For the first time, LNER’s new Azuma trainsets are running as far north as Aberdeen.
The inaugural Aberdeen-London service departed Aberdeen at 0752 and arrived into Kings Cross at 1451.
In the return direction it departs Kings Cross at 1400 to arrive into Aberdeen at 2116.
Note that Azuma operates, at the time of writing, only one through train. The others continue to be operated by HST diesels, otherwise a change at Edinburgh is required when one could use Azuma for the portion between Scotland’s capital and London.
Details of which trains are Azuma-operated are clearly displayed on the LNER website booking pages.
While every reader may not have the time to travel right through from Aberdeen to London, the benefit of these trains is the ability to take the train between intermediate stops.
This Azuma would make a number of stops between Aberdeen and Edinburgh. It then calls at Berwick-upon-Tweed, Newcastle, Darlington and York before running non-stop to London.
Passengers using LNER’s Azuma trains next year will benefit from more luggage space in each carriage. A few non-reservable seats are being removed to make way for extra luggage racks.
Says LNER’s MD David Horne, “As one of our most popular routes, and Aberdeen being Scotland’s third-largest city, we’re proud to be introducing our new Azuma trains connecting Aberdeen and Edinburgh with London.”
Finally, it is expected LNER will extend Azuma service to London-Inverness in the coming weeks.
