What are my Newcastle to Edinburgh train options?

You have quite a few choices on a Newcastle to Edinburgh train journey. You can take LNER, CrossCountry, TransPennine Express or Lumo. Let’s go through each of these options.

LNER

This is the most frequent of the Newcastle to Edinburgh train options. You can typically expect two trains every hour. This is their usual calling pattern:

• Alnmouth* and Edinburgh (1h25m to 1h35m)
• Berwick-upon-Tweed and Edinburgh (1h25m to 1h30m)

Alnmouth is only served once every two hours. During the early morning and late evening, most trains also stop at additional stations. Here are the fares that you can expect to pay on the day. LNER does ‘single-leg pricing’, so there aren’t any returns available:

• Anytime Single - £50.00
• Off-Peak Single - £35.40.

The Off-Peak Single is valid after 09:30 on weekdays. There aren’t any restrictions on weekends and Bank Holidays.

CrossCountry

This is the next most frequent option for a Newcastle to Edinburgh train trip. You’ll usually find one train per hour that’s operated by CrossCountry.

They don’t have a consistent stopping pattern, but they normally take between 1h25m and 1h35m.

In terms of fares, you’d pay the same on the day as you would for LNER, whose fares are listed above.

TransPennine Express

TransPennine Express is one of the newcomers to running Newcastle to Edinburgh train services. They essentially provide a ‘stopping’ train along the route which links all of the smaller stations together. All in all, they run five trains in each direction on Mondays to Saturdays and four on Sundays. This is their stopping pattern:

• Morpeth, Alnmouth, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Reston, Dunbar, East Linton and Edinburgh (1h40m to 1h55m).

Here are the fares that you can expect to pay on the day:

• Anytime Short Return - £51.40
• Off-Peak Return - £47.20.

You can also buy equivalent single fares for half the price of a return.

The Off-Peak Return is valid after 09:00 on weekdays. There aren’t any restrictions on weekends and Bank Holidays.

Lumo

Finally, we have Lumo. They run five trains in each direct on the Newcastle to Edinburgh route and all of them stop at Morpeth and then Edinburgh. The typical journey time is around 1h25m. Here are the fares that you can expect to pay on the day, though we’d strongly recommend booking ahead:

• Anytime Return - £49.00

A single fare is also available for half the cost of the return.

How can I get the best Newcastle to Edinburgh train fare?

You can get the best Newcastle to Edinburgh train fare with Railsmartr. Let’s see what we can find two weeks ahead:

As you can see, TransPennine Express and Lumo are the cheapest options. The former is less likely to become busy as it starts in Newcastle and terminates at Edinburgh, so you’ll get first pick of the seats when you jump on board.

All of these companies offer cheaper Advance Newcastle to Edinburgh train tickets up to a few minutes before the train leaves. This means that it’s easy to grab a bargain on the go. Just make sure that you’ve got your ticket before the train is on the move!

What are the trains like?

Let’s take a look at the trains that run on the Newcastle to Edinburgh route and all the features that they have.

LNER

If you’re using LNER for a Newcastle to Edinburgh train trip, then you’ll have an Azuma train. The vast majority of the trains on this route have nine carriages, though a couple will have five or 10. In Standard Class, all of the seats are in a 2+2 layout:

You’ll find power sockets under every seat, as well as a cafe bar. It’s also possible to order food and drink directly to your seat by scanning a QR code on the seatback. In First Class, you’ll also have access to USB ports under your armrest. Feeling peckish? There’s a complimentary menu on every train. You can expect, at minimum, sandwiches, snacks and hot and cold drinks (including alcohol after 11am). On many trains, you’ll get hot food, as well. 

When it comes to seat comfort, the seats in both classes can be a little firm. However, the legroom is pretty good, so there’s a bit of space to stretch out.

CrossCountry

You’ll have a Voyager train if you’re taking CrossCountry on a Newcastle to Edinburgh train trip. They have four, five, eight or nine carriages. You’ll find a power socket at every window seat and free WiFi. Seating in Standard Class is in a 2+2 layout:

You’ll find a trolley service of drinks and snacks. If the train is too busy, then it’ll usually be ‘static’ and act like a small buffet. It’s worth noting that luggage space on these trains is fairly limited and they’re liable to being extremely busy. You’ll also find a film on the windows, which makes it difficult to get a reliable internet or phone signal.

In First Class, seating is in a 2+1 layout. You may get complimentary drinks, snacks and sandwiches:

TransPennine Express

If you’re using TransPennine Express on your Newcastle to Edinburgh train trip, then you’re likely to have a Nova 1. They have five carriages and have seats in a 2+2 layout in Standard Class.

You’ll find a USB port and three-pin socket at every seat as well as free WiFi. There’s also a catering trolley on every train, with free refreshments if you’re in First Class. First Class seating is in a 2+1 layout.

Lumo

Chosen Lumo for your Newcastle to Edinburgh train trip? You can expect a power socket and two USB ports under every pair of seats. All of the seats are in a 2+2 layout and every train has five carriages. There isn’t any First Class, so this is what it’s like throughout the train:

It’s possible to pre-order food using the LumoEats service if you’re boarding in London or Edinburgh. If you don’t pre-order anything, then a trolley with drinks and snacks will run up and down the train.

Taking luggage? Be careful. You’re only allowed to bring a certain amount with you. Only the middle three carriages have full-size luggage racks, so we wouldn’t recommend bringing the kitchen sink.

As for the seats, they’re a little more comfortable than on LNER and TransPennine Express. The headrests have wings as well, so it’s a bit easier to have a quick nap on the move.

Is there anything else I should know?

The final thing we’d recommend is using the Railsmartr website to book your Newcastle to Edinburgh train tickets. We’re completely independent, so we’re happy to ‘tell you like it is’ when it comes to rail fares!

Don’t forget that we don’t charge any fees, either. That includes if you change your mind and want to travel on a different day. If your ticket is refundable, we’ll refund it fee-free, too.

_{^{All fares stated on this page are for ONE adult with no Railcard discount and were correct at 12:00 04/10/2023. All information is issued in good faith. Flexible fares correct at September 2024. They’re subject to change at any time and Railsmartr are not responsible for any loss or disappointment incurred as a result of the information provided.}}