May 2025 timetable change – what’s different?

Twice a year, the railway makes changes to it’s timetable – in May and December.

Here’s our guide to what you can expect from each operator from 18th May 2025.

Avanti West Coast

More frequent trains running on popular routes like London to Liverpool, Birmingham to North Wales, and Birmingham to Glasgow thanks to new trains and more trained drivers. Check for minor tweaks to departure times and stops.

c2c

Minor timetable adjustments are coming to boost reliability, mainly on weekdays. This means slight changes to when trains leave and arrive between London Fenchurch Street and Shoeburyness/Grays. There are also a few small changes to weekend services.

Chiltern Railways

Not many changes here. The biggest news is three extra Saturday trains on the Birmingham line to ease crowding. Weekday changes include one Oxford to London Marylebone train now stopping at High Wycombe. Some services will have different stops and departure times due to the new Saturday trains.

CrossCountry

Look for extra weekday services and longer trains on routes connecting the South West to the North East and Manchester to the South Coast. That’s an extra 28,000 seats a week thanks to nine more Voyager trains. Plus, the refurbishment of Class 170 “Turbostar” trains continues, and the Voyager fleet is next in line for a makeover later in 2025.

Gatwick Express

The 05:13 London Victoria to Brighton service is being retimed on weekdays. On Sundays, Gatwick Airport to London Victoria trains will depart at 12 and 42 minutes past the hour. The Southern service between Brighton and London Victoria now runs at 15 and 45 minutes past the hour.

Great Western Railway (GWR)

Expect some significant changes from the May 2025 timetable change. The Cardiff Central – Penzance service will split, there are more stops at Saltash, and the Liskeard – Looe service will have new times and fewer round trips. The 08:18 Worcester Shrub Hill to London Paddington train has more space, and evening Reading – Gatwick Airport services are getting better. Saturday brings continued direct London Paddington – Newquay services and adjustments to other long-distance routes. Sunday changes affect Weston-super-Mare and Bristol Temple Meads – Salisbury routes, with some services now calling at Freshford and Avoncliff. More London Paddington – Oxford trains will have 9 coaches, and the Cardiff Central – Penzance service will also split on Sundays.

Greater Anglia:

More trains are coming for the summer, and some Monday to Friday services will have more seats. Romford are now served by London Liverpool Street and Southend Victoria trains instead of Colchester Town services. The usual summer services will run between Ipswich and Peterborough (Sundays) and Norwich and Great Yarmouth (Saturdays, Mondays, Fridays).

London North Eastern Railway (LNER)

Big news for Bradford Forster Square! There are more than triple the number of direct trains to London Kings Cross (seven each way Monday to Saturday, two on Sundays) thanks to a new platform. There are also earlier trains from London Kings Cross to Bradford Forster Square.

London Northwestern Railway

Eastbound Bletchley to Bedford (Marston Vale Line) services are retimed to depart at 52 minutes past the hour. This makes connections easier with future East West Rail services.

Northern

Expect changes to train times and some extra services. There is more space on the Blackpool – Manchester, Leeds – Doncaster, and Wigan – Bolton lines. The Northumberland line continues to open up. Services are adjusted due to engineering work for the TransPennine Route Upgrade (TRU) around Huddersfield/Leeds/York, especially from 30 August 2025. There are more services on the Bradford – Ilkley and Harrogate lines. The 07:03 Beverley – Sheffield service will now start from Bridlington. Some Southport – Manchester Oxford Road / Stalybridge services will now stop at Ince. Late-night Manchester to Wigan services are coming back.

ScotRail

Big improvements are coming to Fife rail connections, with more frequent trains to and from Leven (two per hour). Passengers from Leven will also have better connections to Dundee. Additionally, there’s a trial reintroduction of a late-night Inverness to Tain service and a new direct early morning Inverness to Edinburgh service. Services between East Kilbride and Glasgow Central are also coming back.

South Western Railway

Minor tweaks to some services between Brockenhurst and Lymington Pier. 

Southeastern

Expect some route changes, including more peak time stops at Thanet Parkway on the Paddock Wood line, later trains from Margate to Ashford on Friday and Saturday evenings, longer trains on the Sole Street line, and more Class 377 Electrostars on the Maidstone East line with extra services to/from Ashford International. The Medway Valley line services is changing times and Woolwich line services will go via Greenwich due to the Blackheath Tunnel closure (18 May – 27 July). There are also more weekday services on the Bexleyheath and Sidcup lines, some Hayes line services are being retimed, and some Grove Park line services take longer. No changes on the Bromley South or High Speed lines.

Southern

Good news for late-night travellers! There’s an extra late-night London Victoria to Bognor Regis service on Monday to Saturday and an extra late-night Littlehampton to Brighton train on Saturday. Plus, an extra early morning Barnham to Bognor Regis service on Saturday. Finally, there’s an extra late-night London Bridge to East Croydon service on Monday to Friday. Expect minor timing changes to London Bridge and East Croydon via Tulse Hill services on Saturday.

Thameslink

The 17:41 Kentish Town to Orpington service now starts at West Hampstead Thameslink at 17:36 on weekdays. The 18:06 West Hampstead Thameslink to Orpington service starts at Kentish Town at 18:09 on weekdays. 

Transport for Wales

Look out for extra late evening services on the Marches line. There’s a new 16:30 Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth service and extra Sunday services on the Cambrian line, North Wales Coast, and West Wales. All North Wales – Manchester services will now call at Earlestown. There are also two new mid-day Carmarthen to Tenby services (Monday – Saturday). Early morning Cardiff and Valleys services are being retimed. Late evening Rhymney and Caerphilly services (Monday – Thursday) will be replaced by buses. Treherbert and Merthyr Tydfil service times will be adjusted, and Platform 2 at Aberdare station will open for arrivals only.

West Midlands Railway

There’s an extra 20:59 Shrewsbury to Birmingham evening service on Monday to Friday. Click here for more information.

If we haven’t mentioned a train operator in this list, you can expect very few or no amendments from the May timetable change 2025.

Plan your journeys ahead of time by checking the latest timetables on the Railsmartr website.