeen they will use diesel power north of Edinburgh as the lines are not electrified.

Further details of the Azuma trainsets can be found on LNER’s website.

lner.co.uk